Monster Dance Performance October 24, 2009

Date/Time:
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Sunday, October 25, 2009, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Sunday, October 25, 2009, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Appropriate For: Adults

Contact: info@thecjm.org or call 415.655.7800

About the Program:
The Contemporary Jewish Museum is pleased to present its inaugural dance performance in its now iconic “Yud” gallery with a presentation of Rebecca Pappas’ evening-length work Monster, presented as part of Nextbook's Jewish Body Festival.

Since the new building opened in June of 2008, the Yud gallery, designed for sound installation and performance, has become a highly sought-after performance space, combining Daniel Libeskind’s soaring architecture with state-of-the-art audio technology.

Called "compelling" and "mesmerizing" by the Los Angeles Times, Monster immerses viewers in a world where the line between human and monster grows increasingly thin. It weaves together theatrical, monstrous creatures, high-energy pseudo-folk dances, and probing questions about Jewish identity, shame, and what it means to be a victim and a victimizer to create a provocative picture of the Jewish body in Diaspora.

After the performance, choreographer Rebecca Pappas will discuss the creation of Monster, which will include a multi-media presentation exploring the “history” of the Jewish body, and the contemporary legacy of trauma as defined by a variety of textual sources.

Monster is presented in conjunction with the Museum exhibition There’s a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak.

Sponsors:
The performances are presented in partnership with Nextbook Inc., as part of Jewish Body Week - a series of events around the country exploring the subjects raised in Melvin Konner's 2009 book, The Jewish Body. Nextbook Inc. is a nonprofit organization promoting Jewish culture through its public programs, its Jewish Encounters book series (including The Jewish Body) published by Nextbook Press/Schocken, and Tablet Magazine, Nextbook's new daily online publication. For more information about Nextbook, please visit nextbook.com. To see a full schedule of Jewish Body Week events, please visit jewishbodyweek.com.