| v e s s e l s | invites you to our inaugural evening-length performance of Neutral Ground, a 60-minute dance theatre piece that explores existing in the in-between space and the search for belonging as Asian-Pacific Americans. Giving voice to the singular monolith that is the “model minority,” Neutral Ground seeks to bring to life the buried stories and emotional landscapes that exist within our communities. 

“We’ve been talking about our experiences of growing up in America. Of the reflexive desire to assimilate. The yearning to belong. The feeling of putting on the words Asian-Pacific American - an awkward sweater that we are neither growing into or out of.

This piece stems from our personal memories, experiences, and observations. It is an attempt to unpack the messiness of identity, The Sacrifices of Our Parents, and living within the confines and privileges of being the “model minority”. Neither a start nor a finish, we’ve imagined Neutral Ground to be a fleeting reflection of existing in this in-between space.”

Neutral Ground was the created thanks to the support of the CUNY Dance Initiative, Laguardia Performing Arts Center, and Asian American Arts Alliance.

CREATIVE TEAM
Artistic Direction/Choreography 
Kris Seto + Shoey Sun /vessels/ in collaboration with the artists

Movement Artists
Rebecca Corrigan, Niki Fara, Maurice Ivy, Elizabeth Shew, and Haley Sung

Music + Sound
Cameron Thompkins

Set Design
Simon Schabert

Lighting Design
Christopher Weston, Lighting Design

Stylist/Wardrobe
Lee Hubilla

Illustration
Lilly Lam

ABOUT | v e s s e l s | 
Founded in 2014 by artistic directors Shoey Sun and Kris Seto, | v e s s e l s | is a dance-theatre collective comprised of diverse, multidisciplinary artists. Their mission is to create transformative, genre-blurring work that is witty, honest, and a touch surreal. 

Evocative and raw, their movement intersects traditional Thai and Chinese folk dances, hip-hop, street jazz, as well as influences from contemporary forms including Gaga, Butoh, and Nadine Bommer's Kinetica.

CUNY Dance Initiative
The CUNY Dance Initiative receives major support from The Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Jerome Robbins Foundation, the SHS Foundation, the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the Harkness Foundation for Dance. CDI is spearheaded and administered by The Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College.