Strangers Become Flowers
Choreography: Randee Paufve
Dancers: Rogelio Lopez, Elizebeth Randall, Andrew Merrell, Nadia Oka, Mechelle Tunstall, Juliana Monin
Lighting Design: Gabe Maxson
Costume Design: Keriann Egeland
This evening-length dance investigates how movement fosters connections between people, provoking ideas about mutual understanding, touching and being touched, and the potential for narrowing social chasms, one chance encounter at a time.
Premiere: February 2016, ODC Commons Studio B, San Francisco
VIDEO > Strangers Become Flowers, highlight reel. Shot by Paul Delbene, edited by Erin Malley. 2015.
Andrew Merrell hugs himself in “Strangers Become Flowers.” Four dancers look at him with concerned expressions. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez crouches with one hand on a knee and the other hand on his shoulder. He swiftly looks over his shoulder. Dancer: Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Kaveri Seth.
Nadio Oka in “Strangers Become Flowers.” Nadia reaches both arms and a leg forward towards the audience. Four dancers groove in the background with thumbs-up hands. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Six dancers in a circle dance with their hands reaching up and elbows bent. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Andrew Merrell and Rogelio Lopez hold hands; Juliana Monin, Elizabeth Randall and Mechelle Tunstall enter from offstage. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Kaveri Seth
"Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez and Mechelle Tunstall stand, touching the sternums of Andrew Merrell and Nadia Oka, who kneel on the floor and lean backwards. Elizabeth Randall and Julianan Monin kneel with heads resting on the floor. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez holds the forehead of a crawling Andrew Merrell and places a hand on a resting Elizabeth Randall. Mechelle Tunstall and Nadia Oka echo the shape in the background. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Juliana Monin faces away from the camera, holding up her palm to other dancers. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Andrew Merrell sits with knees bent, resting on his hands. Behind him, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizabeth Randall and Rogelio Lopez dance at various levels. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Mechelle Tunstall backbends and holds Rogelio Lopez’s head. She gazes at him upside down. Dancers: Rogelio Lopez, Mechelle Tunstall. Photo: Tony Nguyen
“Strangers Become Flowers.” Mechelle Tunstall squats low her knees open, with one arm outstretched and her other elbow drawn back. She gazes over her outstretched arm. Dancer: Mechelle Tunstall. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Andrew Merrell is kneeling in mid-fall. His hands reach out to catch his body and he looks up at the ceiling. Dancer: Andrew Merrell. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Elizabeth Randall bends at the hips with her fists clenched and her eyes shut. Dancer: Elizebeth Randall. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez takes a step with his head cocked, a curious expression on his face. Dancer: Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez faces away from the camera and is mid-fall with his arms outstretched. Dancer: Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez sits on the ground. One arm supports his torso, upright, while the other arm is bent over his head. Dancer: Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers” Dancers stand and crouch in a circle, creating a hexagonal shape with their arms by holding onto each other's elbows.Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers” Four dancers hold onto, push and pull on the back of Mechelle Tunstall. Michelle, hunched, pitches forward. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers” A close-up of dancers holding hands and carrying one another. Dancers: Juliana Monin, Mechelle Tunstall, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez. Photo Kaveri Seth
“Strangers Become Flowers” Rogelio Lopez and Nadia Oka hold hands and look at each other. Andrew Merrell and Elizabeth Randall flank them. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Elizebeth Randall, Rogelio Lopez, Nadia Oka. Photo: Kaveri Seth
Dancer: Rogelio Lopez. Photographer: Kaveri Seth Dancer. “Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez sits on the ground. One arm supports his torso, upright, while the other arm is bent over his head.
“Strangers Become Flowers" Rogelio Lopez kneels and looks upward as he tosses flowers overhead. Dancer: Rogelio Lopez. Photo: Tony Nguyen.
“Strangers Become Flowers" Andrew Merrell and Rogelio Lopez; Rogelio rolls on the ground with eyes shut as he is pulled by Andrew. Dancers: Rogelio Lopez, Andrew Merrell. Photo: Tony Nguyen
“Strangers Become Flowers.” Andrew Merrell, in a bathrobe and Mechelle Tunstall, in a suit, sit at a bus stop holding flowers. Mechelle gazes at Andrew holding flowers; Andrew looks at the camera. Dancers: Andrew Merrell, Mechelle Tunstall. Photo: Pak Han