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Dance Up Close to MADboots dance co.'s "Academy" as They Prepare 92nd Street Y Performances

By Erin Bomboy
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Published on November 25, 2013
MADboots dance co., Photography by: Nir Arieli

Jonathan Campbell and Austin Diaz's All-Male Company Stimulated by Sports

The 92Y presents MADboots dance co.

December 7, 2013 at 8pm and December 8, 2013 at 3pm

For tickets and information click 92Y

Choreography by Jonathan Campbell and Austin Diaz

Performers: Eli Bauer, Jonathan Campbell, Austin Diaz, Garth Johnson, David Norsworthy

Costume Designer: Alexandra Johnson

In 2011, Jonathan Campbell and Austin Diaz formed MADboots dance co. on a whim after discovering an intriguing artistic chemistry. Devoting themselves to creating works exclusively for men, Campbell and Diaz balance artistic director duties through a blend of compromise, collaboration, and the conviction that two viewpoints can elicit a more interesting response.

While MADboots dance co. may have originated as a lark, Campbell and Diaz have amassed an impressive resume in a short period of time. Their performing credits include showcases at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival’s Inside/Out series, the Duo Multicultural Arts Center, and festivals in Italy and Canada. They have taught master classes at Dance New Amsterdam, Broadway Dance Center, and throughout the United States.

Who is MADboots and How Does the Jonathan Campbell and Austin Diaz Collaboration Work?

Campbell and Diaz match their athletic, testosterone-fueled choreography with humanistic sensitivity. They enjoy pushing against the boundaries of conventional movement to form complex and rigorous phrases that resound with virtuosity.  While being an all-male company may submit them to stereotypes, MADboots dance co. strives to produce choreography that transcends gender and speaks to the duality that resides in us all.

Why is MADboots An All-Male Dance Company?

The 92Y will present the world premiere of ACADEMY the first weekend in December. Stimulated by the pervasive sports culture that manifests itself from peewee football leagues to crazed fans attacking each other, this piece explores athletic regimes and group rituals. The soundscape highlights a collection of found sounds, which range from the contrapuntal brightness of Bach to droning electronics.  Costume designer Alexandra Johnson will outfit the quintet in padded pants and crop tops, the latter a signature feature of the MADboots dance co. aesthetic.

Garth Johnson, Dancer with MADboots dance co., Talks About His Solo work in Academy.

One highlight of ACADEMY is dancer Garth Johnson’s solo. He explores the transition from outsider to in-group member through a passage rife with assaultive motions. “The solo is really physical, and I feel like there are many spastic moments. I push my boundaries to the limit and expand my skin throughout the whole solo,” Johnson explains.

MADboots dance co. appears as part of the 92Y’s Dig Dance: Weekend Series. blue, a piece created earlier this year for the Duo Multicultural Arts Center, will also appear on the program. Taking its inspiration from Picasso’s blue period, this work utilizes text by Christopher Moore.