"A One Sculpture Garden" is a solo dance work by choreographer and performer João Paulo Krug Paiva, a Brazilian artist presenting the piece as the Capstone to his MFA in Choreographic Inquiry in the World Arts and Cultures/ Dance Department. In Kaufman Hall, to audiences of 120 people sitting all around the stage, the choreography pays homage to João Paulo's own study of biomechanics and to a background of movement practices that include ballet, hip-hop, modern, West-African, and Pilates.
The image of a garden consisting of a single sculpture underscores a belief that an individual artist can shape their hard-earned knowledge into assortments of unlimited depth and interest. Just as sculptures can morph into emotional displays or simple explorations of shapes, João Paulo uses dance to display how one can hold in equally high-regard all that is within one's artistry: from the classic to the bizarre, the symmetric to the distorted, the logical to the absurd.
The show will start at 7:30pm and last for around 40 minutes, which include a 5-minute pause. Currently there are plans to livestream and record the event so audiences from the choreographer's home country and, of course, any who cannot make the showing might experience it live or asynchronously. Live audiences will also have a chance to participate in an open-mic conversation with João Paulo for about 30 minutes after each showing. A reception with simple snacks, Brazilian sweets, and non-alcoholic beverages is planned for the first night after the show and chat session.