WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance at Williams College, in a co-presentation with Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, is hosting ‘SOLE Defined’s ZAZ’ on Sept. 26 and 27. The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on the MainStage. Tickets are $3 for students and $28 for general admission.<\/p>\n
August 29 marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and SOLE Defined’s ZAZ shifts traditional viewing practices beyond sight and sound to embody the oral histories and recorded experiences of survivors. Performing in tap shoes, hard-soled shoes, gumboots, and barefoot, these stories are conveyed through speaking, singing, rapping, and projections, creating a unique experience that transports the audience to New Orleans.<\/p>\n
ZAZ is an immersive sensory performance that shifts traditional viewing practices beyond just sight and sound. The performers embody the oral histories and recorded experiences of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. They create a rhythmic score that supports the narration woven into the performance. These stories are conveyed through speaking, singing, rapping, and projections, creating a unique experience that transports the audience to New Orleans and breaks down the boundaries of the fourth wall.<\/p>\n
Conceived by Ryan K. Johnson, an acclaimed 2024 Guggenheim Choreography Fellow and recipient of the prestigious 2024 New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project production grant, this choreography-led performance intricately weaves soundscapes and cutting-edge media technology with vibrant percussive dance. Zaz includes Associate Director Jodeci Milhouse with choreographic contributions from all performers, guest choreography by Quynn Johnson and Michelle Gibson and musical arrangements by Tamar Greene of Hamilton, Broadway company and Henley Connor III. (75 mins. no intermission)<\/p>\n