Works & Projects Rotunda Project Initiative Launches Gala, Today

Works & Process, the performing-arts series at the Guggenheim, announces a new initiative, Works & Process Rotunda Projects. Building on its long tradition of commissioning performances for the unique architecture of the Guggenheim's Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Peter B. Lewis Theater, Works & Process will expand into the museum's rotunda. A new residency and and commissioning program, Works & Process Rotunda Projects will invite artists to create works for this iconic space. The first set of projects will feature MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance (February 16, 2017) and American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Daniil Simkin (September 5, 2017).

On October 27, 2016, the Works & Process Rotunda Projects Gala, chaired by Isaac Mizrahi,will launch this ambitious program and help raise commissioning funds. The gala will kick off with 7pm cocktails in the Peter B. Lewis Theater, followed by an 8 pm dinner in the rotunda. The event will include a special demonstration of interactive projections planned for the Simkin project and excerpts of his and Dorrance's productions. Tickets and additional information are available at www.worksandprocessgala.org.

Michelle Dorrance Rotunda Project

February 16, 2017

A 2015 MacArthur Fellow and 2013 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award Winner, Michelle Dorrance performs, teaches, and choreographs throughout the world. She is one of the most sought-after tap dancers of her generation and "one of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today," according to the New Yorker. Dorrance, leading a large cast of dancers and musicians during a three-week-long residency, will use tap dance and percussion to create a performative soundscape incorporating the rotunda as a musical instrument.

Daniil Simkin Rotunda Project

September 5, 2017

After a residency spanning four weeks, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Daniil Simkin and a cast of dancers will utilize new technology in a performance with commissioned choreography by Alejandro Cerrudo and new music. The performance will be captured by infrared motion sensors, enhanced by 3D mapped visuals, and projected onto the surface of the rotunda, creating an immersive experience that meshes technology, music, visuals, fashion, design, and dance. The projection will bridge human bodies and architecture to create a startlingly unique environment.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim
Described by the New York Times as "an exceptional opportunity to understand something of the creative process," Works & Process at the Guggenheim champions new works and offers audiences unprecedented access to leading creators and performers. In its 31-year history of more than 400 productions, Works & Process has enabled New Yorkers to see, hear, and meet the most acclaimed artists in the world, in an intimate setting unlike any other.