performance art

Ultimate Catharsis combines contemporary dance, original music, and multimedia elements in an evening-length performance exploring themes of personal, artistic, social, and collective transformation. Through innovative integration of movement, text, and technology, the work creates space for meaningful reflection while celebrating resilience and community. Featuring fifteen artists including dancers, musicians, and performers, the piece demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex contemporary themes.

Ultimate Catharsis 1
Created and Directed by Lily Selthofner
Edited Show Recording

Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, 2024 in the Movement Lab at Barnard College – ninety minutes


Cast
Lily Selthofner – Creator/Director, Actor/Narrator, Dancer, Singer
Justine Dugger-Ades- Actor/Narrator and Dancer
Desislava Kremenlieva – Actor/Narrator and Dancer
Adara Allen – Dancer
Nadia Benes – Dancer
Marissa Caldera – Dancer
Asia Gross – Dancer
Eirik Peterson – Dancer
Daniel Weitz- Cellist and Singer
Maria Shaughnessy- Harpist
Justin Shaw – Guitarist
Ray Baker – Drummer
Izzy Pacenza – Saxophonist
Featured Audio:
Rory Bricca – Composer/Pianist
Jane Meenaghan- Composer/Instrumentalist
Sophia Ling – Lighting Design
Shannon Binns – Lighting, Sound, and Projection Operation, Photographer

Time Stamps:

0:00 – Intro – Opening Pointe Solo (Lily)
3:58 – 8th Dimension: Poem and Dance
5:08 – Love Poem for a Flower: Monologue and Pointe Solos
6:48 – Science 1 (Astrology Monologue – 4/8/12 Houses)
9:45 – Portals (poem/dance)
11:50 – Anon 1 (poem)
13:04– Improvised Dance Solos
21:30 – The Story of How I was Born (TW)
23:53 – I am My Own Eyes / To the Creatures of the Earth – poems
26:33 – Water and Ducks: Choreographed Ballet Pointe Quartet
34:34 – Gestural Improvised Solo
35:37 – Hospital 1: Catharsis of contemporary issues (TW)
39:07– Love Poem for Time – Poem and Dance
42:40 – 8th House – Poem and Dance
43:51 – Skeleton: Choreographed Contemporary Quartet
48:12 – Intermission
48:27 – Redemption? On the Science of Storytelling (TW)
50:10 – Hospital 2: On Relational Violence (TW)
53:42 – Noise Section: On Infidelity (TW)
55:26 – Noise Section 2: On Emotional Abuse (TW)
56:56 – Hospital 3: ‘Emotional Catharsis’ (TW)
58:20 – Don’t Forget You’re Precious (Song by Alabaster Deplume)
59:52 – Eclipse Solo (Lily) (Song – Before the Beginning by John Frusciante)
1:04:52 – Dinosaur Section
1:05:50 – Versace on the Floor (Song by Bruno Mars)
1:08:24 – Following the String of Soul Map (Yearning/Yarning) – Dance
1:11:16 – Open – Palm Lines: Poem and Dance
1:12:22 – On Healing – Poem and Dance
1:12:51 – On Evil – Poem and Dance
1:13:39 – On Darkness – Poem and Dance
1:14:34 – Choreographed Modern Quartet – Strings
1:20:13 – Be Nice to People – Dance Duet (song by Alabaster DePlume)
1:21:30 – On Forgiveness, Love, Freedom, and Letting Go – Poetry and Dance
1:23:52 – On God: Talking to the Moon (Song by Bruno Mars)
1:26:23 – Love Poem for a Tree
1:28:13 – On Loss and Values – Poetry and Dance
1:29:32 – Tableau Vivant – Dance
1:31:43 – The Key, Bows