Opera-scale Production

A punk-rock dance psychodrama
— San Francisco Examiner

REVIEWS

First Breath, Last Breath: Butoh-inspired theater
– Nirmala Nataraj, San Francisco Chronicle

Bad Unkl Sista’s Butoh Transcends the Sense of Self
– Elizabeth Coleman, ArtAnimal

Soaring in the Air, Writhing on the Ground
Larissa Archer, ZYZZYVA

First Breath - Last Breath (2012)

Imagine a grand procession of Life, flourishing and relentless. A grand pageant of Death, opulent and ruthless. Some believe we are at a crisis in our human existence, while others are afraid to believe. The experience of art is necessary in order to integrate the intensity of our present evolution.

This opera-scale performance was produced in collaboration with an array of extremely talented artists and collaborators. Nine months from initial conception through premiere.

Executive Producer + Music Director + Performer

Premiered April 27–28, 2012
Z Space, San Francisco

Anastazia Louise, Producer + Artistic Director
Gala Aranaga, Executive Producer + Music Director

Dancers

Anastazia Louise
Michael Curran
Shannon Gray Collier
Kristen Greco
Karl Gillick
Alvin Gaines-Molina
Brittany Berg

Breath Chorus

Amy LeBlanc
April Taylor
Wanda Kraikit
Kaki Gillick
Erika Mark

Orchestra

Gala Aranaga
Julia Hathaway
Daniel Yasmin
Surly (Laela Peterson-Stolen) 
F’kir Eldercake
Connor Jon O’Sullivan

Crew

Frédéric Boulay, Production Manager
Matthew Antaky, Lighting Design
Karl Gillick, Rigging Design
Shrine On, Set Design
Paolo Salvagione, Installation Art (Orbit sculpture)
Rolf Pixley, Yantra Mechanic