Dream of a Common Language (World Premiere)

Choreographer Adriana Pierce created Queer the Ballet to broaden the scope of classical ballet to authentically include LGBTQ+ voices and narratives, focusing on queer cis women, trans people of all genders, and nonbinary dancers. “Dream of a Common Language” is a new evening-length ballet inspired by lesbian writer and activist Adrienne Rich’s 1978 poetry collection of the same name. Directed by Adriana Pierce, the program includes choreography by Pierce, Minnie Lane, Rosie Elliott, and Lenai Alexis Wilkerson. The story follows six dancers’ journeys through community, friendship, romance, and heartbreak, bringing to light the similarities between Adrienne Rich’s yearning for queer community in the ‘70s and queer ballet dancers’ current struggles to find each other. From mountaintops to dimly lit bars, this new ballet illuminates the struggles and joys of LGBTQ+ people through history and queer dancers today: all dreaming of a common language to connect them.

“Dream of a Common Language” is co-presented by the CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI), an expansive program providing New York City choreographers and dance companies with residencies on CUNY college campuses. www.cuny.edu/danceinitiative