On April 16 and 17, The New Hazlett Theater will present “GRAPPLING,” a dance show created by Erin Kouwe, an assistant professor of dance at Slippery Rock University.
Kouwe is the creator and one of the performers in this show.
“Anchored by Kouwe’s background in choreography and personal narrative, GRAPPLING explores how implanted memories affect productivity in an interstellar landscape,” says a press release from Krista Ream. “Audiences will experience a vivid artistic journey as astronauts traverse space, with memories and motion colliding.”
Kaylin Horgan is a dancer performing the role of an astronaut.
“Grappling” is a beautiful and timely production. It connects not only with the recent Artemis II exploration, but also those of worth, cost and time, themes that feel especially urgent in our current cultural moment. Visually, the show is striking, including a massive, spaceship-like staircase that becomes a powerful centerpiece,” Horgan said.
Horgan discussed how she joined this production.
“Erin and I met back in college, along with Sarah. When Erin asked me to be a part of this process and told me who was in the cast, it was a no brainer,” Horgan said. “Erin, Sarah and Lindsay are incredible, and now meeting Ken and Andrea made it that much more of an awesome experience. I was also a former CSA artist back in 2021. I love the program so I was very excited to return to work in the New Hazlett Theater.”
SRU faculty and students are also cast in this performance.
Lindsay Fisher Viatori, associate professor of dance, is a cast member performing the role of an astronaut.
Fisher Viatori discussed what made her want to be part of this production.
“Erin is such a wonderful colleague, and I wanted to help in any way that I could. I offered many versions of what this would look like, and Erin asked if I wanted to perform. I enjoy durational works and an evening-length dance performance is quite durational. It’s been some time since I’ve been involved in a collaborative process, so I was excited to take this on with other professional dancers in the area,” Fisher Viatori said.
Fisher Viatori and Horgan discussed their favorite part of this production.
“My favorite part of the show? That’s hard… honestly, it’s probably the moments I get to watch my cast mates perform their solos. They’re so incredibly talented,” Horgan said. “Most of us are at the age where most people have quit dancing already. It’s worth saying that the show has not been easy to put together when most of the cast is working full time all day every day before rehearsals… going again with the theme of the show, it’s enlightening, yet sometimes sad, to feel how much artists have to do to support themselves just to carve out enough space to do their artwork. I’m happy to have been able to do this with them.”
“I just love the way Erin’s mind works,” Fisher Viatori said. “The way they wrapped the entire story together and deconstructed/reconstructed the narrative is quite beautiful. I enjoy art that makes you think or question, and “GRAPPLING” does this well. I also really enjoy being part of a process with other dancers who are older. Of the 5five performers in the show, four of us are over the age of 35. I think it’s really important to see mature dancers on stage; it demonstrates for our students that this career has longevity and that your value as a dancer doesn’t diminish as you get older.”
“GRAPPLING” has three showings: Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, April 17 at 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Individual tickets are available for purchase on the New Hazlett website. Tickets range from $25–$35, with the matinee being pay-what-you-can.
Fisher Viatori shared advance for aspiring performers.
“Do everything. Experience everything. And I don’t just mean things that align with your artistic medium. You are a much more valuable artist if you have lived experiences that are vast,” Fisher Viatori said. “You can authentically tell more stories if you’ve experienced more. Read, go to museums, attend live music events, watch live and filmed theatre. Allow the world and the vast offering of art to inspire you in every way. And know that many people won’t understand what you do; they will find every opportunity to tell you that you should choose something ‘more stable’ in life. To that I say, they are speaking from what they know and from what they need. You only get one life and it’s quite short. Do something every day that reminds you what a gift it is be be alive and to be an artist.”
