Four-Headed Dance Monster Comes to Highways

Photo of Kristen Smiarowski by Derrick Bruce, courtesy of the artist

With a press release that begins with "a South Korean, an Indonesian and two Jews walk into Highways Performance Space ," locally-based Kiha Lee, Sri Susilowati, Keith Glassman and Kristen Smiarowksi take over the intimate Santa Monica theater to premiere new dances April 10-12 at 8:30 pm. Known around town, nationally and internationally for making work that transcends the limitations of "eye candy," each of these dancemakers will present a thought-provoking thematic investigation with movement at its core. The award-winning modern dance choreographers have created new works that they claim reside in the present while maintaining subtle-to-overt connections to a cultural past. There's original music by Paul Humphreys, a rose petal set design, references to literary sources (the Mahabarata and "The Key Game"), Mexican corrido music and performers from teenagers to folks who could be their grandparents.