Swans
in collaboration with Lia Kohl
2026
Swans is an audiovisual collaboration, an open-to-the-public, site-responsive performance on swan pedal boats, bringing together a sextet of saxophones composed and directed by Kohl with wing sculptures and choreography by Bass. The music, inspired by the calls of trumpeter swans and the acoustics of sound traveling across water, moves between notated and improvised passages. The choreography takes inspiration from swans’ flight and swimming patterns, creating a gliding, processional parade across the lagoon, with movement that similarly moves between structure and improvisation.First presented by the Out There Series, on August 30 on the Veterans Park Lagoon in Milwaukee, WI.
Made possible by The Reva and David Logan Foundation, Wheel Fun Rental, Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts, Milwaukee Parks Department, and The Milwaukee Art Museum.
Dancers:
Jess Bass, Tuli Bera, Saoirse Ahumada Furin, Angela Frederick, Graciela Gonzalez, Hattie Grimm, Ayako Kato, Lia Kohl, Isabella Limosnero, Amanda Maraist, Cristal Sabbagh, Nicole Spence
Musicians:
Gerrit Hatcher, Fred Jackson Jr., Molly Jones, Luc Mosley, Sen Morimoto, Mai Sugimoto
Thank you:
John Larkin, Lorna Krier, Jessie Mott, Rodney Knight, Gusto Avila, Ivon Steffen Candace Tyrrell, Kantara Souffrant, Andrew Krueger, Timothy Vargo, Derrick Alexander, Mattheus Leonard, Joshu Gilbert, Rob Sohmer, Nick Meryhew, Laura Bass, Ragdale Residency
