Photos by Cheryl Mann
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Year: 2021 Artistic Direction and Choreography: Danielle Agami Length: 60 min Dancers: 10 Live music: Isaiah Gage (composed and performed live) >>> Currently available for touring! |
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JOY from Danielle Agami on Vimeo. |
ABOUT THE WORK JOY is a humorous and poignant reflection on human habits and addictions, Joy (World Premiere) examines humanity's yearning for moments of elation amidst despair, and offers intimate flashes into the mental and physical states of each cast member. Joy is choreographed by Ate9’s Artistic Director Danielle Agami with music composed by Isaiah Gage. |
COLLABORATORS
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Isaiah Gage, Composer
Cellist, string arranger, and songwriter/composer Isaiah Gage has spent decades exploring the vast cosmos of the cello, pushing perceived boundaries and furthering the creative applications of what is stereotypically known as an orchestral string instrument. Gage is an in demand L.A.-based session musician and performer who frequents the scores of hit shows and films such as “The Good Fight” (Soloist Credit—CBS), ”Evil” (Soloist Credit—CBS), “Seal Team” (Soloist Credit—FOX), “Arrested Development” (Netflix), “Dear White People” (Netflix), “The Good Place” (NBC) , “Siren” (Freeform), “The Romanoffs” (AMC) , “The Gifted” (Soloist credit—FOX), “American Gods” (Soloist credit—STARZ), “Pappillon” (Bleecker Street) , “State of Pride” (Youtube Originals) and many more. Creating unique tapestries and soundscapes with acoustic and electric cello, has landed him collaborations with noted TV/ Film composers David Buckley, Mark Isham, David Schwartz, Miriam Cutler and Brian Reitzell to name a few. Gage has performed with artists Pharell Williams, Mac Miller, Vic Mensa, Kesha, Lea Michele, Tyler the Creator, Pink Martini, Gloria Estefan, Niall Horan, Kesha ,Chris Potter, Rita Ora and countless others. He has played on records by Damien “Jr” Gong Marley, Travis Scott, Edie Brickell and Steve Martin and has appeared at the Grammy’s, American Music Awards, Late Night with James Corden, Good Morning America, Live with Kelly, and Live at the Palladium (UK). He was the primary String Arranger on the 2019 Season of “American Idol” (NBC) , where he also appeared as a featured performer. As a Singer/Songwriter Gage released his solo album “Suddenly Home” in 2012 and continues to actively write and create new music. |
After JOY at The Wallis, Beverly Hills, November 2021
Agami’s work reshapes the idea of what is possible in the body, communicating a sensation-based understanding to an observant audience and challenging them to absorb the feeling. |
To define this piece “entertainment” would be obviously diminishing. The compound of aural, visual and kinetic engages our mind, emotions and senses so completely that we are transported elsewhere. Lifted. The effect is not amusement, though there are hilarious moments, and laughter now and then simply explodes in the house. But the feeling that Joy stirs is the exhilaration perceived by the body as a whole, suddenly, because of the sheer awareness of being fully alive. That pure, primal blessing. |
Photo by Cheryl Mann
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Year: 2019 Artistic Direction and Choreography: Danielle Agami Length: 30 Minutes Dancers: 10 Live music: Russian Red (Lourdes Hernandez) Agami’s newest work with the full company places a compelling narrative against the power of advertising. >>> Currently available for touring! |
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'a blind LAdy' Promo 2 from Danielle Agami on Vimeo. |
ABOUT THE WORK a blind LAdy is a reaction to Danielle Agami's experience of living in Los Angeles for the past 5 years. She shares, "In LA I find more and more inspiration in regards to the tension between the commercial world and our dance field. I have many questions about the division between the worlds and the financial difference the two worlds experience. So, for this work, I envision creating a cinematic feel through intimate, expressive movement, original narration, live music, a supporting soundtrack and projection." |
COLLABORATORS
LOURDES HERNÁNDEZ (aka. RUSSIAN RED)- LIVE MUSICIAN
Singer-songwriter, performer, and artist from Madrid, Lourdes Hernandez, a.k.a. Russian Red, first came to prominence in her native Spain with the release of her 2008 debut album, "I Love Your Glasses". After putting out 4 records including 2 with a major label, touring the world for a years and ending up in LA to explore other creative disciplines, Lourdes is currently using her music to plug into film, contemporary dance and theatrical performances along with running The Ruby Street in Highland Park.
Singer-songwriter, performer, and artist from Madrid, Lourdes Hernandez, a.k.a. Russian Red, first came to prominence in her native Spain with the release of her 2008 debut album, "I Love Your Glasses". After putting out 4 records including 2 with a major label, touring the world for a years and ending up in LA to explore other creative disciplines, Lourdes is currently using her music to plug into film, contemporary dance and theatrical performances along with running The Ruby Street in Highland Park.
After a blind lady at the wallis, beverly hills, february 2019
Of Agami’s works that I have seen, this was her most stark and isolating. Each character appeared cut off or lost among many." |
Agami’s oeuvre is devilish, highly stylized, and emanates, in an cloud of mystery, from the body-smarts of a choreographer just plain in love with movement." |
Photo by Cheryl Mann
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Year: 2019 Featuring Emmy Award winning actor Jon Hamm Choreography and direction by Danielle Agami Live original music by Glenn Kotche Original text by Nadav Heyman Set Design by Amir Raveh Length: 50 minutes FISHING brings together three masters of their crafts to bring to life an often-absurd and always insightful relationship between a writer named Jon and his wife. >>> Available for touring beginning Summer 2019 |
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ABOUT THE WORK Director Danielle Agami touches on the beautiful, simple absurdity of desire in this bold meeting of five different disciplines- each collaborator a master of his/her craft. |
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COLLABORATORS
Jon Hamm | Actor
Actor, director, and television producer best known for playing advertising executive Don Draper for the AMC television drama series, Mad Men (2007– 2015). His performance earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series-Drama during 2008 and 2016 and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2015.
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Glenn Kotche | Composer/Percussionist
For a percussionist and composer as energetic, inquisitive and versatile as Glenn Kotche, it’s his sense of balance—his ability to thrive in different and seemingly disparate worlds—that really makes him stand out as a musician. Since 2001, Kotche has been the rhythmic anchor in Wilco, one of the most beloved rock bands on the planet.
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Danielle Agami | Dancer/Director
Born in Israel in 1984, Agami was a member of the Batsheva Dance Company from 2002-2010. In 2012 Agami relocated to Seattle where she founded Ate9—an undertaking that fully realized her artistic voice as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. In 2016 she was recognized with the Princess Grace Award for Choreography and recently honored with the third Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship for Female Choreographers at The NYU Center of Ballet.
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Amir Raveh | Set Designer
Raveh started out at Bezalel in the industrial design department before starting as an independent practitioner. He has specialized in furniture surgery for the past 15 years. He turns what others consider leftovers into spectacular pieces of art. Raveh’s work emerges from the wrinkles and blemishes of matter- into magnificent poetic furniture that create a dialogue between Now & Then, Industry & Craft.
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Nadav Heyman | Writer.Film Maker.Performer
Nadav is a writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His written pieces have been seen on the stages of Juilliard, Boston Conservatory, and Cornish College of the Arts. His film work has screened in festivals around the world, including Miami, Chicago, Boulder, Australia, Romania, Spain, and the UK. In 2016, he was selected as one of ten international artists to participate in the Koumaria Residency in Greece. In 2018, he was invited for a three-month artist residency by Subhashok Art Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. His goal is to observe life through story, movement, and film. To see more of Nadav's work, visit www.nadavheyman.com.
Photos by Cheryl Mann
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ABOUT THE WORK calling glenn, Ate9’s first collaboration with renown Wilco percussionist Glenn Kotche, captivates with Danielle Agami’s choreographic blend of brilliant strength and nuanced physicality to humor and inspire the imagination. The work flows seamlessly through rich visual and audible atmospheres created by Kotche's live sound generation as the dancers embody a rare presence filled with surprising moments of honesty and insight. calling glenn is a uniquely balanced collaboration of sound and movement that tells a fresh and contemporary narrative inspired by life’s exhausting common rituals and desires. |
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After calling glenn at The schimmel center, pace university, New York city, November 2018 |
After calling glenn at Royce Hall, CAP UCLA, November 2017 |
Not every good choreographer develops a language, and Ms. Agami speaks her borrowed tongue with considerable skill." |
Agami has an amazing sense of timing. In calling glenn, a section would border on becoming too long, but would suddenly shift it into a dramatic and powerful semi-unison section incorporating rhythmic walks that traversed the entire space." |
COLLABORATORS
Glenn Kotche- Composer/Percussionist
For a percussionist and composer as energetic, inquisitive and versatile as Glenn Kotche, it’s his sense of balance—his ability to thrive in different and seemingly disparate worlds—that really makes him stand out as a musician. Since 2001, Kotche has been the rhythmic anchor in Wilco, one of the most beloved rock bands on the planet.
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Danielle Agami- Choreographer/Director
Born in Israel in 1984, Agami was a member of the Batsheva Dance Company from 2002-2010. In 2012 Agami relocated to Seattle where she founded Ate9—an undertaking that fully realized her artistic voice as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. In 2016 she was recognized with the Princess Grace Award for Choreography and recently honored with the third Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship for Female Choreographers at The NYU Center of Ballet.
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Eli James (GHOSTCIRCUS APPAREL)- Costume Designer
Drummer/producer/designer Eli James created his line of apparel for the simple reason that he wanted to make clothes that were cool and that he wanted to wear. Eli would always alter everything he wore. Whether he was going to meetings, running errands, practicing, playing shows, going out with friends or even hanging in at home, he really just wanted to be comfortable. “All you have to do is throw another layer on and keep on going.” Through a variety of testing, he figured out what he was really after. His way of putting a few pieces together made it unique enough for him to want to wear. Welcome to our world, a lifestyle where music and fashion collide.
For more information visit: https://ghostcircusapparel.com/
For more information visit: https://ghostcircusapparel.com/
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Year: 2018 Director and Choreographer: Danielle Agami Original Narration: Nadav Heyman Music: Omid Walizadeh Dancers: 10 Length: 40 min Filmed and presented by TIOH Arts & Culture, Oct 20-22, 2018 |
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ABOUT THE WORK Old/News is an updated version of Danielle Agami’s first work with Ate9, Sally Meets Stu, which premiered at Velocity Dance Center, Seattle in June 2012. |
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As dejected lovers attempting to process the pain of heartache, [the dancers] transition fluidly from animal-like squats and crawls to higher order arabesques and penchés with spectacularly superhuman speed."
-Christina Campodonico of the LA Times
Photo by Scott Simock
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Year: 2018 Created and Performed by Danielle Agami Length: 40 Minutes for proscenium stages and more intimate spaces Danielle Agami’s exposing new solo endeavor for more intimate venues explores the complexity of womanhood and performance across cultures. >>> Currrently available for touring |
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ABOUT THE WORK Framed is an intimate look into womanhood as experienced and understood by the ever-sensitive and insightful Danielle Agami. Growing up, Agami was surrounded by special female role models, especially her mother as the center of the household. As with so many Israeli woman, her mother’s strength and presence set the tone, color, and atmosphere every day. Yet below those strengths a fragility and ceaseless drive for perfection also thrived. In the solo performance, Agami unravels her experience as a woman as she hosts a curious, expecting audience. She wonders about the mission of hosting, asking herself “What is expected for me to provide?" The work is full of humor and honesty told through Agami's unforgettable physicality. |
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Framed was created with support of a Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship for Women Leaders in Dance at the Center for Ballet and the Arts
The brash piece [is] characterized by saucy stances, bold opinions and a desire to push the boundaries in order to make the viewers feel how she feels."
-Luara Altunian of LA Dance Chronicle