"Some Assembly Required"
Between_MP_Medium
Peter Kope & Michele de la Reza. Courtesy of Martha Rial.


George R. White Studio, Pittsburgh Opera

February 26 & 28, March 1
7 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Attack Theatre is accomplished at bringing dance to unexpected public spaces, blurring boundaries between performer and spectator and exploring the subtleties found within everyday life.

For its next act, Attack presents a world premiere production of the new contemporary dance and live music performance, Between. Showcasing the company’s co-founders Peter Kope and Michele de la Reza together on stage—the creative duo who launched Attack out of their Wilkinsburg kitchen 20 years ago—Between explores the creative partnership of two figures behind the city’s most established modern dance company.

During the intimate performance, audiences will be closer to the performers than ever before, thanks to the show’s highly immersive and evocative environment. With Attack’s signature twist on the art of dance, Between will literally take place both on-stage and off. Audiences will be split into two groups to experience the journey from two separate perspectives, as two acts unfold throughout different areas of the studio. The resulting work focuses on the intense energy between two people, between a myriad of collaborators and between audiences.

Between features vigorous live music by Grammy-nominated composer Dave Eggar, a longtime Attack collaborator and the company’s music director. To provide the bold emotional score, which showcases multi-instrumental original compositions inspired by Frederic Chopin, Eggar teamed up with Grammy-nominated percussionist and producer Chuck Palmer.

Joining Kope and de la Reza on stage are seasoned Attack dancers Dane Toney and Kaitlin Dann. The 20th anniversary work also features original images created by local artist David Pohl.

Mining life’s “between states,” de la Reza says that the performance examines “the palpable space between thoughts, moments, people and places.” The couple’s fascination with shifting perspectives, along with their process-based interest in creating different points of view for audiences, also inform the innovative show.

Don’t miss the opening night party on Thursday, February 26th, featuring a post-performance event with the show’s cast and Attack’s staff and board, as well as light fare and libations.

Purchase tickets.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.