kNoname Artist/Roderick George: “The Grave’s Tears”

Roderick George’s The Grave’s Tears brings urgent, contemporary dance to our stage, blending ballet, improvisation, and modern movement with evocative music and narration. Featuring an all-male cast, the work draws from George’s perspective as a queer Black artist and explores themes of identity, resilience, and community within the LGBTQ+ experience. The Grave’s Tears honors those impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and celebrates the power of solidarity and survival. This performance is a dynamic opportunity for our campus to engage with vital social issues through innovative choreography-inviting conversation, reflection, and connection across disciplines. 

Born in Houston, Texas, George studied at Houston Ballet Academy. George was a bronze winner of the Youth American Grand Prix in 2005 and a YoungArts Winner and Presidential Scholar in 2003. Roderick George is a Recipient of the 2024 inaugural Jacob’s Pillow Men Dancers Award and of the 2024 Princess Grace Award for Choreography.

Artistic Director & Choreographer Roderick George

Music Jace Clayton 

Lighting Designer  Tanja Rühl

Costume Design Roderick George & Lauren Carmen

Rehearsal Director Daniel Harder

With (dancers TBA)

Worldwide Representation Pomegranate Arts

The first iteration of the production was commissioned by Gibney as part of the organization’s DoublePlus program for the 2023-2024 Season, curated by Gibney Center Artistic Director Nigel Campbell and Kyle Abraham. 

The Grave’s Tears was developed as part of the Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence program and the support of New York Live Arts, Williams College and the Schwarzman Center at Yale University and Pomegranate Arts. Additional residency support provided by La Villette – Paris.

The production received support from the National Performance Network Creation & Development Fund.

The Grave’s Tears is commissioned by Le Manège, Scène Nationale – Reims.

Produced by kNoname Artist in collaboration with Pomegranate Arts.