Baryshnikov Arts Presents: Origins

ABOUT THE WORK

Built around the ideas of origins and personal mythology, Origins by PRISMA will explore genesis moments. Each artist in the piece experienced an impactful moment that led them in a specific direction, and had their world changed by a singular moment. Using this framework, the artists will explore their individual evolution and creative journeys.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

PRISMA is a multidisciplinary performance group that began as a chance encounter between two distinct worlds: classical string instruments and contemporary beatboxing.

The combination of these two art forms created a sum greater than their parts, with the tension of the strings and energy of the beatboxing forming a new, unique musical sound.

We introduced dance to expand upon and mirror the musical fusion. In Origins, commissioned by Baryshnikov Arts, ballet’s structure and traditionalism are tempered by improvisational hip hop’s intense energy. 

The title of this work derives from the stories that the creative team uncovered as we discussed our histories, training, and what led us to where we are. The narratives revealed a common thread of mythology. Each artist recalled an event or action—ostensibly outside their control—that changed the course of their life. Whether you believe in free will or destiny, the similarities between these stories and mythology were incredibly compelling. 

Humans are story machines. We weave meaning and purpose into all things to move us forward. It’s the glue that has enabled us to become such a successful species, for better or worse. By telling our stories in this space at Baryshnikov Arts, we wanted to shed some light on the mythic backstories that created the superheroes you see before you. 

The name “PRISMA” derived from an acronym, “SAW,” representing the group’s founding collaborators: Spiderhorse (beatboxers Chris Celiz and Gene Shinozaki), Arkai (electroacoustic duo Jonathan Miron and Philip Sheegog), and Wharton (director). While “SAW” sounds cool, it didn’t seem to fit the project well enough. We looked for variations and found the Latin word “prisma,” meaning “to saw.” This and the added connotation of a prism being an object that can combine and separate light into new forms seemed like a great fit. 

 
CREATIVE TEAM

Creative Director: Quinn Wharton

Choreography: Quinn Wharton in collaboration with the dancers. 

Artists

Dance: Rose Alice, Niara Hardister, Tyrone Reese, Łukasz Zięba

Beatbox: Chris Celiz, Gene Shinozaki

Violin: Jonathan Miron

Cello: Philip Sheegog

Music Composition: Arkai and Spiderhorse

Set Design: Celina Arslanian

Costume Design: Nadya Laska

Lighting Design: Sebastian Paczynski

Stage Manager: Emeline Shepard

Brand Design: Haris Fazlani and Marc Moran of Works Studio

Understudies:
Justin Daniels
Cara Diaz
Rachel Lockhart

Quinn Wharton (Director) is a choreographer and director with a specialty in human movement. He was born in Seattle and raised in a yurt on Hawaii. He danced for the San Francisco Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He was the assistant choreographer on four award-winning ballets by Yuri Possokhov at the Bolshoi Ballet. He has directed films for Rolex, American Ballet Theatre, The New York Choreographic Institute, and Baryshnikov Arts. He has lectured at Stanford and the University of Chicago.

ARKAI (Musicians) is an award-winning electroacoustic duo consisting of Jonathan Miron and Philip Sheegog. They have inspired audiences around the world through their genre-defying string music. Graduates of The Juilliard School, their past engagements have included performances at The MET, Joe’s Pub, City Winery, US Air Force Academy, Rockwood Music Hall, 54 Below, Lincoln Center, Musikfest, Chateau Marmont, Carnegie Hall and TED. They recently opened for Oscar- and Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste at YPO EDGE hosted in New York City’s Javits Center.

SPIDERHORSE (Beatboxers) is a New York City–based multi-instrumentalist beatboxing duo comprised of Chris Celiz and Gene Shinozaki. Renowned for their captivating performances, they seamlessly blend intricate rhythms with melodic elements, continually pushing the boundaries of vocal artistry. Their innovative approach has earned them top honors at prestigious competitions, including 1st place at the 2023 Vokal Total International A Cappella Competition in Austria, the 2019 Varsity Vocals Acapella Open hosted at Carnegie Hall, the 2018 Grand Beatbox Battle in Switzerland, the 2018 Beatbox Battle World Championships in Germany, and the American Beatbox Championships in both 2015, 2016. SPIDERHORSE has showcased their talents at notable events such as “Dopamine Land” Rhythm Studio in Washington D.C., Bzzz at The Joyce Theater in New York, “SPIDERHORSE & FRIENDS” in Yokohama, Japan (independently produced sold-out headline show) and the “Beat X Festival” in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, solidifying their status as trailblazers in the global beatboxing community.

Rose Alice (Dancer) is a contemporary ballet dancer and choreographer based in New York and London. She was a Prix De Lausanne finalist and has performed and choreographed on both stage and film globally. Alice was the principal dancer for Zhang Yimou’s world premiere show “Apologue 2047” in Beijing, China, “Tabula Rasa” in New York and “Vision,” a world premiere production in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. She’s toured extensively throughout Asia for press launches for Johnny Walker with David Beckham, and Lewis Hamilton in collaboration with the Formula 1 Grand Prix. She performed as the principal dancer and choreographer for Franco Dragone (founder of Cirque du Soleil) at the Palais Garnier (Paris Opera House), principal dancer in Onegin at the Royal Opera House, as well as for luxury brands BMW, Jaguar, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, Tiffany & Co, Net-A-Porter and Audi. Alice is currently the resident choreographer for Arlo Parks specializing in Parks’ live shows, and support tours with Billie Eilish and Harry Styles as well as Coachella and Glastonbury Festivals.

Tyrone Reese (Dancer) is a native of Mobile, Alabama. Reese is a graduating senior at The Juilliard School and a 2020 national YoungArts Foundation Award winner in ballet. While at Juilliard, Reese has performed works by Rena Butler, Justin Peck, Ohad Naharin, Aszure Barton, and Jamar Roberts, among others. He is also the recipient of Juilliard’s Jerome L. Greene Foundation Scholarship.

Niara Hardister (Dancer) is a dancer from Riverside, California. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and works in both the concert and commercial dance industries. Niara is in her second year as a company member of Kyle Marshall Choreography. She is also a member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, where she performed as a soloist in Lucia Di Lammermoor and in ensemble roles in Lohengrin, Die Zauberflöte, Fedora, and Rigoletto.
Her dance credits include the Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival, and Le Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur. She has also been featured in brand campaigns with Bombay Sapphire and Oberima Afriyie.

Lukasz Zieba (Dancer) is a native of Kraków, Poland, and graduated from L’Art de la Danse Cracow Dance Academy before moving to New York to study at The Ailey School on a full scholarship. He participated in Springboard Danse Montreal, Cedar Lake 360 Installation, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet Intensive and was the winner of the Best Solo Award at the Dance World Cup in Villach, Austria. He danced with The Metropolitan Opera, Emery Lecrone Dance and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet where he performed works by Jiří Kylián, Jorma Elo, Cayetano Soto, Alejandro Cerrudo and Nicolo Fonte. He is currently working with Company XIV under artistic direction of Austin McCormick. He has choreographed on “So You Think You Can Dance” Poland and presented his works at various venues and festivals in New York.

Celina Arslanian (Set Designer) is a Brazilian designer whose foundation was formed amid the warmth and colors of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her artistic journey has led her through the design of graphics, films, and live productions. She takes pleasure in jumping from craft to craft and the range of diverse collaborations that blossom from it. Inspiration comes to her through travel and observation instead of ready made visual references; collecting color palettes, textures and movements as she wanders. Celina is now indefinitely wandering New York City. You can spot her on sets for the American Ballet Theater promos, recreating an NYC subway at the Prototype Festival or even behind the curtains of Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show.

Nadya Laska (Costume Designer) is a costume designer who enjoys working in diverse visual media. She started her career as an apprentice at an opera house in Wisconsin and now works in New York City, designing and styling for film and commercial productions. She is known for blending different genres of clothing to craft distinctive, narrative-driven designs that feel both grounded and conceptual.

Haris Fazlani (PRISMA Brand Designer) is a New York–based Creative Director and Co-Founder of WØRKS, a studio of interdisciplinary creatives, who work together to craft thoughtful design systems. He started his career as a self-taught art director working with fashion-forward musicians, a passion he pursues to this day.  In 2018, he co-founded WØRKS, where he oversees creative direction and design for a client list that includes Beyonce, Nike, Converse, Virgin Music and Activision. Haris has won numerous awards and recognitions for branding, packaging design and web design. 

Works.Studio (Creative Studio) WØRKS is a New York City–based creative studio dedicated to cultural advancement through strategy and interdisciplinary design. The name WØRKS is an ode to the Deutscher Werkbund, the German association of artists, architects, designers and indus­tri­al­ists established in 1907, and the prelude to the Bauhaus. As such, the studio designs for the collective human experience, across mediums, eschewing lines between physical and digital.

ABOUT BARYSHNIKOV ARTS

Baryshnikov Arts, founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov, is rooted in the belief that artists hold irreplaceable roles in our world by shaping perspectives, offering new approaches, and initiating crucial conversations in complex social, political, and cultural environments. Our mission supports artistic freedom, providing multidisciplinary artists with opportunities for creative exploration and unique artistic expression, and allowing audiences to view the world in new ways. We offer performance and commissioning opportunities, artist residencies, rentals, and more. baryshnikovarts.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dave Hattem, Chairman

R. Jarrett Lilien, Treasurer

Steven C. Dupré, Secretary

Mikhail Baryshnikov, Founder and Artistic Director
Sonja Kostich, President and Executive Director

Jamie Bishton

Sandy Choi

Frank Cordasco

William James Earle

Sandra Foschi

Jennifer Frautschi

Slavka B. Glaser

Rebecca Goldring

Steven M. Pesner

Darryl Pinckney

Shelley Washington

STAFF

Mikhail Baryshnikov, Founder and Artistic Director
Sonja Kostich, President and Executive Director

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Peter Villapol, Director of Business Operations and Administration

PROGRAMMING
Sam Black, Artistic Associate

Ashley Baer, Program Manager
Pedja Muzijevic, Artistic Administrator
Alexandra Cook, Director of Education and Community Engagement

DEVELOPMENT
Chani Sebazco, Development Manager
Apotheosis Events, Event Planning

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Lydia Murray, Marketing Manager

PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS
Tyler Benware, Director of Production and Operations
Jesse Campbell, Technical Director and Operations Supervisor
Natasha Bruno, Technical and Operations Manager

PRODUCTION CREW FOR ORIGINS
Head Audio-Video/Sound Board Operator: Kasey Price

Head Electricians/Light Board Operators: Justin Maldonado,

Persephone Squires

Carpenters: Leo Mendoza, David Perez, Michael Propster

Electricians: Avalon Cole, Sebastian Sanchez

Wardrobe: Isaac Grivett

Lighting Director: Jesse Campbell

CONSULTANTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Andrew Julia, Director of Finance, AJulia Consulting, LLC
Margot Becker, Grants Writer
Stephen Viksjo, Graphic Designer
Eric Wolfram, Web Developer
Sean Regan, Perfect Balance Bookkeeping, Inc., Bookkeeper

Special thanks to our production crew, front-of-house staff, and volunteers.

Origins was commissioned by Baryshnikov Arts through its 2024 Commissioning and Producing Initiative which commissions new work, provides artists a technical residency to develop the work, and produces a series of public performances of the work. Origins was developed in part during a 2023 Baryshnikov Arts residency and premiered in Baryshnikov Arts Center’s Jerome Robbins Theater November 14, 2024.

BARYSHNIKOV ARTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Baryshnikov Arts is grateful for the contributions of its generous supporters.

Individual

John H. Abeles; Michelle A. Auerbach; Joanne Barak; Mikhail Baryshnikov & Lisa Rinehart; Douglas Baxter; Ariel Bengio; Jamie Bishton; Philip Boroff; James Carlson; Pamela Ceglinski; Jesse Chin; Sandy Choi; Anya Cole; Amy Collins; Frank A. Cordasco; Richard Corton; Margo Crespin; Rupert de Laszlo; Richard & Jennie DeScherer; Elizabeth DeVita; Janet A. Dewan; Steven C. Dupré; William James Earle; Jennifer Fortner; Karen Freedman & Roger Weisberg; Alex Fridlyand; Norman Friedland; Paul Ghiz; Jane Gladstone; Slavka B. Glaser; Rebecca Goldring; Daniel Goleman; Sharon Gonen; Nicholas Hare; Dave Hattem; Gemzel Hernandez; Olaf Unsoeld & Huong M. Hoang; Rodney Hobbs; Joan Hooker; Brody Howatt; Kelly Hubble; Cathy Kadets; Steven Katz; Nunally Kersh; Oona Keating; Karen Kochevar; Sonja Kostich; Miodrag Kukrika; The LeRoy Family; Leonard Levie; Jarrett & Maritess Lilien; Nick & Cass Ludington; Bisrat Mekbeb; LeConte Moore; Mark R. Morris; Fred Nazem & Susie Gharib; Franci Neely; Adam J. Oestreich; Brian S. O’Neil; Jeffrey & Meredith Oppenheim; Zaza Pachulia; Steven M. Pesner; Darryl & James Pinckney; Joseph Plocek; Aidan & Elizabeth Quinn; Kirk Radke & Liz Gerring; Dianna Raedle; Foster Reed; James & Gemsel Roe; John Sansone; Marty Secada; Nancy Seltzer, Jr.; Joel Shapiro & Ellen Phelan; Wallace Shawn; Lois Sherwin; Genevieve Springer; Matthew Steimel; Glenn Stevens; Angele Surault; Lisa Takemoto; Michael Tersigni; Julie C. Van Camp; Reggie Van Lee; Illiana van Meeteren; Louis Venturelli; Nicola Walter; Deborah Ward; Jedediah Wheeler; Shelley Washington; David N. White; Matthew Yee; Andrew Zobler

Institutional

Anonymous; A G Foundation; Affirmation Arts Fund; Alex Katz Foundation; Alphadyne Foundation; Apotheosis Events; Arnhold Foundation; Bloomberg Philanthropies; Cyrus Capital Partners; Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation; Enoch Foundation; The Marshall Frankel Foundation; Princess Grace Foundation-USA; Howard Gilman Foundation; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; The Irving Harris Foundation; The Francena T. Harrison Foundation Trust; Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance; Danny Kaye & Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; New Dramatists; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; Robert Rauschenberg Foundation; The Jerome Robbins Foundation; The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc.; The Shubert Foundation; The Thompson Family Foundation; The TNS Group

As of October 2024

Baryshnikov Arts is grateful for:

Funding made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature

Yamaha is the official piano of Baryshnikov Arts.