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Next Performing Arts | Theater | Dance
Presented by the Wexner Center for the Arts and The Ohio State University Office of Academic Affairs
World Premiere
Advance ticket sale for members begins July 7—join today!
Tickets available to the general public July 21
For ticketing questions please call the Visitor Desk at (614) 292-3535.
If you have questions about accessibility or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please email accessibility@wexarts.org or call (614) 688-3890. Visit our Accessibility page to learn more.
A powerful performative archive of stories honoring the resilience of Hurricane Katrina survivors, embodying their experiences through dance, music, and technology.
ZAZ: The Big Easy is an immersive sensory performance that shifts traditional viewing practices beyond just sight and sound. The performers embody the oral histories and recorded experiences of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. They perform in tap shoes, hard-soled shoes, gumboots, and barefoot, creating a rhythmic score that supports the narration woven into the performance. These stories are conveyed through speaking, singing, rapping, and projections, creating a unique experience that transports the audience to New Orleans and breaks down the boundaries of the fourth wall.
Conceived by Ryan K. Johnson, an acclaimed 2024 Guggenheim Choreography Fellow and recipient of the prestigious 2024 New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project production grant, this choreography-led performance intricately weaves soundscapes and cutting-edge media technology with vibrant percussive dance. This world premiere includes choreography by Ayodele Casel, Michelle Gibson, and Quynn Johnson with musical arrangements by Tamar Greene of Hamilton, Broadway company. (90 mins. no intermission)
IMAGE CAPTIONZaz: The Big Easy, photo: Jonathan Hsu.
SOLE Defined, led by the 2024 Guggenheim Choreography Fellow Ryan K. Johnson and international art-based teaching and performing artist Quynn L. Johnson, is a group of percussive dance artists who transform their bodies into human drums, creating immersive performances and innovative arts education programs. The company pushes the boundaries of African diasporic percussive dance, specifically tap dance, body percussion, and sand dance, infused with technology and original music, captivating audiences nationwide. SOLE Defined's mission is to preserve, advance, and honor the tradition of African diasporic percussive dance. Learn more at soledefined.com.
Support for this performance provided by Engie.
Additional support provided by the New England Foundation for the Arts.
Doris Duke Foundation
Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Wexner Family
Ohio Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts
CampusParc
The Columbus Foundation
Every Page Foundation
Mellon Foundation
Axium Packaging
Nationwide Foundation
Joyce Shenk
Lachelle Thigpen
Next Performing Arts
SOLE Defined
