Photos by Sarah Annie Navarette
moonfall
a new immersive ballet with chamber orchestra
ATX Premiere | May 10-11, 16-18, 2024, 7:30p
DadaLab - 2008 Alexander Avenue (between MLK and Manor)
Presented by Red Nightfall Dance Theatre and Density512
Concept and Choreography by Dorothy O’Shea Overbey
Story and Music by Samuel Lipman
Art & Projection by Yuliya Lanina
MoonFall is a new immersive, interactive ballet that explores desire, climate change, and our relationship with the cosmos.
Two innovative Austin arts organizations, Red Nightfall Dance Theatre and Density512 pool their creativity and resources to bring together this unique theatrical experience with local Austin professional dancers and a live chamber orchestra of 12 Austin musicians.
MoonFall will be an unforgettable experience. Audience members will quite literally step into a story book, be transported to a fantasy world where they will fall in love with dramatic characters, powerful choreography, and a captivating soundtrack. They’ll walk away with an indelible connection with ballet, music, and art.
MoonFall is relevant. Supporting MoonFall means supporting environmental action. With its story built around climate causality, MoonFall joins the global conversation on civic responsibility, suggesting the untapped power of small communities. MoonFall purports a revolution against fear and oppression, proclaiming a world where all life and expression of humanity can thrive.
The original score for MoonFall is lovingly dedicated to the memory of the beloved Austin musician, composer, and musical satirist Steve Saugey.
Photo at the KMFA Classical Draylen Mason Theatre by Rachael Hall Photography.
Conductor and Density512 Artistic Director Jacob Schnitzer, Composer Sam Lipman, Director/Choreographer/Dancer Dorothy O’Shea Overbey, Dancers: Navaji David Nava, Ty Graynor, Tikiri Shapiro, Rachel Culver and Density512 ensemble.
"Magnificent" – "Absolutely loved it!! Bravo!!!" – "Spectacular"– "Beautiful" – "Fantastic and this is just the beginning!"
Thank you for joining us at the Preview Performance of MoonFall as part of KMFA Day, the birthday celebration of Austin’s treasured classical music radio station!
A huge THANK YOU to KMFA for supporting their incredible support of performing artists in Austin!
Thank you also to our wonderful cast of dancers, Dorothy O’Shea Overbey, Navaji David Nava, Ty Graynor, Tikiri Shapiro, Rachel Culver
Photos by Jack Kloecker
Meet the Team behind MoonFall!
Dorothy O’Shea Overbey, concept and choreography.
Dorothy O’Shea Overbey believes that the creation and practice of art is humanity’s most powerful means of healing and transformation. Overbey is a classically trained dancer, choreographer, pianist who grew up in Austin and went on to become an international performer and producer. Overbey offers her audiences experiences of connection, inspiration, and empowerment. She founded Red Nightfall Productions in 2017, and she serves the Central Texas arts community as co-owner of First Street Studio, an affordable rehearsal and performance venue in East Austin. dorothyoshea.com
Sam Lipman, Story & Music
Sam Lipman is a passionate advocate for the transformation of tradition. Part classical scholar, part innovator, Lipman has composed for multiple genres and stages across the world. His award-winning productions for theater, film and the concert stage marry artistic discipline with story-telling fluency that appeals to all. Lipman’s work has shortlisted for an Oscar, won the Austin Critics Table award, and been performed in Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and Sydney Opera House. He teaches his innovative philosophy as a Professor of Composition at UT Austin.
Jacob Schnitzer, Music Director
Jacob Schnitzer is a conduit through which the powers of music, storytelling, and art connect with others. In the 2022-23 season Jacob enters his sixth year as Artistic Director and Conductor of the chamber orchestra and new music collective Density512 in Austin, Texas, and starts as Assistant Conductor of The Missouri Symphony (MOSY). Jacob’s studied with Bramwell Tovey at Boston University, Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, and is a doctoral candidate at the UMKC Conservatory. Visit https://jacobschnitzer.com/
Density512 is a chamber orchestra and collective of brave and open musicians in Austin, TX, who champion contemporary programming. We tell stories through imaginatively curated experiences, amplify the voices of groundbreaking and emerging artists, and cultivate interdisciplinary collaborations.
Yuliya Lanina, Projection Design
Yuliya Lanina is an interdisciplinary artist whose work bridges traditional media with new technologies. She creates alternate realities in her works—ones based on sexuality, trauma and identity. Lanina has exhibited and performed extensively both nationally and internationally. Lanina's professional honors include fellowships and scholarships from Fulbright (Vienna, Austria), Headlands Art Center (CA), Yaddo (NY), Artpace (SA), and Honorable citation from New York State Assembly (NYC). Lanina’s work was featured on the front cover of Austin Chronicle (2023) weekly newspaper and has been reviewed in many publications. Lanina is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies at The University of Texas at Austin. yuliyalanina.com
Kenzie Slottow, Producer
Kenzie Slottow believes that everything is connected, and makes work that bridges art forms, challenges the impossible, and feels human. Their work of the last few years includes an original musical made for live YouTube performance from across the country and a virtual interactive comedy experience with improvised live scoring by 6 musicians. Slottow’s productions have won B. Iden Payne awards, sold out shows, invited audiences to actively participate in the act of creation, and brought together local Austin production companies and artists to collaborate.
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We would not be here without you
For the Wonder
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