Serpentine (2016)
Daina Ashbee was awarded "Outstanding Breakout Choreographer Bessie Award" in New York City, following New York Performances of Serpentine in 2019.
Serpentine is an installation performance, repeated for up to 2 hours, created by Daina Ashbee. The work vibrates the essence of Ashbee’s dark and feminine pieces and is intended as an intense summary of her previous three works, Unrelated (2014), When the ice melts, will we drink the water? (2016) and Pour (2016).
The research explored the occupation of space/time/attention in what became a cathartic solo for Irene Martinez (Mexico) based in repetition and insistence.
Ashbee uses simple imagery in order to allow the work to resonate with many viewers. The piece includes original electric organ composition by Jean-Francois Blouin which is both disturbing and powerful. The juxtaposition of the haunting electric organ and the slow, sensual movement that escalates in it's violence, is confidently, beautifully and earnestly performed by Irene Martinez.
Sometimes things need to be insisted upon, and I believe repetition is powerful because it insists, because we remember and we absorb. The body is powerful and Serpentine allows one body to speak - to occupy space - and our attention, over and over, insistently revealing the enormous strength of the interpreter - Daina Ashbee
Credits
Artistic Direction, Concept, Choreography & Scenography: Daina Ashbee
Interpreted by: Irene Martinez or Greys Vecchionacce
Original Sound Scape Design: Jean-Francois Blouin
Production: Daina Ashbee
Duration: 80 minutes
Photo: Carlos Cordona
Video: Kim-Sanh Châu
Premiere: October 31 & November 1, 2017
Usine-C - Montreal, Québec
Previously performed by Areli Moran (2017 - 2021)
Calendar
December 2nd, 2022
EMPAC
Troy, New York
November 24, 25, 26, 27, 2022
Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers
Winnipeg, Manitoba
February 4, 2022
Revés International Platform
Heredia, Costa Rica
June 25 & 26, 2021
Montpellier Danse Festival
Montpellier, France
October 30, 2020
Dance Week Festival
Zagreb, Croatia
October 19 & 20, 2020
Joint Adventures
Munich, Germany
August 13 - 15, 2020
Potsdammer Tanztage
Potsdam, Germany
July 3, 2020
Montpellier Danse Festival
Montpellier, France
(Cancelled)
October 9 - 11, 2019
Usine-C
Montreal, QC
April 26, 2019
Art Gallery of Ontario
AGO with Harbourfront Centre
Toronto, ON
April 16 & 17, 2019
Crimson Coast Dance Society
Nanaimo, BC
April 12 & 13, 2019
This Time Tomorrow Festival
Cincinnati, Ohio
March 27 - 30, 2019
Vancouver International Dance Festival
Vancouver, British Columbia
January 9 - 11, 2019
American Realness
New York, New York
December 2, 2017
CONARTE/Expectante
Monterrey, Mexico
Premiere
October 31st & November 1, 2017
Usine-C
Montréal, Québec
excerpt
September 28, 2017
Les Plateaux
La Briqueterie
Vitry-sur-Scène, France
Creation Residency
July 1 - 7
Centro per la Scena Contemporanea
Bassano del Grappa, Italy
Work-in-Progress presentation
January 20 - 21
Welcome to Indian Country
MAI, Montréal Arts Interculturels
Montréal, QC