Az Dehlam from Sahar Javedani on Vimeo.
Choreographer Sahar Javedani (Dance MFA 03) concludes her 100-hour creative residency at Dance Theater Workshop in New York with two work-in-progress performances of The Turquoise Lounge tonight (March 11) and Friday.
The piece, inspired by a true event, examines the “physical and emotional territories of allegiance” and examines then dismantles both Western and Middle Eastern stereotypes. It follows a small group of travelers detained at airport customs and their “linguistic confrontations, visceral resignations, and voracious appropriations.”
Originally from Southern California by way of Tehran, Iran, Javedani established her new collaborative, compani javedani, in 2007. The Iranian-American female choreographer has included culturally and technically diverse dancers and a collective of world-renowned musicians and designers in the company. For the past few years, she’s been working to further develop her aesthetic of gesture and folkloric-based dance work.
A post-performance reception will be held after tonight’s performance. An in-process talk with Javedani will be moderated by writer-performer Elizabeth Zimmer after Friday’s showing.
Az Dehlam, a solo work that premiered at Calarts, is posted above. The haunting piece follows an Iranian woman grieving the loss of a loved one and themes of self-flagellation and emotional abuse are explored.
The Turquoise Lounge
March 11-12 at 7:30 pm
David R. White Studio at Dance Theater Workshop
219 West 19th St., New York
Tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5 at the door
**Another performance of The Turquoise Lounge is scheduled for April 20 at 7:30 pm at Dance Theater Workshop.