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This Performance was a direct follow up to the Veils installation at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State park in Dumbo in 2002. Amazingly, once the figures were set up, a theatrical space instatly emerged and begged for a performance. I was looking into a follow up piece and so began thinking about the theme and choreography of this work. Using four different performers the video was shot over a two week period. The premise was a woman's struggle with the veil both as a physical object as well as a cultural tool that defines her relationship with her family.

The Veil Dance, 2002, stills from the video performance

Meanwhile, the evolving choreography soon outgrew the space and the project moved to the adjoining old tobacco warehouse. Here a larger and more ominous architecture altered the direction of the performance and its theme became more political. (the society became her antagonist)

The Veil Dance, 2002, stills from the video performance

Finally, it was time for a live performance. A few weeks later during the next Veils show at a Williamsburg gallery the work was performed in front of a live audience. Here, the confined space and the presence of observers evolved the piece into a more confrontational as well as intimate work.

The Veil Dance, 2002, still from live performance