Joan Laage

Strand [2014] is inspired by the culture of hair and by the choreographer's personal journey from waist length hair to shaven head and how hairstyle became an integral part of her performance. Control of one's hairstyle is a source either of autonomy or degradation. Given hairstyle's link with an individual's identity, what might be the significance of a single remaining strand of hair, both to the performer and the viewer? Strand premiered in Seattle in December 2014 and was created especially for K.R.O.P.P., a performance series in Uppsala, Sweden.

Stations [2014]

Choreographed & performed by Joan Laage (Kogut Butoh)
Music by utsusemi (David Noble & Dmitry Artamonov)
Costume by Joan Laage

Stations is a new solo created from material from the Suitcases Project. Stations is the latest in a body of work inspired by the WWII period and years following the war, a time full of fragmentation of families and hardships, loss and dislocation for vast numbers of people. Throughout history, a train journey has led to encampment and death, as well as provided escape, freedom, and opportunity.