"A discourse on local conflicts, body politics, gender issues . . . that
liminal space between public and private. Everything is open, accessible
. . . intimate, and the result is fascinating."
—Dance Talk on Two Room Apartment
Pairing Chicago’s Same Planet Different World (SPDW) with two
innovative Israeli choreographers/dancers, this program showcases three
works that expose the politics of personal experience in an intimate
setting where the audience surrounds the performers.
SPDW’s Stripped explores how technology affects our lived experience. Through the ritualized
movements of six dancers, this 2015 work by SPDW artistic director
Joanna Rosenthal reveals what is at stake when objects replace human
connection.
Choreographers Niv Sheinfeld and Oren Laor perform a playful and
gripping duet that reflects upon their relationship as partners in life
and dance. Both personal and political, Two Room Apartment is about boundaries in various contexts: physical borders between
territories, emblematic divides between life and performance, and the
limits people set for themselves. Their piece is a revision of a
milestone in modern Israeli choreography that the male-female duo of
Liat Dror and Nir Ben Gal created nearly three decades ago.
A third work, newly created by Niv and Oren for SPDW, completes the program.
NOTE: This program includes male nudity. Mature audiences recommended.
This performance is designed for a small audience: capacity is limited.
Running time: 90 minutes (approx.)
About the Artists
Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre (SPDW) is a contemporary dance company that features works by artistic
director Joanna Rosenthal as well as other choreographers, both
established and emerging. SPDW develops works with a humanistic voice
that also shape a physical world where dance is primary, and the full
moving body is used for expression. The company has worked with such
choreographers as David Dorfman, Faye Driscoll, and Carrie Hanson and
maintains an ever-evolving body of work driven by theatricality,
athleticism, tenacity, and accessibility for their audiences. This is
their first MCA Stage project. For more information, visit.
Niv Sheinfeld and Oren Laor have been creating art together for over 10 years. They combine
contemporary dance with performance art and physical theater, reflecting
their distinct artistic backgrounds: Niv danced in the Liat Dror &
Nir Ben-Gal Dance Company for five years and has developed choreography
for Kibbutz Dance Company, Bat Sheva ensemble, and others. Oren Laor
studied theater and performance at Tel Aviv University and has worked
with directors Yvgeny Arye, Edna Shavit, Nola Chilton, and others. They
have received national and international acclaim for their works,
including Best Performance of the Year by the Israeli Dance Critics’
Circle in 2013 for Two Room Apartment. For more information, visit.
Funding
Generous support for MCA Dance is provided by David Herro and Jay Franke.
Support for Same Planet Different World and Niv Sheinfeld & Oren
Laor is generously provided by the Consulate General of Israel to the
Midwest. Additional support is provided by the International Connections
Fund of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Two Room Apartment is coproduced with Centre National de la Danse, Paris, and Grand Theater, Groningen.
