Kathy Westwater
Dance
"Revelatory"
The New York Times
"An unconventional choreographer experiencing a surge of recognition"
"Westwater reminds us we are irrevocably connected to that original ooze and the blunt impulses contained in it."
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photo description:
Foregrounded and in profile,
the long hair of a dancer
whose eyes are closed is
suspended above her head.
Other dancers behind her are doing
individuated movement,
seemingly striking or
grasping the air.
photo Ian Douglas
Choreomaniacs
Premiered April 2023
The Chocolate Factory Theater
Choreomaniacs, for five dancers, explores the phenomena of choreomania or “dancing plague” in which people danced themselves to death during the Middle Ages. An accompanying duet, Revolver, speaks to existential threat from super-catastrophes. Both these works are bound by the subtext that dance itself causes pain.
Choreographed by Kathy Westwater with the performers
Performed by Alex Romania, Rakia Seaborn, Stacy Lynn Smith, Nattie Trogdon & Kathy Westwater
Music by Ava Mendoza & Mike Baggetta
Set Design by Seung Jae Lee
Costumes by Claire Fleury
Lighting design by Madeline Best
Photography by Maria Baranova