Purcell and projections at Joyce Soho

This weekend I got a chance to be part of a fun project at Joyce Soho in New York City. It was a workshop performance by Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects: a multimedia version of Dido and Aeneas, an opera by Henry Purcell. The story of the opera is excepted from the Aenied by Virgil, but Jody updated the setting and recast Dido and her lover Aeneas as a modern Hollywood supercouple, hounded and eventually separated by media moguls and paparazzi, instead of the gods of Mt. Olympus.

The production was unusual not only because of the updating, but Jody used live musicians on stage (sadly increasingly rare in dance performances these days): a small orchestra conducted from the harpsichord, plus a quartet of wonderful opera singers singing the lead roles, each of whom was mirrored by an equally wonderful principal dancer portraying the action simultaneously. Jody also created witty projections that played on the wall behind the dancers, as well as on their bodies as they moved about the stage.

The choreography was athletic, sensuous and funny, and the production really gave this baroque opera a fresh twist. Hopefully the piece will tour in the future. Road trip!

Here are some clips from the production...

And some upcoming projects by the Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects!

It was really an energizing and inspiring way to start the New Year. Cheers!