Occupy the Stage

Artist Daniel Arsham and dancer Jonah Bokaer took their first collaboration to the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami) in 2010. “Replica” involved a disintegrating white cube created by former Miamian Arsham as the set, and experimental dance from former Merce Cunningham company member Bokaer. It was an experience that inspired the duo to continue collaborating. The two return to Miami this Friday with their third collaboration, “Occupant,” which had a developmental preview run at Washington, D.C.’s Atlas Performing Arts Center earlier this month. This more mature show runs Friday through Sunday, during Art Basel — an appropriate time, because Arsham’s visual and kinetic sets are highly artistic. In both of their disciplines, each explores the idea of collapse and rebirth — in Arsham’s case often in sparsely colored (usually black-and-white) sculptural designs, and Bokaer with his unique version of minimalist dance. For “Occupant,” Arsham’s set includes objects made from plaster and chalk — you can imagine what might happen when dancers interact with pieces made from such materials.
Dec. 6-8, 2013