These are the Ones We Fell Among

“These Are the Ones We Fell Among” is a one-hour duet performance that takes inspiration from the movements, myths and metaphors of our non-human cousins  (from our most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita, to our largest land mammal, the elephant) and reflects upon the dire condition of our climate. Performed by Shinichi Iova-Koga and Dana Iova-Koga, this work grapples with elegance in the face of extinction and looks for humor and grace amid excrement and fear.

Available for touring in 2023/24

“A splendid hour – an affirmation of form and content exploded into a new field of sorts. What a tour de force!” – choreographer Margaret Jenkins

Our guest choreographer Ann Carlson is a fountain of creativity. She brings brightness into every step and word, crafting this, the first inkBoat duet of Dana Iova-Koga and myself.

We began two years ago, working together in Switzerland for 10 days. Then live work stopped. Zoom came to the rescue. Fortunately, Dana and I live together. Ann in one Zoom box, us in another. Rehearsing twice weekly for “Ones” via Zoom became a balm, a comforting ritual amidst the craziness. We didn’t know if and how the piece would reach the public, but we held to the act of making, and the holding held us.

Also working remotely (though inimately and warmly), the sublime composers Carla Kihlstedt and Shahzad Ismaily. Carla’s edgy, quirky, haunting, driving, etherial compositions have been part of inkBoat’s sound and vision over the last 23 years. Shahzad’s brilliance and spirit continually uplift the quality of anything he touches. Allen Willner remains our award winning master of light. I’ve depended on his eye and artistic sensibility throughout inkBoat’s history. I’m also so grateful for Amy Rathbone’s fine, detailed, intelligent and evocative touches to our visual world. Not merely collaborators, these guys. Deep friends. What fortune.

Shinichi Iova-Koga
inkBoat Artistic Director

Conceived, choreographed, written and directed by Ann Carlson in collaboration with inkBoat
Performed by Shinichi and Dana Iova-Koga
Music composed by Shahzad Ismaily and Carla Kihlstedt (with an additional contribution from Stellwagen Symphonette)

Lighting by Allen Willner
Scenic elements by Amy Rathbone
Kurogo: Mary Constance Parks, Brian Collentine, Kaori Yamashita, Carol Manke

Producer and Artistic Director: Shinichi Iova-Koga
Fundraising: Julia Davidson
Bookkeeping: Dana Iova-Koga

These are the Ones We Fell Among is an inkBoat production, presented by by ODC with support from the Mills Performing Artist-in-Residency program, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and individual donors.