Reggie Wilson is indisputably one of America’s leading choreographers, and to create Moses(es), a new piece he received a Joyce Award for, Wilson also took on the role of anthropologist. Through Moses(es), Wilson explores the interfaith mythical, biblical, ethnographic, historic and global references of Moses.
As Wilson developed Moses(es) he met with religious leaders and communities to discover their Moses stories. Christianity, Islam and Judaism all hold interpretations of Moses’ stories. While many of those interpretations share common values and ethics, the three largest monotheistic religions have a divisive history of judgment, misunderstanding and intolerance.
Reggie Wilson - Fist + Heel Performance Group
Fist & Heel Performance Group, where Wilson serves as artistic director, premiered Moses(es) in September 2013 at FringeArts Philadelphia. That following winter, the company began touring the evening-length performance, making stops in New York City and Chicago, at Columbia College’s Dance Center April 3-5, 2014.
The Joyce Award supported the commissioning of Moses(es) as well as a ten-day artist research residency, community engagement and choreographic development residency with at the Dance Center. During Wilson's residency, he taught master classes for Columbia College dancers and high school students, and met with local religious leaders.