In ‘The Missing Fruit,’ Movement Becomes a Vessel for Healing and Resistance

A new interdisciplinary dance work exploring the intersection of racial violence and public health will be presented in an in-process showing at Guild Hall on Saturday, September 13, at 7 p.m.

Titled “The Missing Fruit (Part I)” and choreographed by Roderick George, founder of kNoname Artist, the performance is co-presented by Guild Hall and Pomegranate Arts. The piece is set to an original score by musical duo Slowdanger and was first conceptualized during the Black Lives Matter protests. It reflects on the experiences of Black, Indigenous and people of color confronting systemic oppression, economic insecurity and health inequities — while making space for Black joy.

Following the presentation, George will be joined in conversation by renowned choreographer Bill T. Jones, artistic director and co-founder of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and artistic director of New York Live Arts.

George, a Houston native, is known for his boundary-pushing choreography and dynamic performance history with companies including Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and The Forsythe Company. His work has been commissioned by institutions across North America and Europe. Most recently, he received the 2024 Princess Grace Award in Choreography and the inaugural Jacob’s Pillow Men Dancers Award.

kNoname Artist, founded in Berlin in 2015 and now based in New York City, is a multidisciplinary collective using performance as a form of protest and healing. The company blends raw movement, text and scenic design to confront themes of queerness, Blackness and human rights. Past performances include “Festival Quartiers Danses,” “New York Live Arts,” “Zurich Tanzhaus” and “Fall for Dance North/Nightshift.”

The Guild Hall presentation precedes the world premiere of “The Missing Fruit” at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival. The work is commissioned by City Center with support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and the Arlene Shuler Artistic Innovation Fund.

Worldwide tour representation is provided by Pomegranate Arts, a producing agency that has supported ambitious works by contemporary artists since 1998.

Tickets are $25 at guildhall.org. Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street, East Hampton.