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2 dancers with one leg up and one arm back off balance

Repertory

John 4:20

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

2018

RUN TIME

17 Minutes

MUSIC

Jack Grabow

COSTUME DESIGN

Noble Spell & Heather Craig

LIGHTING DESIGN

Ethan Saiewitz

John 4:20 is an expansion of a duet Baye & Asa originally created in 2018. This piece began as an interrogation of their shared history and divergent identities as New Yorkers, as male dancers, and as a white American and a Black American. Through the personal dynamics of their brotherhood, they address the larger political landscape of their upbringing. In this new iteration of John 4:20, they capture relationships, friends, and siblings in a group of new bodies struggling to show the reality of violence and the necessity for empathy.

2 dancers in motion, 1 holding the other

Ailey II's Jennifer M. Gerken and Kayla Mei-Wan Thomas in Baye & Asa's John 4:20 Photo by Nir Arieli

6 dancers in various poses standing and on the ground in dark lighting

Ailey II in Baye & Asa's John 4:20  Photo by Nir Arieli

Ailey II's C. Brooks, K. Thomas, J. Gerken in Baye and Asa's 'John 4:20.' Photo by Nir Arieli.

Ailey II's C. Brooks, K. Thomas, J. Gerken in Baye and Asa's John 4:20 Photo by Nir Arieli

6 dancers in pairs one lying on the ground and the other standing above their partner

Ailey II in Baye & Asa's John 4:20 Photo by Nir Arieli

Group of Ailey II dancers in front of a dark backdrop.

Photo by Nir Arieli

SEE IT LIVE

Music Credits

“Broken Hearted Melody” written by Hal David & Sherman Edwards, courtesy of BMG Rights Management.
“Doe Deer” written by Ethan Kath, courtesy of Universal Music Publishing.
“Mariana, Mariana” written by Ruy Guerra and Edu Lobo, courtesy of Atlas Music Group.
“Rhinestone Cowboy” performed by Madvillain, courtesy of Kobalt Music Publishing.

Funders

John 4:20 was made possible with support from Robert A. Press, M.D., and Wendy & Doug Kreeger.