Branch Dance Installations and Staged Works
States of Gravity & Light #2
“Against the backdrop of Soto's thrilling, dizzying video, shot in Philadelphia's Wissahickon Park, dancers Jumatatu Poe and Noemí Segarra appeared to be denizens of their natural environment, not explorers. They might have lived in these "states" forever-Poe exuding ethereal light in his legato dancing; Segarra providing the serious gravity, a more stark force with her forbidding warrior's gaze and firmly-shaped movements.”
Eva Yaa Asantewaa, GAY CITY NEWS
Three Branch Songs
“This branch, so delicate and slender, sometimes turned beneath her fingers like a living creature, a familiar spirit, or perhaps a fakir's staff about to morph into a heap of rope and make a crowd of gawkers gasp. Carefully maneuvering the branch, Soto stepped slowly, crouched, turned, rose, extended her arm, placed her weight first on one foot and then the other, and walked backwards with eyes closed. Watching this simple passage unfold with its certainty and luminosity, I thought that if I could dance like this, I would be the happiest dancer in the world.”
Eva Yaa Asantewaa, GAY CITY NEWS
Performance/installation in surround sound and video for 4 dancers.
Premiere: Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, Sept 2009
Length: 55 minutes
"As the show evolves, the dancers’ movements, too, evolve from ever so slow balancing and turning the appendages, which are quite heavy, to dragging them around the space and hurling them in giant circles. Video projection and nature sound creates alternating moods of menacing fear, anxiety and peace, while the dancers’ silhouettes are projected around the room. One marvels at their sheer strength and focus. —Jenna Portnoy, Philadelphia City Paper
Premiere: Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, Sept 2009
Length: 55 minutes
"As the show evolves, the dancers’ movements, too, evolve from ever so slow balancing and turning the appendages, which are quite heavy, to dragging them around the space and hurling them in giant circles. Video projection and nature sound creates alternating moods of menacing fear, anxiety and peace, while the dancers’ silhouettes are projected around the room. One marvels at their sheer strength and focus. —Jenna Portnoy, Philadelphia City Paper
Postcards From the Woods
Photo: Steven Schreiber
Photo: Alan Kolc
Photos: Marisol Diaz
Branch Dances Blog
Photos: Cylla Von Tiedeman
Duet
for Noemí Segarra & Jumatatu Poe set in a videoscape created by
Soto, shot in a hand-held camera-movement style emphasizes the
relationship of the gaze and bodily movement.
Premiere: November 2006, Hostos Center for Arts & Culture, NYC.
Length: 25 minutes
Duet for Soto and pianist Elio Villafranca
Premiere: January 2006, Temple University, Philadelphia
Length:25 minutes
Premiere: January 2006, Temple University, Philadelphia
Length:25 minutes
