Perfume Genius collaborating on new touring dance performance piece

Mike Hadreas of Perfume Genius has come a long way from his early shows spent entirely sitting in front of a piano or keyboard. He’s come to incorporate movement and dance into his performances, and now he’s taking that even further by collaborating with choreographer Kate Wallich and her company The YC on a new dance and live music piece, The Sun Still Burns Here.

From the description:

The Sun Still Burns Here…conjures a spiritual unraveling of romantic decay. Two musicians, five dancers, and four designers create a three-dimensional performance that integrates indie rock with contemporary dance.

As Stereogum reports, Mike will compose the score to the piece and contribute to the performances, as well.

“Dance has become a vital part of my live performances over the last few years,” Mike says. “I use it almost as another instrument onstage to try and communicate beyond what I’m capable of singing. Music has always been my way of lifting off and pushing for transcendence. Working with Kate, creating movement and sound and a new world at the very same time — I feel like we’re unlocking something we couldn’t have alone. Dance isn’t a response to the music or vice versa since they have been braided together from the start.”

“This is the first time The YC has worked with a composer who is also a dancer and performer, and that’s what drew me to working with Mike in the first place,” Kate says. “It’s also the first time I have co-directed a work with someone outside of my own company. Because of this, we’re all pushing our work into new territories, and what’s happening is something very special.”

North Adams, MA will host a “technical residency and WIP showing” of The Sun Still Burns Here on June 8 (tickets), and it heads to Seattle’s Moore Theatre 10/4-10/5 for its world premiere, and NYC’s Joyce Theater 11/13-11/17 for its East Coast premiere. Additional touring dates are still to come.