Kinetic Grace Performance Image (Courtesy of the Artist)
Tickets
Members: $10
General Tickets: $20
A preview performance of a new musical show by Ryan McNamara, to be presented by Works & Process at the Guggenheim in April 2024.
“In a way, it is the most traditional and the weirdest work I’ve ever done.”
-Ryan McNamara
Creator (some call him a cult leader) and Artist Ryan Ponder McNamara asked himself, “After all these years, what do we want out of performance?” The answer is Kinetic Grace, a musical about a cult, guided by the Greek muse Terpsichore, that worships their own sweat and choreography— ranging from hardcore, gabber, rave, disco, line dance to tectonic. McNamara is joined by collaborators Liv Bruce, Sigrid Lauren, Rebecca Patek, and Josh Weidenmiller, with a few surprise appearances from local talent and community members you may recognize!
“The Troupe” invites you to The Church for a “welcome mass” seeking newcomers to join Kinetic Grace, a movement that believes transcendence can be reached through the sacred art of dance. Be prepared to sing and dance as “The Troupe” explains its tenets, introduces its members, and, through this sacred revelry, attempts to reach Kinetic Grace.
“THE POWER IS WITHIN US, BUT STILLNESS HAS BECOME A BLOCK.
WITH A PATTERN OF MOVEMENT, ENLIGHTENMENT WILL BE UNLOCKED.”
Kinetic Grace was commissioned by Works & Process and was developed in Works & Process LaunchPAD residencies at The Watermill Center (2022) and Bethany Arts Community (2023). Following McNamara’s two-week residency at The Church, Kinetic Grace will be performed at the Guggenheim Museum in April 2024. This project is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
RYAN PONDER MCNAMARA
is a Brooklyn-based artist who works in performance, video, photography, drawing, and sculpture. His work has been featured at MoMA PS1, The Guggenheim New York, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, ICA Boston, Perez Art Museum Miami, ICA London, The Garage Moscow, The Power Plant Toronto, the Athens Biennale, and The High Line New York. His work is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. (Photo Courtesy of the Artist)