By Logan Langlois
NASHVILLE, TN – OZ Arts Nashville is closing out their Spring season with an international hit brought together by an internationally award-winning artist later this month, according to Artistic Director Mark Murphy. The performance Navy Blue will be hosted at OZ Arts from May 30 to June 1. Following this, the celebrated dancer, artist, and director from Northern Ireland, Oona Doherty, will be taking her group to their New York premiere at the renowned Joyce Theater. Murphy noted that the Spring season has been gratifying for himself and many Nashvillians who experienced the young, fresh international talent that came through OZ and introduced the city to influences that “just blew the roof off the place.”
Murphy emphasized the power of the performing arts to completely engulf audiences in someone’s ideas and visual world, highlighting the energy and stunning impact these performances can have. He takes pride in his self-imposed mission to seek out diverse perspectives from around the globe, presenting unique and innovative pieces in various ways. A standout piece from the season was Rave Lucid, featuring a dancing and directing team from a variety of cultural backgrounds, producing a truly one-of-a-kind performance. Navy Blue, a product of 2020, pushes artistic boundaries in its unique use of light and projection to accentuate the 12-person dance team’s dramatic choreography, providing profound social commentary.
Doherty communicates much of her message through choreography that has an undertone of violence. The dancers’ body language flows through pools of light, video imagery, and additional off-stage sounds, all coming together to evoke strong emotions from the audience. Inspirations for Navy Blue range from Doherty’s upbringing in Belfast during a time of violence and conflict, her awareness of global struggles, and her experiences studying ballet, which she likens to a “Squid Game”-like atmosphere.
Although Doherty is relatively unknown in the United States, Murphy’s habit of booking locally unknown international artists has worked in his favor, building a positive reputation among Nashvillians eager for new experiences. He is excited to share this energy again at the start of the Fall season with DakhaBrakha, a musical performance from Kyiv, Ukraine, traveling internationally as part of a fundraising effort. The money raised by DakhaBrakha is to be donated for prosthetic limbs for Ukrainians injured in the war with Russia. OZ Arts has featured the band before, coinciding with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The band is set to kick off Oz’s fall season on September 12, drawing heavily from their nation’s rich history of folk melody.
Murphy encourages anyone looking to purchase tickets for OZ’s Spring season finale featuring Navy Blue to visit their website, ozartsnashville.org. Citizens can also keep up with future events through their social media on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube under ozartsnashville.
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