“Oasis” is an evening-length multimedia work based on the allegorical Middle Eastern story of Layla and Majnoon. The piece employs mystical realism to weave a layered story through movement, poetic imagery, shadow play, humor and text. Featuring a score by Maine-based Persian composer Shamou, “Oasis” grapples with issues of veiling, torture and inequality.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 12-13, at Bates College’s Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St.
For more information, visit batesdancefestival.org/EventNotes/NejlaYatkin.html.
Tickets are $25 for the general public, $18 for seniors and $12 for students. Tickets may be purchased online; by phone at 207-786-6161 from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; or by mail or in person. Learn more at batesdancefestival.org/tickets.php.
The company offers a free “Show & Tell” lecture-demonstration at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, in Schaeffer. A discussion with the artists immediately follows each of the July 12-13 performances.
NY2Dance artistic director Yatkin has been described by The New York Times as “a magician, telling tales and creating worlds with understated images and movement.” She was born in Turkey and grew up in Berlin, Germany. Her work integrates diverse traditions to explore the beauty and complexity of memory, migration, transformation, identity and multiculturalism.
She has received the New York International Fringe Festival’s Award for Overall Excellence in Choreography in 2012, the Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship in 2008 and five Metro D.C. Dance Awards.
She has created staged and site-specific works for film, theater and opera. Recent commissions include Dallas Black Dance Theatre, The Washington Ballet, Darpana Performing Group in India, Baltimore Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and River North Dance Chicago.
The Bates Dance Festival, a summer series of renowned contemporary dance, is in its fourth decade as a leading American dance center. The festival is an important laboratory for artists noted for important contributions to the contemporary dance lexicon. In addition to presenting dancemakers who have experienced significant artistic growth through the festival, the BDF continues to welcome emerging choreographers.
More about the Bates Dance Festival
Founded in 1982 at Bates College, the Bates Dance Festival brings together an international community of contemporary dance choreographers, performers, educators and students in a cooperative community to study, perform and create new work.
The festival serves as an annual destination for artists, students and audiences to engage in a full range of dance activities and performances that foster a creative exchange of ideas, encourage exploration of new ground and provide the opportunity to experience a wide spectrum of dance and movement disciplines.
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- Astrid Riecken photo Dancer and choreographer Nejla Y. Yatkin, left, and one of her six dancers, Korhan Basaran, rehearse for their upcoming show ‘Oasis: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Middle East But Were Afraid To Dance.’
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