In BUSK, internationally renowned choreographer Aszure Barton invites us to enjoy the fragility, tenderness, and resilience that exist within the human experience. Set to a spirited score, BUSK has been described as watching the physical unfurling of the human psyche. Under Barton’s direction, every facet of the dancers’ bodies and minds are engaged and the complex layering of movement reveals the inherent wisdom of the body. The dancers must tap into the collective—a hive mind—in order to execute Barton’s layered and intricate choreographic structures which then give way to the nuance of each individual. The audience is invited into the work and the performers—as they are—are celebrated as enough.

Created by Aszure Barton & Artists in 2009, BUSK was conceived at The Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara during a residency hosted by Dianne Vapnek’s DANCEworks. The work was then further developed in residency at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (Alberta, Canada). BUSK, in its original form, is an evening-length work.

Leadership support for BUSK was provided by Melinda & Paul Pressler and Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer.

BUSK was originally made possible by generous support from DANCEworks, The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and the Ringling International Arts Festival, with John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in association with the Baryshnikov Arts Center.

Additional support also provided by White Oak Conservation Center, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and The Canada Council for the Arts.