The CUNY Dance Initiative will present a work-in-progress showing of “Too soon to discover planets, too late to discover islands (Part III)” by Orlando Hernández & The Knee-Heart Connection on May 9.
The performance, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, offers an “Afro-Taíno-futurist vision” that blends tap dance, live music, and physical theater. The event is free to the public with an RSVP.
Led by choreographer Orlando Hernández, the production traces the history of an island through the people who arrive there. This third installment reimagines the island as a vessel traveling toward new horizons. Hernández, whom The New Yorker has described as a “history-mining experimentalist,” explores themes of rhythm and reflection through a mix of mask-work and improvisation.
The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI) is a residency program that provides New York City choreographers with creative space on CUNY campuses. This specific work is supported by a residency at the Hostos Center and follows previous iterations developed at venues such as New York Live Arts and Jacob’s Pillow.
The performance features music direction by Danny Fisher-Lochhead and choreography by Hernández. The ensemble includes:
- Keren Abreu
- Jackson Clayton
- Leonardo Sandoval
- Lucas Santana
- Isabella Serricella
- Liberty Styles
Following the performance, the artists will hold an audience talkback to discuss the creative process.
Hernández, a 2025-2028 Jerome Fellow in Dance and a Yale University graduate, is a member of several prominent companies, including Music From the Sole and Subject:Matter. His multidisciplinary background includes playwriting and poetry, with his play “La Broa’ (Broad Street)” receiving critical acclaim at Trinity Repertory Company in 2024.
The Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture is located at 450 Grand Concourse. Attendees can reserve seats through the official CUNY Dance Initiative website.
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