Kickbal directors Emma Lanier and Ky Frances present the world premiere of HOMEBODY, an evening-length work featuring five dancers and an original score by composer Melissa Weikart. Personal and abstract, HOMEBODY is a series of unexpected episodes, distinct in content, but all inexplicably organized around the color yellow. Inspired by the format of poet and scholar Maggie Nelson’s Bluets, HOMEBODY rejects linear narrative structures in favor of an unpredictable model that is irregular, but never without meaning. The color yellow weaves its way through this image-rich and highly textured new work and reveals itself in intricate and unusual duets, durational tasks, humorous vignettes, and satisfying, athletic movement.
Dancers include Julie Crothers, Audrey Johnson, Cauveri Madabushi Suresh, Gizeh Muniz, and Chelsea Reichert. The evening warms up with an interactive opening act performed by Kickbal directors Emma Lanier and Ky Frances.
“I’ve enjoyed watching Kickbal grow. Personally I’m keeping an eye on these two. They’ve got something special. Individually they navigate their imaginations in surprisingly different manners. And together their work is even more different. I’m proud they found their way home to premiere their work at ODC Theater ” -KT Nelson, Co-Artistic Director ODC Dance
Composer Melissa Weikart’s original score for violin, voice, harmonium, synthesizer, and drum machine is tender, fervent, and driving. Dancers are enveloped by the rich harmonic tapestry of layered strings during moments of intimate conversation that cut swiftly to dynamic scenes of group unison underscored by disconcerting synth grooves. Joining Melissa in a live performance of the score will be Del Sol Quartet’s violinist Sam Weiser.
Kickbal’s work centers on duality, realness, and connection, using movement, objects, and language as means of investigation. They convey their artistic findings to audiences through distinct modes of engagement including performances, workshops, and parties.
Performances are 60 minutes with no intermission. Performances are family friendly but may include one swear word and a nipple or two.
Kickbal is a new dance company founded by Emma Lanier and Ky Frances who grew up in the Bay Area, attended Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and Albany High School, respectively, and trained at ODC School. They met in 2006, as kids dancing in ODC’s holiday classic, The Velveteen Rabbit, went on to perform with ODC’s youth company, started making work together after college, and launched Kickbal in 2019. They have presented their work nationally at Pulitzer Arts Foundation in St. Louis, MO, David Zwirner Gallery in New York, NY, and locally at Fresh Festival, BAMPFA, YBCA, Dance Lovers 8, ODC Pilot71, LevySalon, Works in the Works, SAFEhouse, and SPF12. They are choreographers in residence at RoundAntennae under the mentorship of KT Nelson.
These performances of HOMEBODY were made possible in part by the Fleishhacker Opportunity Fund at ODC.
For more information about Kickbal, visit kickbal.co or follow us on instagram @kickbal.co