In July 2025, we presented Architecture Through the Body: A Living Legacy at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), celebrating 40 years of our work at the intersection of movement and architecture. This exhibition honored our history of site-specific performance and our long-standing practice of creating work in non-traditional spaces. Over the years, our collaborations with architecture and the built environment inspired kinetic investigations of historic and unique locations, making SCI-Arc a natural partner for this retrospective.
The exhibition launched on July 18 with an evening of immersive archives, including stunning photography, video installations, original costumes, and choreography. Guests explored our history throughout the gallery, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion on the intersection of dance and architecture. The conversation was moderated by Maristella Casciato, Senior Curator of Architecture at the Getty Research Institute, and featured renowned architects Brenda Levin and Scott Johnson alongside choreographers Corina Kinnear, Sebastian Peters-Lazaro, and Matthew Diafos. The panel invited audiences to consider how movement and space inform one another, setting the stage for a week of reflection, connection, and inspiration.
The exhibition ran through a closing event on July 25, which culminated with a special site-specific performance, bringing our rich history to life in motion. The evening featured the premiere of a new work choreographed by our Artistic Director, Raymond Ejiofor, performed by Colleen Loverde and Alejandro Perez, with live music by Pauline Lay. Guests began the night with a reception and final viewing of the exhibition, followed by the site-specific performance experiencing our living legacy as it unfolded across SCI-Arc’s architectural spaces.
Through these events, we honored our legacy and shared our vision of a future where dance and architecture intertwine to push boundaries and reveal new ways of seeing the world.
Credits
Presented by
Heidi Duckler Dance
Directed/Choreography by
Raymond Ejiofor
Performers / Collaborators
Alejandro Perez and Colleen Loverde
Musician
Pauline Lay
Panel Discussion
Maristella Casciato, Brenda Levin, Scott Johnson, Corina Kinnear, Sebastian Peters-Lazaro and Matthew Diafos
Photographers
Owen Scarlett (Panel Discussion)
Heather Seybolt (Performances)
Videographer
Victoria Marchetti (Panel Discussion & Performance)
2Sides Films (Performance)
