Choreographer Jody Sperling and her Time Lapse Dance ensemble are thrilled to be returning Roosevelt Island for the annual City of Forest Day presented by IDig2Learn. The visually stunning program explores human relationship with nature. Featured works highlight the acclaimed climate-engaged collaboration between Sperling and environmental composer Matthew Burtner. Appropriately for City of Forest Day, Arbor illuminates the hidden intimacy of trees. Plastic Harvest, a romp about plastic proliferations, provokes contemplation of what--and who--society throws away. The program also features a Rise, new work-in-progress reimagining our relationship to water in the wake of shifting tides that are reconfiguring places we call home. All these works use the company's signature transformational costuming that abstracts human movement into elemental and organic forces.

The performance is followed by a short experiential "Communi-tree" movement workshop. All ages and levels of experience welcome!

Rain Contingency. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors to Good Shepherd Church. Please check back the day of for further details.

Performance is co-sponsored by IDig2Learn and Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance. The program is also made possible in part by an ongoing eco-artist-residency at The New York Society for Ethical Culture. Rise was choreographed, in part, with a 2025 commission by The Yard, an artist residency and performance center dedicated to contemporary dance and related arts.

photo above by Ghila Krajzman