We Wait In The Darkness
(2014-2018)
We Wait In The Darkness is an art/dance work to heal the DNA scars of Simas’ grandmother, her mother, and our ancestors.
Within in an environment of images and sounds from Seneca lands, this new dance work engages past and future, DNA memory, and invisible presences, to create a personal artwork about loss, family, perseverance, and home.
“Recent scientific study verifies what many Native people have always known, that traumatic events in our ancestors lives are in our bodies, blood and bones. These events leave molecular scars adhering to our DNA. Our grandmother’s tragic childhood can trigger depression or anxiety in us, but we have the ability to heal these DNA encodings and change that trait for future generations.”
Choreographed and performed by: Rosy Simas
Original music composition: François Richomme
Letter reader: Laura Waterman Wittstock (Rosy’s mother)
Letters: Clarinda Waterman (Rosy’s grandmother)
Original lighting design: Karin Olson
Second lighting design: Carolyn Wong
Set design: Rosy Simas with contributions from Steven Carlino and François Richomme
Film: Rosy Simas with contributions from Douglas Beasley
“It takes a special kind of performer to bewitch an audience with stillness. Rosy Simas has that gift. An articulate dancer, Simas has the ability to suffuse the smallest movements, or even complete motionlessness, with a captivating aura.”
— Sheila Regan, City Pages
We Wait in the Darkness Tour 2013–2017
2013
Preview: Indigenous Choreographers at Riverside, University of California
Riverside, CA
2014
Canadian Premiere: Montréal Arts Interculturels
Montréal, QC, Canada
2014
U.S. Premiere: The Red Eye Theater
Minneapolis, MN
2014
Exhibit opening and min performances: All My Relations Arts
Minneapolis, MN
2014
SUNY Fredonia Dance and Theater Department
Freedonia, NY
2014
Myrna Loy Center
Helena, MT
2014
The Dance Center at Columbia College
Chicago, IL
2015
Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Kahului, HI
2015
The Autry National Museum
Los Angeles, CA
2015
ODC Theater
San Francisco, CA
2015
American Indian Community Housing Organization &
The University of Minnesota Duluth Dance and Theater Dept
Duluth, MN
2016
The Edge Center for the Arts
Big Fork, MN
2016
Carleton College
Northfield, MN
2017
Living Ritual Festival
Toronto, ON, Canada
2017
European Premiere: DANSEM
Marseille, PACA, France
We Wait In The Darkness is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and additional funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. AND is underwritten by the American Composers Forum‘s Live Music for Dance Minnesota program in partnership with NewMusicUSA, with funds provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
We Wait In The Darkness is supported in part by First Peoples Fund and the Ford Foundation through grant from the FPF Our Nations Spaces Program.
Rosy Simas is a fiscal year 2014 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board and a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
We Wait In The Darkness is supported by residencies at MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) in Montréal, QC, University of California Riverside/Culver Center in Riverside, CA, All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis, and The Red Eye Theater in Minneapolis, MN.
2013 projects of Rosy Simas Dance are supported by a Native Arts and Cultures Foundation dance fellowship.
This project has been supported by over 110 supporters via Hatchfund crowdfunding and GiveMN.org (a long list is coming soon).
In addition, individuals who contributed to this project through their scholarly advice, by providing housing, or participating in other ways are: Jim Simas, Laura Waterman Wittstock, Jack Erickson, John Waterman, Jr., Andrea Cooke, Berta Jones, and Becky Waterman.
