Catherine Gallant/DANCE Escape from the House of Mercy
St. Michael's Church New York, NY
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Escape from the House of Mercy is a dance theater work which considers the impact of institutions that claim to support and rehabilitate but generally warehouse people away from a society which shuns and fears them. The House of Mercy, once located in New York City, was a home for abandoned and troubled women, in fact, it was closer to a prison or workhouse to which most women and girls were brought against their wills. Here a young woman could be locked up for years for an offense such as dancing in public or walking alone at night. Inhabitants were subjected to inhumane and demoralizing treatment, in the guise of rehabilitation, during an era when the rights of the poor, especially women, were completely denied.
Choreographer Catherine Gallant invites the audience to wonder why this invisible place from the past is important now and how history connects us to the present discussion regarding the rights and privileges of women and gender equity in the world. Why is this now invisible place from the past important in the present?
The work features nine performers who have melded artistry and research to build the movement vocabulary since 2017. After cancellations in 2020 the company continued to transform the project through outdoor events and virtual showings.
Please use the pull down menu to choose Sunday, December 19.
Location
St. Michael's Church (View)
225 W 99th Street
New York, NY 10025
United States
