The Rite Of Summer at FrenetiCore Theater

Photo by Trish Badger

I just wrapped up a new score for Houston's FrenetiCore dance company, a remixed, re-imagined, deconstructed / reconstructed version of Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite Of Spring." This is probably the craziest piece of music I've ever created. Digging this deeply into what is a seminal work for orchestra and ballet and then treating music (as well as the descriptions in the score of "scenes of Pagan Russia") as malleable material to be recast as a score for a new dance has been a formidable but enjoyable challenge. I feel closer to Stravinsky now, even though the man is probably spinning in his grave.

The new version includes several performances on drums and percussion by Richard Cholakian, some spine-tingling breaths from Alexandra Marculewicz Adshead, and many, many other surprises. I look forward to seeing it all come together with Rebecca French's chroegoraphy and Varina Devyn Rush's projections August.

More details below.

FrenetiCore premieres "The Rite of Summer" at Frenetic Theater August 29-31 with performances by guest company Psophonia.

FrenetiCore presents a multi-media dance theater homage to Stravinsky’s epic masterwork, "The Rite of Spring" on its centennial anniversary. Rebecca French’s provoking and physical contemporary choreography combines with manipulated versions of the original atonal and dissonant music by laptop musician Chris Becker. Visual art and projections by Varina Rush and costumes by Ashley Horn set the stage for the exciting re-imagining of Stravinsky’s classic. "The Rite of Summer" pays tribute to the artistic movements prevalent at the time of the ballet premiere while bringing the revolutionary work into the 21st century by incorporating new technologies and concepts.

The cast of 13 dancers transform into abstract beings--surreal, sharp and sensual creatures. Boundless athletic bodies express the yearning, struggle and beauty of Stravinsky’s score through daring dance theater. Celebrate the end of summer with FrenetiCore’s fresh twist on the classic!

"The Rite of Summer" dancers include Kira Boerkircher, Adam Castaneda, Dorianne Castillo, Makeda Easter, Rebecca French, Ashley Horn, Mallory Horn, Lauren Hurstell, Shohei Iwahama, Taylor Martin, Mollie Miller and Ruben Trevino.

"Infinite Shapes of Creatures," a multidisciplinary work by Psophonia of dance and live music, weaves together impressions inspired by poet Edmund Spenser’s "The Fairie Queene." The poem describes a garden of rebirth, rejuvenation and reinvention where souls appear as flowers -"daily they grow and daily forth are sent into the world to replenish more." A collaborative venture between Sophia L. Torres of Psophonia Dance Company with flutist Adrienne Inglis and harpist Shana Norton of Chaski, the performance features music by American composer Alan Hovhaness' The Garden of Adonis. Dancers include Stephanie Beall, Karin Celeste, Vi Dieu, Taylor McAnulty, Tory Pierce, Kristina Prats and Arielle Tesia Rojas.

Dates: August 29-31 at 8pm
Location: Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation Blvd.
Tickets: $10 early bird, $15 presale, $20 at the door, $25 reserved seating.