West of Eden

Impudently attacking the myth of James Dean on a virtually bare stage that evokes a Hollywood soundstage, the New York choreographer Miguel Gutierrez undermines the image of a powerful, God-fearing America. Catapulted in turn into the empty space of lost illusions and onto the silver screen of fabricated dreams, the characters of Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant reveal their shortcomings and their contradictions. Sensuality, sexual ambivalence, thwarted desire and power struggles are the motivating forces for this explosive trio.

A hybrid piece with a queer aesthetic, Last Meadow clouds the very issues being pursued by means of skilful use of deconstruction and distortion. Eras, genres, texts and music are mixed, blended and superimposed on each other. Bodies are pushed to the point of exhaustion, and the audience is caught up in a whirlwind of offbeat conceits. Unclassifiable and exciting.

Miguel Gutierrez and The Powerful People
Based in Brooklyn since 2001, the choreographer alternates between solo projects, performances and ensemble pieces, working with a group of some fifty dancers, musicians and visual artists. His explosive style commingles genres and toys with conventions. His political protest freedomofinformation performance events (continuous movement for 24 hours while blindfolded and ear-plugged) are a striking example of his commitment and intensity. Works such as I succumb or performances pieces like myendlesslove and Retrospective Exhibitionist explore questions of identity. In the case of Last Meadow, he places national identity in the hot seat in a piece that was honoured with two Bessie Awards.

LAST MEADOW

MIGUEL GUTTIEREZ

Showtimes2011

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