ODC to Welcome RAWdance for World Premiere of DOUBLE EXPOSURE, 7/28-30

ODC Theater will present RAWdance in the world premiere of Double Exposure, a series of 12 duets each choreographed by a different West Coast choreographer or choreographic team. Artistic Directors Ryan T. Smith and Wendy Rein are the evening's sole performers in an event they're calling "the ultimate duet." Double Exposure runs July 28 - 30, Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 - $45, and may be purchased online at odcdance.org/tickets or by phone at 415.863.9834.

Culminating four years of development, this premiere offers a survey of contemporary West Coast dance encapsulated in the bodies of its two performers. RAWdance commissioned short works of about two to four minutes each from Amy O'Neal, Amy Seiwert, Ann Carlson, casebolt and smith, David Roussève, Holly Johnston, Joe Goode, Kate Wallich, KT Nelson, Monique Jenkinson/Fauxnique, Shinichi and Dana Iova-Koga, and Tahni Holt. As a co-commissioner on the project, ODC Theater worked closely with RAWdance in the selection of choreographers.

"Double Exposure is a departure for us," says Smith. "It's the first time we've commissioned other artists to make work on us, and we've thrown ourselves into the process with an open mind."

"It's been an incredible opportunity to work with choreographers we've always admired," adds Rein. "It's been especially rewarding to capture the distinctness of their voices in duets which remind us of why we make dance in the first place. The duets present 12 unique voices, drawing from a broad array of sources including ballet, butoh, dance theater and many more. Together they evoke questions about gender, race and identity, alternately stirring up love, pain and the occasional bout of laughter."

In addition to participating in the creation of each duet, Smith and Rein have crafted interstitial material to knit the pieces together into a seamless whole.

The musical selections in Double Exposure span the gamut from classical to lounge, from spoken and sung text to sampled dialogue from a 1970s-era French film. "In the interest of variety, we helped guide the process, but the final choices belonged to each choreographer," notes Smith.

Similarly, Smith and Rein invited the choreographers to participate in the costume design for their duets. They also invited costume designer Kristen McCullough to create select looks and collaborate on a costume through-line for the evening.

Longtime RAWdance collaborators Sean Riley and Jim French return as scenic and lighting designer, respectively.

Documenting the rehearsal and design process over the last year has been photographer Hillary Goidell. A selection of her photographs are currently on display in the lobby of ODC Theater through the end of July.

"ODC is thrilled to be a part of this project for many different reasons," remarked ODC Deputy Director for Advancement Christy Bolingbroke. "For starters, Double Exposure offers a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the work of so many different choreographers on two adroit performers. RAWdance is a company-in-residence at ODC, and our investment in them is also an investment in the creative process and the future of dance. As a disruption of their almost two-decades-long collaboration, Double Exposure has created a valuable opportunity for Ryan and Wendy to question their habits and their sense of identity as a creative duo, and ultimately to grow as artists."

In August RAWdance will perform portions of Double Exposure at Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts.

This presentation of RAWdance is made possible with generous support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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