Defy danger, violence, loneliness, waning hope—join us for a dance party online! A party affirms life—offering refuge from injustice and escape into euphoria—when most needed. When physical distancing is the order of the day, the community spirit of party and dance moves online and creates an experience of togetherness and resilience we long for in every corner of the world.
The Vera List Center for Art and Politics, in collaboration with Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, presents I’m Not Dancing, I’m Struggling to Survive: Shelter in Place, an online adaptation of a performance by artist Jesus Benavente. Join us via Zoom and hold a party wherever you may be, connect, and dance with hundreds of others, friends, acquaintances or strangers from across the world.
Decorate your house, turn on party lights, flick on your computer, and dance the night away to the lights and sounds of Benavente’s performance. The party unfolds over the course of five hours (starting at 9pm EDT, see Worldclock.com for your timezone), providing for moments of exuberant dance as well as quiet reflection of the unsettling time we’re finding ourselves in.
The need to connect is stronger during times of uncertainty and sadness–as is the ability to find joy and resolve to persevere. Whether you’re dancing alone in your room at 3:00am in Naples, with a partner in a kitchen in Kochi, with your family before dinner in Los Angeles, or as you’re waking up in Tokyo–the party traverses geographies, time zones, and social barriers to generate a bodily and communal experience of movement, music, and emotions.
Zoom access link will be provided upon registration, along with suggested props for the full experience, and ways to share the performance on social media. Participation is limited to 300 at any one time; first come, first serve applies.
Safe space rules apply.
We ask that you enter the party in good faith and with goodwill.
It is a space for creating community and dancing together, virtually.
Respect each other’s privacy.
Harassment, of any kind, will not be tolerated.
Participants will be muted upon entry, but keep your video on!
Inactive participants may be kicked off to make space for others.
Use chat to connect and communicate.
Please comply fully with all official safety pronouncements regarding the coronavirus that pertain to your location.
Trigger Warning
The video is a composite of found video footage, some of it depicting loud sirens and police activity.
Jesus Benavente is a Spring 2020 Bemis Center Artist-in-Residence. He holds an MFA from Rutgers University, a BFA from The University of Texas, and has attended The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and Art Omi. His recent exhibitions and performances have occurred at The Whitney Museum of Art, The Queens International, Socrates Sculpture Park, The Forward Union Fair, among others.
Jesus Benavente, “I’m Not Dancing, I’m Struggling to Survive,” a dance party over Zoom, is curated by Eriola Pira and presented by the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School in collaboration with Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, March 28, 2020.