JERSEY CITY, NJ - Choreographer Samantha Geracht brings modernist dance to Jersey City in an evening of dances united by the metaphor of a bench as a place of isolation or being sidelined. Classical modern dances “Mourner’s Bench” by Talley Beatty and an excerpt of Anna Sokolow’s “Magritte Magritte,” share the stage with contemporary works, including “The Shekhinah/Voices” by Janis Brenner, “Bound and Determined” by Robert E. Cleary, and Geracht’s own premier. This collaborative premier, titled “Benched, ” was closely created with performer Clarence Brooks and takes inspiration from Beatty’s “Mourner’s Bench” and Leni Williams’ “Sweet In The Morning.” Performances are June 13 and 14, 2025, at Purdie Space in Jersey City, 523 Palisade Ave Jersey City, NJ 07307. Tickets are free, but attendees are asked to register prior to the show.
Performed by a multigenerational cast and made up of premiers and iconic restaged dances, this powerful concert is made possible in part by the Individual Artist Fellowship program, provided by the Jersey City Arts Council and the Jersey City Arts & Culture Trust Fund. Says creator Samantha Geracht, “Dance is essential, because it speaks to the issues of our time on a kinetic, visceral level. This performance allows me to build upon my artistic roots in New Jersey, and work toward creating a dance festival in Jersey City Heights, bringing together a consortium of Jersey City choreographers.”
