MOVING EASTMAN, Elaine Mitchener

In the organizer's words:

"MOVING EASTMAN" is a dance and sound performance that will premiere in London on April 3, 2025 and is inspired by the complex life of the black American composer Julius Eastman. Eastman, who died in 1990 at the age of just 49, is a key figure in American music of the late 20th century. As a black, gay composer of contemporary music, he lived every aspect of his identity to the full. His attitude was a total attack on the status quo. Inspired by his life and legacy, Moving Eastman responds to Mitsuye Yamada's quote "Invisibility is not a natural state for anyone" and sparks a discussion about who controls the narratives and who tells the story. The work embodies his unconventional approach to art, which spans different genres and disciplines in search of artistic freedom. The performance is directed by Elaine Mitchener, a longtime collaborator with The Rolling Calf. The choreography and concept are by director Dam Van Huynh and the staging is based on found materials such as images, notes, interviews and sounds.