And Then, Now leads guests through historic Green-Wood Cemetery (photo courtesy Jody Oberfelder Projects)
And Then, Now
Green-Wood Cemetery
Fifth Ave. and 25th St., Brooklyn
May 4-6, $30
www.jodyoberfelder.com
www.green-wood.com
“Are Americans always in a hurry?” dancer and choreographer Jody Oberfelder asked in a May 2022 diary entry published in The Dance Enthusiast.
She was writing about her site-specific piece Splash Dance, which took place in the pool in the John Madejski Garden at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, but she could have been referring to so much of her work.
Founded in New York City in 1988, Jody Oberfelder Projects has staged immersive, participatory, and/or site-specific performances in an officers house on Governors Island, at the since-demolished amphitheater in East River Park, on pedestrian bridges in Germany, and in the 6½ Ave. corridor in midtown Manhattan, among other locations around the United States and the globe. This weekend, Oberfelder will be in historic Green-Wood Cemetery for the world premiere of And Then, Now, a unique guided hike through the cemetery, which boasts spectacular vistas, lush green hills and giant trees, monk parakeets, and remarkable headstones, mausoleums, gates, and catacombs. Among the famous and infamous buried there are Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Lola Montez, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Horace Greeley. Comfortable footwear is strongly suggested; seating will not be available as everyone winds through the environs.
And Then, Now gives attendees the opportunity to slow down and contemplate as part of an intimate community. “Invite someone you’ve lost to walk with us,” one of the dancers offers.
“In this season of rebirth, amidst a challenging time for our collective humanity, we extend a heartfelt invitation to our neighbors to witness moments of exquisite artistry and profound reflection among the historic backdrop of Green-Wood Cemetery,” Oberfelder said in a statement. “Through dance, music, and dialogue, let us honor the enduring power of connection by bridging the gap between the echoes of the past and their tangible influence on our present lives.”
There will be four performances, including a special twilight show on May 6, for which flashlights are encouraged. The 105-minute immersive, performative walk will feature three dancers at a time (Maria Anton-Arters, Andi Farley Shimota, Michael Greenberg, Justin Lynch, and Oberfelder), with live music by the Glass Clouds Ensemble, consisting of violinist Raina Arnett, violist Noémie Chemali, and vocalist Marisa Karchin playing pieces by Henry Purcell, Missy Mazzoli, and others. The costumes are by Reid & Harriet, with sound by Sean Hagerty and dramaturgy by Rebekah Morin. Having seen many of Oberfelder’s works over the last twenty years, I can’t recommend And Then, Now highly enough, as she always delivers a special experience.
[Mark Rifkin is a Brooklyn-born, Manhattan-based writer and editor; you can follow him on Substack here.]