Quartet for the End of Time with Vervet Dance

This contemporary dance “Quartet for the End of Time” is choreographed by Vervet Dance Artistic Director Loren Groenendaal to music composed by Olivier Messiaen. The performance features Choreographer/Dancer Loren Groenendaal, dancers Miryam Coppersmith, Chloe Marie, and Kate Seethaler.

The music of “Quartet for the End of Time” was selected because of its relevance to today’s emotional and political climate and its evocative and haunting sonic landscape. Messiaen composed this work in 1941 while he was held by Nazis as a prisoner of war and it is a complex response to the world in crisis. A few sections are indicative of violence and sorrow while facing humanitarian apocalypse while others are hopeful and dreamy, envisioning a new world and finding solace in nature and support from fellow humans. The dance is dialogue with the music, responds to our complex times which include humanitarian and political concerns as well as potential environmental…