Maria Hassabi’s PREMIERE will have its world premiere at the Kitchen as part of Performa 13
PREMIERE
The Kitchen
512 West 19th St. between Tenth & Eleventh Aves.
November 6-9, $12-$15, 8:00
Performa 13 continues through November 24
212-255-5793
www.thekitchen.org
www.13.performa-arts.org
Like her titles, Maria Hassabi’s performances might seem minimalist on the surface, but there’s a whole lot more lurking underneath. In such works as 2009’s SOLO at P.S. 122 for FIAF’s Crossing the Line Festival, that same year’s SoloShow at P.S. 122 for Performa 09, and 2011’s Show at the Kitchen (and later held outdoors on the Broad St. cobblestones for the River to River Festival), Hassabi usually appears by herself or with one other dancer (most often the magical Hristoula Harakas), utilizes few if any props (a carpet, a single platform), and moves not to music but to live and prerecorded local sounds that can even incorporate the audience’s own preshow murmurings. This week the Cyprus-born, New York-based dancer and choreographer returns to the Kitchen for the world premiere of the aptly titled Premiere, a copresentation with Performa 13. Featuring Hassabi, Harakas, Robert Steijn, Biba Bell, and Andros Zins-Browne, with sound design by Alex Waterman and visual art and dramaturgy by Scott Lyall (both Hassabi regulars), Premiere explores that moment when a new piece and the public first come together, as performers and the performance meet viewer and critic. It’s sort of like a blind date, neither side quite knowing how things will go but hoping to make a connection. It’s a situation rife with fear, anticipation, and promise, and it should be fascinating to see how Hassabi brings that to life. Premiere runs at the Kitchen from November 6 to 9; Performa 13 continues through November 24 with such other shows as Molly Lowe’s Hands Off at Temp Arts Space, Cally Spooner’s And You Were Wonderful, on Stage at the National Academy, Einat Amir’s Our Best Intentions at Affirmation Arts, Pete Drungle’s Dream Sequences for Solo Piano at Roulette, and Katarzyna Krakowiak’s free The Great and Secret Show at the James A. Farley Post Office.