In Russian and English, Anya and Babushka struggle to communicate their Jewish identities via The Sims, a computer game simulating real life. The pair re-enact Babushka's memories of anti-semitism in the USSR, moving from joy to rage and back again. Their buried family history emerges as an imperfect patchwork of Soviet-Jewish aesthetics, melding puppetry, klezmer music, and dance theater.

Created in collaboration with: Julia Cavagna, Julia Danitz, Marina Gasparyan, Irina Gorovaia, Julia Gu, Julian Hernandez, Elena Rose Light, Lim Mui, Amy Wang

Composition: Julia Danitz

Choreography and Dramaturgy: Elena Rose Light

Video: https://vimeo.com/344462202

PAST PERFORMANCE:

May 30-June 2, 2019: St. Ann’s Warehouse Labapalooza!

June 7, 2019: Blast Off! Performance at The Old American Can Factory

May 1, 2019: A Night for Babushka at The Old American Can Factory

This project, developed as part of COJECO BluePrint Fellowship supported by COJECO and Genesis Philanthropy Group, has also engaged the Russian-speaking Jewish community through intergenerational puppetry workshops. Бабушка | BAb(oo)shka has received a work-in-progress performance at the Old American Can Factory in fall 2018 and will be presented, in part, at Labapalooza at St. Ann’s Warehouse in May 2019 and as a part of the Undiscovered Countries Blast Off! Performance on June 2019. The piece will premiere at the 14th St. Y September 26- October 6, 2019.