First conceived in 2018, The Piers Project is inspired by the history and documentation of the world that existed on Manhattan’s west side piers in the 1970’s & 80’s. In the post-Stonewall era, the area became a space of sexual freedom and expression among the crumbling relics of the piers. Through the photos and writings of the Piers at the time, we imagine the moments and movements that occurred here, creating a dance work that evokes the freedom, the exuberance, the anonymity and the dangers of the Piers scene. The work will receive its full premiere in September 2022 on the High Line.

The program will also feature the premiere of Life/Space, inspired by Gestalt psychological theory. The piece explores a humanistic approach to the study of the individual and how the forces of attraction and repulsion affect our paths through space and time.

This work has been made possible by commissioning grants from the O’Donnell-Green Music & Dance Foundation and the Jamaica Dance Festival, and was developed partially through support from Speaker Corey Johnson and the Cultural Immigrant Initiative.