Without Borders
A Night of International Dance, Music and Film
Feb 4, 2025
Danse Lumière, under the artistic direction of Kathryn Roszak, in collaboration with the Sausalito Center For The Arts, presents a seamless fusion of dance and music that transcends borders.
East Coast meets West Coast as acclaimed New York City dancers and celebrated San Francisco musicians come together for an extraordinary evening of performance on the scenic shores of Sausalito.
Experience the artistry of Evan Kahn, Principal Cellist of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, paired with dynamic dancers Max Barker and Johanna Sigurdardottir from the ABT Studio Company, NY. This event promises a captivating blend of dance, music, and film that will inspire and delight.
The performance will showcase Pas de deux and solo pieces with choreography designed to interact dynamically with the live cello performance. Movements that mirror and echo the musician's musical expressions create a seamless integration of dance and musical performance.
Evan Kahn, known for his "electrifying... nuanced and colorful" style will provide the musical foundation for this interdisciplinary work. His background in multiple orchestras and commitment to innovative performances makes him an ideal collaborator for this creative endeavor.Kathryn Roszak, with her extensive experience in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary performances brings her signature approach of blending artistic disciplines to create a compelling and innovative performance piece.
The evening includes the film Towpath. This mesmerizing, poetic tribute with dancers from three major ballet companies: Misa Kuranaga, San Francisco Ballet, Laine Habony, New York City Ballet, and Max Barker of ABT Studio Company. The film was shot on the East and West Coasts with none of the dancers actually dancing together while creating a powerful story of relationships.
Producer/Director is Kathryn Roszak who danced with the San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera Ballet, and is the producer of Women at the Top, featuring Lia Cirio, Boston Ballet, Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of Martha Graham Dance Company, Gianna Reisen and Keerati Jinakunwiphat of New York City Ballet. That film screened in Los Angeles, San Francisco, on Boston Ballet’s social media, and in Seattle.
Towpath’s Cinematographer and Editor Ernesto Galan works for Boston Ballet. The score for the film by Antonin Dvorak is conducted by Carlo Ponti Jr. (the son of the film producer) of the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. The film’s story seeks to convey poetically the hidden lives of women and men who are changemakers everywhere.
Meet the Artists
Evan Kahn:
California-based cellist Evan Kahn has been praised as “a cellist deserved of serious listening” for bringing his “electrifying … nuanced and colorful” style to all of his collaborations, from concerti to chamber music to contemporary performances. He has commissioned and premiered over 60 works by composers from around the world, including his father’s Cello Concerto. Evan holds principal positions in four orchestras — San Francisco Opera, New Century Chamber Orchestra, Opera San Jose, and the San Jose Chamber Orchestra.
Max Barker:
Max Barker joined the ABT JKO School in 2009 under the Artistic Direction of Franco De Vita as a Primary A student in our Children’s Division. He progressed through Primary, Level 1A, 1B, 2 & 3 before graduating into the Pre-Professional Division, where he is now a student in Upper-2 under the Artistic Direction of Cynthia Harvey. Max has regularly attended the ABT Summer Intensive during his training with the ABT JKO School, has participated in the JKO School spring performances, and has performed as a supernumerary during both the Fall and Spring seasons with the ABT main Company!
Johanna Sigurdardottir:
Johanna Sigurdardottir began her training with Lise la Cour and San Francisco Ballet School. She trained with the School of American Ballet (SAB) from 2016–2020, where she performed with New York City Ballet in Peter Martin’s The Sleeping Beauty, the New York Choreographic Institute, SAB Student Choreography workshops, Winter Showings and Winter Ball. Sigurdardottir was a finalist at Youth America Grand Prix in New York City. Sigurdardottir joined Boston Ballet’s Graduate program in 2020. She joined Boston Ballet II in 2021. Since 2022, she has performed with various companies in corps de ballet, soloist, and principal roles in Europe and on tour in the United States.