Robert Moses’ KIN 30th Anniversary Season: A Conversation with Choreographer Nol Simonse
By Garth Grimball

If you’ve attended a dance class or performance in the past 30 years and heard a gentle welcome of “Hi, honey,” you’ve likely met Nol Simonse. Simonse has been a staple of the Bay Area dance community as a dancer with Garrett+Moulton Productions, Sean Dorsey Dance, and more; as a choreographer of his own works and collaborations with Christy Funsch; as a dance teacher and class taker. No matter the context he brings a generosity of spirit to dancing and dance making.

On March 14-18, Simonse will premiere Before The Storm as part of Robert Moses’ KIN 30th Anniversary Season at Z Space. Simonse’s new work is being produced as part of RMK’s New Legacies program that commissions artists of varying disciplines to create together. Simonse is collaborating with musician Lawrence Tome and playwright Jim Cave.

Moses has given the artists complete freedom to explore the idea of legacy, said Simonse. The collaborative trio considered dance lineages and political movements before deciding on environmental legacy. “What kind of world are we leaving behind?” is the foundational question in the work.

“How do we balance the anxiety and anticipation with care? How do we take care of each other?” said Simonse. “We have to keep going even though the storm is coming.”

Simonse, Tome and Cave were active in the rehearsal process, giving each other feedback, “disrupting” each other’s work, said Simonse. Before The Storm is a trio danced by Eden Magana, Giulia Sales, and Mitch Stone. Part of the creative process included interviewing the dancers. “If it was your last day on earth, how would you spend it?” “What would you pack to leave earth?” Their answers influenced movement and sound score.

While creating a new work in the two weeks allotted for the commission was a “pressure cooker,” Simonse immediately felt a sense of freedom in the project. “Robert [Moses] would say, ‘you create, don’t worry about anything else,’” said Simonse.

While the environmental legacy currently being perpetuated is cause for alarm, Simonse is sanguine about the Bay Area’s dance legacy.

“How many dance companies in the Bay Area are celebrating anniversaries?” asked Simonse. “These are huge milestones of pillars in the community. I know that we are still rocking it. How lucky are we that we have a community that supports 50 years of choreographic work. Where else is that true?”

Robert Moses' KIN 30th Anniversary Home Season: The Kennings

March 14-16 at Z Space, San Francisco
Purchase tickets here

Nol Simonse. Photo by Anna Simonse.

Garth Grimball is a dance writer and artist based in Oakland, CA. He is a contributor to SF Examiner and Dance Media. He is the editor of ODC’s Dance Stories.

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Related post:
Artist profile: Robert Moses