Artist in Residence: Wicked Bodies, a work in process and talkback, with Choreographer Liz Lerman

Liz Lerman and her cast will share excerpts of Wicked Bodies, a new dance-theater piece, from their two-week residency at Bethany. The piece asks why is some knowledge celebrated, some criminalized, and some erased altogether? And who gets to document, describe and save the remnants? In the presence of magic both old and new, and a surprising collection of witches, audiences will make their way through a restless story and a smashing of worlds.

During the residency, Liz will work with her creative team and performers to finalize the structure and design of her new dance theater piece Wicked Bodies. This is one of the last residencies to occur before the piece premieres in April 2022 and the first time the group will be together since January 2020.

This event is being held in-person at Bethany Arts Community and proof of vaccination is required. For your safety, and the safety of our artists and staff, attendance is being limited and you will be required to wear a mask while at Bethany irrespective of vaccination status. Please read our Covid-19 Safety Statement before your visit.

Bio: Liz Lerman is a choreographer, performer, writer, educator and speaker, and the recipient of honors including a 2002 MacArthur “Genius Grant” and a 2017 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award. Key to her artistry is opening her process to various publics, resulting in research and outcomes that are participatory, urgent, and usable. She founded Dance Exchange in 1976 and led it until 2011. Her recent work Healing Wars toured the US. Liz teaches Critical Response Process, creative research, the intersection of art and science, and the building of narrative within dance at institutions such as Harvard, Yale School of Drama, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her third book is Hiking the Horizontal: Field Notes from a Choreographer. As of 2016 she is an Institute Professor at Arizona State University.