Tenderenda
- or -
the Restrain Refrain of St. Laurentius T.



January 2005
Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church


...The forest, which some call Der Schwartzbilt, is said to contain a hole in the world made by St. Laurentius Tenderenda just before he climbed into the body of a bear, never to climb out of it.

The hole, no larger than a pinprick, gives way to the void, wherein there is no space, time, nor any other category of experience. It is said that the great sleeping Ursus, whose heavy breath alone populates the void, is curled up everywhere and nowhere at once.

Through the hole, there blows a wind which is one of the wonders of the world.



Suspiciously resembling the kindergarten play and resounding with a tympanic quacking, Tenderenda is a sideways adaptation of Hugo Ball's "Tenderenda Der Fantast," set amidst a wondrous gentle forest.




Tenderenda - or - the Restrain Refrain was performed in a very squashed workshop version at PS 122 May 2003, a longer but rudimentary workshop version at UrSTIVAL June 2003, and as a living, breathing, completed thing in January, 2005, at Danspace Project at St. Mark's church.


writing, sound and direction by Karinne Keithley
choreographed in collaboration with the performers
Katy Pyle is Witolde
Chris Yon is Gnimme
Karinne Keithley is Uda
Jeff Larson is The Bear with St. Laurentius Tenderenda in his belly
Peter Schmitz is the chronicler
Taryn Griggs, the original tree, is joined by Mindy Nelson, Sara Smith, Erin Owen, Ruthie Epstein, Netta Yerushalmy, Kimiye Corwin, and Melissa Briggs.

Scene painting: Chris Protas
Tree costumes + saint getup: Swati Argade
Kinder costumes: Chaja Birdsong

preceding TENDERENDA will be its secret prologue, wooded place, danced by Karinne.

vive l'ur!

The creation of Tenderenda was made possible, in part, with funds from the Danspace Project's 2003-2004 Commissioning Initiative with support from The New York State Council on the Arts; by Dancenow/NYC's SILO residence; and in UrCOUSINS residence at Ur.

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