With the support of a grant from the CUNY Dance Initiative, Tabula Rasa Dance Theater presents two compelling dance pieces at the intersection of art and social justice: Animus Necandi and Ship of Fools. Performances will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 524 W. 59th Street, New York, NY 10019.

Tickets range from $45 to $85 and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/TabulaRasa_Sept2024. Tabula Rasa has a strong commitment to inclusion and access, offering discounted ticket prices for students ($25), immigrants, and former inmates and their families ($0.63, which is the average hourly wage for inmates in New York State).

Animus Necandi explores the pain of families who have lost loved ones sentenced to death and questions the morality of the death penalty, which is still legal in 27 US states and over 55 countries around the world.

Ship of Fools is a dance theatre parable that criticises the rise of authoritarian leaders around the world. The piece examines the human cost of despotism and defends the values ​​of knowledge, wisdom and justice.

Both works are choreographed by Mexican-born Felipe Escalante, Tabula Rasa’s artistic director. Collaborators include Lausanne Prize-winning composer Felix Huerta, lighting designer and Princess Grace Award winner Christopher Annas-Lee, and Columbia University professor and concert pianist John Gavalchin.

About Tabula Rasa Dance Theater

Felipe Escalante, an immigrant from Queretaro, Mexico, founded Tabula Rasa Dance Theater in New York City in 2018 with a deep commitment to addressing complex social issues on stage. Felipe trained at the Ballet Nacional de Mexico, where he began choreographing at age 14 and received a solid foundation in classical modern dance under the tutelage of Guillermina Bravo. TRDT’s previous work has addressed mass incarceration, the refugee experience, conversion therapy, gender-based violence, social media-induced disability, and the mental health impact of lockdowns during the pandemic. The company has received support from the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers. www.tabularasadancetheater.com