Dance Faculty's Company Garners Five-Star Review from The Guardian
Praise follows performance by "Abby Z and the New Utility" at Saddler's Wells in London.
The performance, which The Guardian described as “a triumph of Olympian physicality,” featured three Ohio State Dance alumni, Fiona Lundie ’12 MFA, Jennifer Meckley '13 MFA, Ishmael Konney '23 MFA and current second-year MFA candidate Ben Roach. In addition, Assistant Professor Momar Ndiaye served as dramaturg on the work, which featured original music from Ohio State dance accompanist Matthew Peyton Dixon. The work was presented in association with Dance Umbrella UK, a cutting-edge dance production house at London’s renowned Sadler's Wells Theatre.
This performance marks a significant milestone in Zbikowski’s career as a dance artist and educator, showcasing the talent and creativity emerging from Ohio State’s Department of Dance on an esteemed international platform.
“This moment of acclaim is not only a testament to Abby’s relentless innovation but also to our department’s commitment to fostering groundbreaking artistry. We celebrate this milestone with Abby and her talented team of Ohio State alumni and collaborators who brought this work to life at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.”
Zbikowski created her company “Abby Z and the New Utility” in 2012 with founding members and Ohio State MFA Dance Alumnae Fiona Lundie ’12 and Jennifer Meckley ’13. She received the 2017 Juried Bessie Award for her “unique and utterly authentic movement vocabulary in complex and demanding structures to create works of great energy, intensity, surprise and danger.” In 2018, Dance Umbrella UK awarded her a “Choreographer of the Future” commission. She was an inaugural Caroline Hearst Choreographer-In-Residence at the Lewis Center of the Arts at Princeton University (2017-19), artist in residence at New York Live Arts (2018-20) and has also been in residence at Bates Dance Festival, American Dance Festival and the STREB Lab for Action Mechanics.
Zbikowski has performed with Charles O. Anderson/Dance Theater X, Momar Ndiaye and the Baker & Tarpaga Dance Project. Her company has been presented nationally, performing at venues such as Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts, and the Fuse Box Festival in Austin, Texas, among others. Her company’s new work, “Radioactive Practice,” premiered at New York Live Arts in New York City on May 18, 2022.
Learn more about “Abby Z and the New Utility’s” London performances at the Dance Umbrella UK’s website.
Read The Guardian’s full review at its website.