July 28, 2015
‘Antigona’ dance performance born at UW nominated for two Bessie awards
Dancers Juan Ogalla and Soledad Barrio in “Antigona,” presented In October 2014 by the UW World Series. Both Ogalla and the production have been nominated for Bessie awards, the highest honor in the New York dance world.Chris Bennion
Movies have the Oscars, television has the Emmys and theater has the Tonys. The dance world, though, has the New York Dance and Performance Awards — also called “the Bessies.”
“Antigona,” a dance production by Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca that was born at the University of Washington, has been nominated for two Bessie awards, the highest tribute in the New York dance world.
A flamenco retelling of Sophocles’ classic tragedy, “Antigona” was developed in residency with the UW World Series and had its world premiere at Meany Hall in October 2014 before moving to New York’s Joyce Theater. The show has been nominated for the Outstanding Production award, and Juan Ogalla, who danced the role of Haemon, has been nominated for Outstanding Performer.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Noche Flamenca for receiving the Bessie nomination for ‘Antigona,'” said Michelle Witt, artistic director of the UW World Series. “We are deeply honored to have been a part of bringing this remarkable production to life. ‘Antigona’ was the inaugural project in a new initiative to not only present the work of leading international artists here at the University of Washington but to actively support their artistic process and creative research.”
Witt added, “That this work has been recognized for its unique artistic contribution to dance, and will have a long life in performances here and abroad, is thrilling.”
The New York production, directed by Martin Santangelo, Noche Flamenca artistic director, has received strong reviews. The New York Times wrote, “A haunting, distant classicism coexists with sweaty, unmediated corporeality in this dance drama. … Displaying the same allegiances to dance as the earliest Greek dramas, it mines the martial, confrontational qualities of flamenco, and the mournful ones as well.” The article says Barrio performs the title role “with arresting intensity.”
Joan Acocella, dance critic for The New Yorker, wrote: “Never, until I saw Santangelo’s ensemble, their heels stamping, their arms cutting through the air, had I seen a chorus whose physical force could support the fate-heavy songs that Sophocles wrote for his plays.”
Barrio is no stranger to the Bessie Awards, having won one in 2001 for previous work with Noche Flamenca. The 31st Annual Bessie Awards will be held on Oct. 19 at New York’s Apollo Theater.
###
For more information about “Antigona” and its UW roots, contact Teri Mumme of the UW World Series, at 206-685-0995 or tmumme@uw.edu.
- Watch a short documentary about Noche Flamenca’s creative research and residency with the UW World Series:
Tag(s): Meany Center for the Performing Arts
