“By the Time We’re Through”

June 9-11, 2022 through Red Eye Theater’s “Isolated Acts” Program.

A brief background:

This work began with the question of power. I wanted to address a brown voice leading white ones (a three member band, two dancers, a predominant white community). I was curious about a band’s presence, a dancer within a choreographer’s vision, and intrigued of someone entering from outside our state lines to redefine our role and definition of “community”. As the visionary of this work holding responsibility, I also risk from surrendering. How much do I control vs how much do I let go? I balance the dreaming of this job with the direction needed from me to lead.

The work:

In my first study on power dynamics, (un)known curiosities intersect between new and past collaborators. Seth, Dustin, Lola, Doug, and Steven are led into this dream, lookin at me for direction as I look at them for trust. Power is found in learning who we are through process and not product. We hold strength in surrendering, shifting, and witnessing each other, for each other. I risk failing, but this fear balances the reality of how we arrive, to confront what’s yet to come.

Who:
José A. Luis - choreographer/dancer
Lavender Daughter - band
What:
José A. Luis’ latest artistic creation, “By the Time We’re Through”, is a queer dance collaboration evoked by the original music of Minneapolis rock band Lavender Daughter. Regional dancers Doug Hooker and Steven Michael LaFond weave through the siren sounds of Lola (lead vocal, guitar), Seth (drummer), and Dustin (bass). José blurs curiosity between musicians and dancers by investigating power dynamics from two different, but not so distant realms.

A shared evening with interdisciplinary artist, A.P. Looze.
Where: 
Red Eye Theater
2213 Snelling Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
When:
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
June 9, 10, and 11
7pm CST
How:
Supported and commissioned by Red Eye Theater’s “Isolated Acts Program”. Further financial support by an anonymous donor.

Photos: Mark Pochow, Elena Stanton, Dan Norman

Biographies

José A. Luis
José was born in Veracruz, Mexico and raised in Racine, Wisconsin. Considered a “late-dancer” he began his formal training at UW-Milwaukee, graduating with a BFA in dance. He performed and created works locally before moving to dance professionally in Chicago. Collaborative, undergraduate, and post-undergraduate pieces led to festivals, residencies, as well as progress showings during this time. Now in Minneapolis, he hones his introspective, honest approach to dance making as an independent solo choreographer. The artistic and personal growth across borders formed a nine year dream to self-produce an evening length show. In September of 2021 this dream became reality by honoring the people who have shaped his voice. Challenged by dancing for artists again (after a seven year hiatus) and teaching, José approaches movement in 2022 with the intent to accept, challenge, and learn as we are, human. Extended bio: https://www.jose.dance/bio

Lavender Daughter
Lola (lead vocals, electric guitar), Dustin (bass), Seth (drummer)
Conceived nine years ago by Lola and Seth in a small downtown St. Paul apartment, what began as mellow folk music soon gave way to ferocious rock n’roll. Mountains bowed down to the river. The sun and moon trembled in tandem. Highway hums swelled to a thunderous roar of kinkster beat freaks. Other players sauntered in and out before Memphis rose up and joined the ranks. Thus brought forth the siren sounds of Lavender Daughter. Their latest record, “End Of Days”, was released in 2020—a true end of days. Sounds in this album exemplify a desperate-to-feel, post-apocalyptic queer agenda and a love-like whispering tenderness. The trio is currently writing and recording new songs for your hedonistic listening pleasure. Listen here.

Doug Hooker
Doug is a Minneapolis based dance artist, originally from Keizer, Oregon. Having graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Dance, he is very thankful to have had a wide variety of professional performing opportunities. Such performances have included dancing with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps in Santa Clara, California, touring with the Broadway show Blast!, both nationally and internationally, as well as independent projects throughout the Twin Cities. 
Works of note include: Dancing People Company in Ashland, Oregon under the direction of Robin Stiehm, Mathew Janczewski's ARENA DANCES, Threads Dance Project, Paula Mann, Erinn Liebhard's Rhythmically Speaking, Shapiro & Smith, Collide Theatrical, and the MN Opera

Steven Michael LaFond
Steven is a performer, choreographer, and teacher who has primarily worked in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas. He received his BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from UWM’s Peck School of the Arts in 2012.  Steven taught for several years as a competitive dance teacher for All The Above Dance Company and as Dance Director for Next Act Theatre’s “Next Actors” Youth Theatre Program. He has also worked as a teacher for Danceworks Inc in studio and in over 50 Milwaukee public schools.  Steven has performed with Gerald Casel Dance, Your Mother Dances, and Danceworks Performance Company. 

Origins

I’ve dreamt of working with a live rock band. If I remember correctly, due to the unapologetic, direct, heavy, energy in performance; something a little distant from my movement vocabulary. Red Eye Theater’s financial support through their Isolated Acts program paved way to make this dream reality, while an anonymous donation supported crucial creation time. My first ensemble piece in years, it is crazy to admit it is only possible because of money. Nonetheless a reality for many artists. Yet, within our process we find something richer, more valuable - connection. Fortified by trust, risk, discussion, and inspirations, we learn our potential community while learning more of ourselves individually.

“By the Time We’re Through” began in November when I was offered an opportunity to create. I knew I wanted to explore the musicians of this city, and the search for that elusive rock band led me to Lavender Daughter. Elusive because I did not want an all white cis-gender male band. I wanted someone who represented themselves and others, who were unapologetic and still vulnerable. Someone empowered to drift between realms. I watched them play at Palmer’s Bar, I approached them afterwards asking to exchange numbers, I went over to meet them at their home, I shared the poems sparking this piece, and now we have somehow written a new song. We have gotten to know each other through beers, dinners, rehearsals, hugs, gifts, and simply listening.

One of two dancers, I met Doug carpooling for a video shoot. A classic introvert, I dug very deep to find and match the energy of this natural extrovert. Joy, laughs, relaxed and thorough work ethic are a few of the ways I see Doug. As I considered who I could share space with, I knew I wanted to learn more of him and learn more of myself with him. The unknown I embrace would be discovered by our first rehearsals, exchange of texts, emails, and continuing carpools.

The fear of a non-solo work led me to Steven, who I went to college with. Through our history together connected by dance, I knew I needed comfort. I sought the known of this work in his ability to be focused, direct, and caring. Seven years since seeing each other felt like nothing as we returned to dance where we co-created our last piece before graduating at UW-Milwaukee. In the long term, I excite at what more is possible as I strive to connect my once communities of Milwaukee and Chicago with Minneapolis.

This piece began with a poem depicting a feeling of powerlessness; physical, innate cues dominating a mental and emotional state of being. Reflecting on an act, attempting to repeat it, and the inevitability of moving on provoked a search to understand power dynamics. Someone in power is recognizable through physical and verbal cues. Yet, I discovered how much power there is in acceptance, offering, and letting go. Actually, not power, but freedom. “By the Time We’re Through” is a specific world layering and revealing aural, touch, and sight cues. It is straight forward and also playful. It is part one in a personal, yet relative experience to uncover how we approach power. With years in solo work, I also consider my role in the creative process. I’ve begun to drift slowly from the stage as performer by rotating the cast each night. Doug and Steven’s role remain the same, I as the choreographer shift between those two roles, fulfilling them on different nights. This is my way of coping with letting go, with submitting power and welcoming possibilities.