Choreographer Catherine Tharin is set to premiere her latest work, In the Wake of Yes, an evening-length piece for four dancers that delves into themes of connection, memory, and change. The premiere will feature a live performance by renowned composer and jazz pianist Joel Forrester, who created the expressive score for the work, and a film by award-winning filmmaker Lora Robertson.
The 60-minute quartet was developed in response to Forrester’s music and unfolds through a series of solos, duets, a trio, and a quartet. The emotional depth of the piece is shaped by the dancers: Dylan Baker, Hannah Kearney, Jenny Levy, Daniel Morimoto (appearing on film), and Jack Murphy. While drawing from personal experiences, including Tharin’s relationship with her aging mother and her daughters, the work expands beyond autobiography to offer a quiet contemplation on how individuals navigate life alongside one another.
The title, In the Wake of Yes, carries a dual meaning, suggesting both the affirmation of acceptance or surrender and the subsequent aftermath or reckoning. The concept of “wake” also evokes the trail left behind by movement and the stillness that follows a significant passage. The dance explores this ambiguity, posing questions about what remains after a farewell. The word “yes” itself is woven throughout the piece, echoing in various forms and drawing inspiration from literary sources that explore assent and longing.
Lora Robertson’s accompanying film, The Window of This Night Train is Dark Behind the Glass, provides a visual counterpoint to the dance. The film follows the dancers through shifting cinematic landscapes captured from diverse vantage points across New York City, including the Roosevelt Island tram, the Queensboro Bridge, the NYC ferry, trains along the Hudson River, and locations in the Rockaways. These varied settings mirror the emotional arcs of the dance, suggesting a journey through time, memory, and place.
The presentation of In the Wake of Yes is facilitated by The Bang Group, co-founded by David Parker and Jeff Kazin.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm.
Tickets for the performances are available for purchase online. A question-and-answer session with the artists, moderated by choreographer David Parker, will follow the performance on the opening night. The venue for the performances is located in Manhattan.
The premiere of In the Wake of Yes is scheduled for June 5-7, 2025.
Arts On Site
12 St. Mark’s Place, 3rd floor, in Manhattan
