“A Bauschian take on intimacy…. The performers gasp, pant and get squashed. They pull their clothes on and off. The manic succession of intimacies – lick this, bite this – mocks the rigidly sequential choreography of porn…But it’s all done with a bouncy good cheer.” – the Guardian (U.K.)

NYU Skirball will present the U.S. premiere of Meg Stuart/Damaged Goods’ "Until Our Hearts Stop", choreographed by Meg Stuart, on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 pm.

In "Until Our Hearts Stop", six performers and a three-piece, onstage jazz band, find themselves in an unreliable, high-octane refuge, both nightclub and an arena: a place of desire and illusion, experiencing extreme intimacy at each other’s hands. To the sound of throbbing basses, piano and drums – a mix between improvisation and composition – they connect and explore each other, drawing the audience into their immersive world. Stuart drew inspiration from people who retreat from the real world and construct their own, fantastic set of rules. The performers are forced to connect in uncomfortable, yet playful ways. Navigating between naivety and despair, they are dreamers who long for reality and seek new forms of appearance. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/244685365

Note: This performance contains graphic nudity and is recommended for ages 18+.

Meg Stuart is a New Orleans-born choreographer and dancer, working and living in Berlin and Brussels. Stuart moved to New York in 1983 and was actively involved in the downtown New York dance scene for many years. Together with her company, Damaged Goods, she has created over 30 stage works, ranging from solos to large-scale choreographies, site specific creations and improvisation projects. Stuart strives to develop a new language for every piece in collaboration with artists from different creative disciplines and navigates the tension between dance and theater. Her work revolves around the idea of an uncertain body, one that is vulnerable and self-reflexive, constantly searching for new presentation contexts and territories for dance. Meg Stuart/Damaged Goods has an on-going collaboration with Kaaitheater (Brussels) and HAU Hebbel am Ufer (Berlin).

NYU SKIRBALL

NYU Skirball, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is one of New York City’s major presenters of international work and has been the premier venue for cultural and performing arts events in lower Manhattan since 2003. The 860-seat theater, led by Director Jay Wegman, provides a home for internationally renowned artists, innovators and thinkers. NYU Skirball hosts over 300 events annually, from re-inventions of the classics to cutting-edge premieres, in genres ranging from dance, theater and performance arts to comedy, music and film.

NYU Skirball’s unique partnership with New York University enables it to draw on the University’s intellectual riches and resources to enhance its programming with dialogues, public forums and conversations with artists, philosophers, scientists, Nobel Laureates and journalists. www.nyuskirball.org.

TICKETS

"Until Our Hearts Stop" will play two performances on Friday, May 4 and Saturday May 5 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at www.nyuskirball.org, by phone at 212.998.4941, or in person at the Box Office, 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square: Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00–6:00 P.M.