In Conversation with Annie-B Parson

By Alexis Jacquet, Fall 2021–Spring 2022 Curatorial Intern

 

The “In Dialogue” series spotlights conversations between members of The Kitchen’s community about art and ideas.


Annie-B Parson is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Big Dance Theater, a company known for merging dance, theater, music, and visual design that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. Parson's work focuses on choreographing momentary realms––using a variety of elements such as “mood, tonality, and color” to engage the audience while releasing the need for linear structure.

From November 30–December 5, 2021, BAM in association with The Kitchen presented The Mood Room, Big Dance Theater’s latest production. Ahead of the premiere, I had the opportunity to interview Parson. Through my research into Big Dance Theater, I became particularly interested in Parson’s individual practice. I chose to focus on better understanding her artistic process and the inspirations for her craft. More than anything, I wanted to know: What has made Annie-B Parson Annie-B Parson? And, what has inspired her artistic development throughout her career? 

The video interview to the left emerged out of email correspondence with Parson and Sara Pereira de Silva, the Executive Director of Big Dance Theater. Together, we conducted a video interview that provides an introduction to Parson’s mind and philosophies. In referencing her practice, the dialogue offers food for thought for those engaged with all mediums, sheds light on how we may all incorporate her philosophies into our daily lives, shares insight on establishing personal artistic voices, and more.

Closed captions are available for this video: select the "English CC" option on the bottom right of the video player. Full production credits are available below.

 

Photo Documentation from Big Dance Theater, The Mood Room at BAM, November 30–December 5, 2021

 

Past Big Dance Theater Productions at The Kitchen

The Kitchen has been an ongoing supporter of Big Dance Theater and has maintained an over twenty-year relationship with the company. Big Dance Theater has presented four works at The Kitchen including Comme Toujours Here I Stand (2009) and Shunkin (2001), excerpts from which are embedded below. For more information about Big Dance Theater’s past productions at The Kitchen, visit The Kitchen’s Archive Website.


Production Credits:

This virtual interview was conducted with Annie-B Parson in November 2021 ahead of the world premiere of Big Dance Theater’s The Mood Room, presented at BAM in association with The Kitchen, November 30–December 5, 2021. Produced by Alexis Jacquet, Fall 2021/Spring 2022 Curatorial Intern

Video Editing by Sara Pereira da Silva, Executive Director, Big Dance Theater

Special thanks to Rayna Holmes and Matthew Lyons

The Kitchen’s partnership with BAM was organized by Tim Griffin and Matthew Lyons

Video and Images: 1) Interview with Annie-B Parson, 2021. Videography by Annie-B Parson. 2) Kate Moran in Big Dance Theater, The Mood Room, November 30–December 5, 2021. Performance view at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Photo by Maria Baranova. 3) Left: Elizabeth DeMent, Kate Moran, Michelle Sui, and Myssi Robinson in Big Dance Theater, The Mood Room, November 30–December 5, 2021. Performance view at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Photo by Maria Baranova. Right: Kate Moran, Elizabeth DeMent, and Myssi Robinson in Big Dance Theater, The Mood Room, November 30–December 5, 2021. Performance view at Brooklyn Academy of Music. Photo by Maria Baranova. 5) Excerpt from Big Dance Theater, Comme Toujours Here I Stand, October 1–4, 2009 at The Kitchen. Videography by Iki Nakagawa. 6) Excerpt from Big Dance Theater, Shunkin, September 5–8, 2001 at The Kitchen. Videography by Iki Nakagawa.

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