Scott Wells & Dancers to Premiere FATHER ON at ODC Theater, 12/5-8

Scott Wells & Dancers is proud to announce the world premiere of FATHER ON, an evening-length dance about 21st-century fatherhood co-created by Scott Wells and Sheldon B. Smith. Father On runs December 5 - 8, 2013 at ODC Theater.

Father On explores the many joys and complexities that make up fathering in an era of two-income earner households. Performed by an all-male ensemble, Father Oncombines the artists' autobiographies with physical invention to explore the often contradictory ways in which fathers are expected to act today.

"Father On is a natural extension of my career's focus in making dances for men (Rocky v. Baryshnikov, Wrestling with Affection, Dad's War)," says Wells. "As a father myself, the question of how to raise children is often a topic of conversation, and I have become very familiar with the corner of the bookstore devoted to parenting. There's unconditional parenting, attachment parenting, hand-in-hand parenting, authoritative parenting, instinctive parenting, permissive parenting, free range parenting -- the list goes on."

Father On approaches the confusion of competing parenting theories with a mixture of genuine curiosity and dark humor. The moments of conception and birth, a toddler's meltdown and bedtime, among many others are spurs for physical invention.

"Like the stories that we make up to entertain our kids on a long drive, Father On is filled with moments of playful nonsense and moments of tender truths," adds Smith. "The work features unpredictable interruptions and multiple attempts to resolve all manner of messy circumstances."

Father On is Wells and Smith's first collaboration together. They are joined by performers Stephen Buescher, Rajendra Serber and Christoph Schutz.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and may be purchased online at odcdance.org/buytickets.php or by calling the ODC Theater box office at 415-863-9834, Monday through Friday from 12-3pm.

Photo by David Papas

Need more Dance Theatre News in your life? Sign up for all the news on the Fall season, discounts & more...