Lost Arroyos

An original play written by Mara McEwin and choreographed by Emily Bunning, Lost Arroyos follows several characters as they explore separate worlds of cultural struggles, race boundaries and blurred identities. Told through contemporary modern dance, imaginative parallel narratives, video, poetry and witty dialogue, the play begins just after Kye, a writer, has recently moved to the heart of an unknown, Latino, Southwestern community. Kye soon meets the neighborhood watch, Diamond, who guides her away from her pre-conceived notions of Hispanic culture and into a world that is diverse, rich and gentle.

The dancers, who play a chorus of Spanish speaking children, vibrantly fill the stage with playful gestures, often intertwining Diamond and Kye within their movements. The film footage takes audiences on a visual quest through a moving Southwestern landscape.

On the other side of the Rio Grande, Kye’s best friend, Ovid, a would-be film star, has lost his own world to a painful cycle of crystal methamphetamines. Ovid hitchhikes to Tennessee to follow his favorite country musicians and live outside the Grand Ol’ Oprey. Dolly, a drug visionary and the story’s comic relief, eventually guides Ovid gently back to the safety of Kye.

In Lost Arroyos the abstract movement often becomes the unspoken emotional landscape, shaping the narrative with frenetic rhythms, tangled partnering, and abrupt stillness. In this world premiere, cultural worlds are explored and divided, alongside the collaborative artistic elements of movement, word, audio and images, portraying a diverse portrait of the American spirit.

Film Footage by Brent Hankins, edited by Kinetiscope

Performers: Emily Bunning, Bryan Campo, Sergio Fuenzalida, Kristy Kuhn, Mara McEwin, Alex Perez, and Sarah Young

Lost Arroyos is presented through HERE’s Supported Artist Program

AEA Approved Showcase