San Francisco International Arts Festival Oust Chapter one

Dandelion Dance Theater (San Francisco) with guest artists from Compañía Y (Spain) present

Oust (chapter 1) is Dandelion’s first segment of a project that will culminate in an evening length work in 2010. The project is the third cycle of a trilogy by Eric Kupers that sprouts from investigations of the Buddhist “three marks of existence” teachings, which identify three essential characteristics of all phenomena: Anicca, Anatta and Dukkha (impermanence, non-self and unreliability.) Similarly to the first two cycles, Anicca (2006) and Drop (2007), we began with questions about one of the “three marks” and were led on a wild ride of movement as well as sonic, theatrical, meditative, psychological and community explorations that resulted in what you’ll see and hear today. A large part of this journey were the artistic exchanges with Compañía Y and MayDay Dance Company, as well as residencies at ODC Theater and CELLspace. Special thanks to all who have been part of this juicy creation process.

Choreography/Direction: Eric Kupers

Co-creation/performances: Nadia Adame, Eric Andler, Iu-Hui Chua, Edmer Lazaro, Nahuel Losada de Andrés, Chevi Muraday, Mantra Ben-Ya'akova Plonsey, Anne-Lise Reusswig, David Ryther, Stacz Sadowski, April Taylor and Bob Webb

Lighting Design: Eric Andler, Music: David Ryther, Mantra Plonsey and Eric Kupers, Lyrics/Text: Eric Kupers, Costumes: Julie Brown, Stage Manager: Bob Webb

Note: While certain people were more or less in charge of the various creative elements of this project, we engaged with each collectively as an ensemble, weaving together material from each performer.

Additional artistic contributions by Jacques Poulin-Denis and Melanie Demers (Montreal), and Katrina Deans and Kehinde Kujichagulia-Seitu (Oakland)

Oust (chapter 1) was created with support from the MAPP Fund, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Meet the Composer’s MetLife Creative Connections program, an anonymous foundation, Cellspace and ODC Theater.

Location: YBCA Forum