As part of Robert Moses' KIN's "New Legacies: One Acts," Nol Simonse's latest choreographic work channels the tension of an impending storm, both environmental and political.
Nol Simonse has long been a fixture in the Bay Area dance scene, known for his compelling performances with companies like Sean Dorsey Dance and Janice Garrett & Dancers. But for one weekend this month, Simonse takes on a different role: choreographer for Robert Moses' KIN's 30th Anniversary Season.
His new work, "Before the Storm," developed alongside longtime collaborators playwright Jim Cave and musician Lawrence Tome, premieres as part of "New Legacies: One Acts," RMK's commissioning platform that pairs choreographers with composers and spoken word artists.
When Robert Moses first invited Simonse to be part of "New Legacies: One Acts," the only directive was broad: legacy.
"He was like, 'Okay, the theme is legacy. You can take that wherever you want to go with it,'" Simonse recalled.
Simonse's take on legacy is layered. He sees it as something both deeply personal and inherently communal, shaped by the mentors who came before him and the peers who inspire him daily.
"I do believe that dance is an oral tradition that's handed down from teacher to student," he said. "But beyond that, I also think of legacy as a field of inspiration. I'm constantly being inspired by the artists around me, the different artists I work with."
Leaving a legacy
That idea of legacy led Simonse, Cave, and Tome toward an urgent and timely question: what kind of world are we leaving behind? Their piece began taking shape during a period of deadly wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year.
"We all come from different backgrounds, you know. We're all queer artists working in the Bay Area," Simonse said. "There were a lot of different ways we could go with it, and the direction we took was to focus more in an environmental place."
The trio had previously collaborated on "Death Pod," a piece with a similarly ominous undercurrent. But this time, the metaphor deepened. Simonse described "Before the Storm" as modern and abstract, and it's meant to evoke a sense of anticipation, of not knowing what's coming or how powerful it will be.
"We started working on this on Jan. 6, and we ended on Jan. 20," Simonse said, noting the two dates etched into history. "There was also that idea of this impending storm, and how are we going to weather it? How do we prepare? How do we survive and protect our loved ones?"
Despite the anxiety woven into the piece, Simonse insists it isn't just about fear. It's about resilience. He wants to encourage audiences to find strength in their communities in the face of uncertainty.
"If there was anything to take away from it, it's that we can take care of each other," he said. "There is mutual aid, there is mutual support. We can have compassion and empathy for each other. We can take care of each other, and we can move forward together. We have to keep moving forward even as the storm is going to rage on."
For Simonse, live performance is irreplaceable.
"Live art is so freaking important," he said. "There's just nothing like it. It's a group of strangers gathering together, sitting in the dark, seeing other human beings on stage. Things can go wrong, somebody can slip and fall, but you're seeing people experience themselves, their lives. No movie, no amount of YouTube videos will ever compare to that."
Admiring mentor
Robert Moses, for his part, is an unabashed admirer. He first encountered Simonse's work years ago and has watched him evolve as an artist, continually pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance with each new project.
"I think the man is brilliant," Moses said. "I see stuff come out of Nol that I couldn't imagine coming out of anyone else. And this is both as a performer and as a creator."
Moses prefers to keep some distance from the process, allowing the artists to shape their own works without interference. While Moses has only seen an early phase of "Before the Storm," choosing to wait until production week to see the full piece, he has no doubt about its impact.
"When I saw that Nol applied for the 'New Legacies' project, I was so happy that he got it, and I knew that he was going to make a tremendous work," said Moses. "And if you don't think his work is brilliant, you get to kick me in the shin at the end of the evening. But you will not kick me in the shin. You will be throwing gold coins."
As Nol readies "Before the Storm" for its world premiere during RMK's 30th Anniversary Season, he is preparing to let the work go. Letting go, he acknowledges, is one of the hardest parts of the artistic process, watching the dancers take ownership of the choreography and bring their own interpretations to the movement.
"I feel like that nervous stage mom," said Simonse. "People talk about your art being your baby, and at some point, you have to give your baby away. At a certain point, I won't be able to take notes anymore, and I'll just have to say to the dancers, 'Okay, this is your piece now.' That, in itself, is legacy."
Robert Moses' KIN presents 'The Kennings,' and Nol Simonse's 'Before the Storm,' $15-55, March 14-16, Z Space, 450 Florida St. www.zspace.org
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