ADAMS, MA—Olga Rabetskaya is no stranger to pushing boundaries in dance and performance–her work focuses on deep knowledge of the body and how to share emotional experience, memories, and body intelligence through movement.
In June, she’ll be exploring those themes with four dancers during an Adams Incubator residency to refine and add to her latest work, “La Playa,” with a presentation at the Adams Theater on June 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at AdamsTheater.org/events.
At its core, “La Playa” explores humanity’s relationship with nature, the forces that shape us, and the systems—both internal and external—that govern our lives. Structured as a two-part work, the first section introduces four central characters working in a beachside café, each representing an elemental force: fire (a cook), water (a cleaning lady), air (a smoking waiter), and earth (a gardener). After a transformative event—a tsunami—the second half shifts into an abstract, movement-driven celebration of the body, spirituality, and resilience, underscored by a shift from recorded to live music.
“As a creator it’s hard to be so limited if in your head it’s way bigger,” NYC-based Rabetskaya says about “La Playa,” which has been undergoing work in various residencies, including a 30-minute presentation at the Catskill Arts Space last year.
At the Adams, Rabetskaya hopes to add some visual/projection elements and layered choreography. She said she wants to build upon the existing framework, deepening character arcs, and incorporating elements of set design—something she has rarely had the opportunity to fully explore in New York.
“Right now I have a skeleton, a bit of flesh. I want to bring in more bones, skin, layers,” she said. “There aren’t a lot of residencies like this. It’s not often someone gives you a whole theater.”
While excited, Rabetskaya said she feels a lot of responsibility to present the piece in its fullest possible form at its Adams Theater workshop presentation on June 7. Even while currently in Europe working on another production, she is meeting with designers, coordinating digital projections, and overseeing musical compositions by Slava Yasser and Masha Vasilevskaya, and mapping visual elements.
“The main thing is that I want the audience to feel something,” she said. “It’s all about energy and I hope for us to be very generous in terms of sharing this energy. I’m sure the audience will feel it.”
Chase Hill Artist Residency in North Adams will provide housing for Rabetskaya and her collaborators. “Floating Tower was introduced to Olga and her work through our collaboration with Lost & Found, Anya Zicer’s project based in NYC. Many of Olga’s collaborators have previously been in residence at Chase Hill, where we provide pro bono housing for refugee and immigrant artists,” said Matti Kovler, who runs Chase Hill. “It was a natural fit to collaborate with Yina and The Adams Theater in bringing Olga’s work to Berkshire audiences. We are thrilled to support this residency and to host Olga and her group at Chase Hill.”
About the Adams Incubator
The Adams Incubator invites artists from the Berkshires and beyond to use our physical space to develop bold, original works that foster cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary collaborations. What makes our residencies unique is our dedication to cultivating the interactions between the visiting artists and the local communities.
At the Adams Incubator, we believe that cultural exchanges transform communities and we celebrate works that challenge the status quo. Please get in touch with us about residency opportunities at info@adamstheater.org
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About The Adams Theater
The Adams Theater’s mission is to create a long-lasting multi media arts institution that fosters community engagement through a diverse range of programming. Collaborating extensively with independent artists and other cultural organizations in the Berkshires, the Adams Theater celebrates creative partnerships and promotes cultural dialogues. Learn more at www.adamstheater.org.