Yvonne Rainer's 'The Concept of Dust' at The Kitchen Explores History Through Movement and Text
From June 2 to June 4, 2016, Yvonne Rainer showcased 'The Concept of Dust: Continuous Project—Altered Annually' at The Kitchen in New York. The performance opened with the announcement of dancer Pat Catterson's passing, only to have her appear on stage shortly after. Catterson delivered a tap dance routine intertwined with narratives about enslaved Africans, transitioning the atmosphere from humorous to serious. The dancers' awkward movements elicited laughter, despite an underlying sense of tension. Rainer incorporated found texts, including excerpts from Kingsley Amis and Maureen N McLane's 'My Poets' (2012), distributed in packets. A darker segment featured a voice narrating fossil history, mirroring the dancers' synchronization. The work examined the accumulation of history through overlooked narratives and the metaphorical dust surrounding everyday chaos.
Key facts
- Yvonne Rainer performed 'The Concept of Dust: Continuous Project—Altered Annually' at The Kitchen
- Performances occurred June 2-4, 2016 at 512 W 19th Street in New York
- Pat Catterson delivered a tap dance sequence with text about enslaved Africans forced to dance
- Rainer used found texts from sources including Kingsley Amis and Maureen N McLane's 'My Poets' (2012)
- Dancers executed intentionally stilted, quotidian movements with imperfect coordination
- A section performed in complete darkness featured a voice recounting fossil history
- The performance explored themes of historical citation, lost voices, and neglected stories
- Rainer distributed texts in stapled packets and sometimes chased dancers to have them read excerpts
Entities
Artists
- Yvonne Rainer
- Pat Catterson
- Kingsley Amis
- Maureen N McLane
Institutions
- The Kitchen
- Metropolitan Museum
- New York Times
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Africa