By Miami Light Project

Longtime MLP fans are familiar with our signature commissioning program, Here & Now. Miami Light Project launched Here & Now in 1999 as the first of its kind program dedicated to the commissioning of South Florida based performing and multi-media artists. Since its inception, Miami Light Project has commissioned work from more than 70 South Florida-based artists, whose work has contributed to the growing reputation of Miami as a cultural center of international importance. Over 30 of those artists have gone on to perform that work in 14 states and 15 countries for an estimated audience of 20,000 people world-wide. The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County joined Miami Light Project as a commissioning partner beginning in 2004, and, in 2007, welcomed Here & Now performances to their new home in the Carnival Studio Theater. In 2008, Miami Light Project was one of the 31 inaugural grant recipients of The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Knight Arts Partnership Program which supported the expansion of our Here & Now professional development programs and post commission support available to Here & Now artists. Here & Now: 2011 is co-commissioned and presented by Miami Light Project and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County as part of Miami Made.

Each year we receive between 20-30 applications to fill between 4-6 spots- its always a though decision to curate the selection of artists, and this year we are very excited to have the opportunity to present the work of choreographers Letty Bassart, Ana Mendez and Liony Garcia and theater artists Elizabeth Doud and Carlos Caballero.

As part of the commissioning process, we schedule specific moments in the creation timeline to step in as producers and see how the work is progressing. This gives us an opportunity to support the creative process by giving feedback and advice when necessary, to make sure that the process of creation is happening smoothly, and to also test out technical ideas with the theater tech crew.

Theater artists Carlos Caballero & Elizabeth Doud first began their professional relationship last year as collaborators on Sipping Fury From A Teacup. Their Here & Now: 2011 piece, uses text from Samuel Beckett to explore the themes of industrial waste, environmentalism and unemployment.

Letty Bassart’s Requiem for a Mustard Seed Closes in Song, Act 1 features a fantastic cast of 5 dancers and music by MLP favorite Daniel Bernard Roumain. Using found objects, cabbages, faith and umbrellas, Letty showed us several dance movements during the showing.

In his first major commission, Liony Garcia’s Clandestine takes inspiration from the Italian Giallo Cinema. By bringing this film noir style to the stage, Liony’s carefully crafted sound and dancers continually raise the tension and sexual excitement throughout the piece.

Choreographer Ana Mendez’ The Body is Present is a ritualistic performance homage to visual artist Ana Mendieta. Using live music and images inspired by Mendieta’s work, Ana walks us through several technical elements of the piece.