This world-premiere performance of Jermaine Maurice Spivey and Spenser Theberge’s “The Close-ers” was performed by, and choreographed in collaboration with, Juilliard’s dance class of 2023 as part of New Dances: Edition 2022.

When beginning this process with the fourth-years, we were reminded of what it feels like to experience change—to look back on memories while simultaneously looking forward into an unknowable future. This feeling of existing in multiple realities at once felt like a great anchor to start the work from, and then, by chance, we found the perfect quote from John Coltrane describing his experience while performing: “I start in the middle of a sentence and I move in both directions at the same time.” That quote is the reminder we’ve returned to throughout this process, and it's truly our hope for the fourth-years as they enter their next stage: to embrace both staying and leaving, to trust both knowing and not knowing, and to count on your work. It will sustain you. Dedicated to the class of 2023 with all our love—Jermaine and Spenser

Original Composition: Jermaine Maurice Spivey
Live music: Ian Debono
Text: Spenser Theberge
Lighting Designer: Clifton Taylor
Costume Designer: Márion Talán de la Rosa
Stage Manager: Abigail Murray-Stark
Dancers From the Class of 2023:
Abby Castora, Raven Joseph, Ian Debono, Larissa Leung, Briana Del Mundo, Rachel Lockhart, Jade Diouf, Griffin Massey, Flora Ferguson, Lindsay Phillips, Amari Frazier, Leighton Shiveley, Waverly Fredericks, Shoshana Sklar, Connor Freeman, Matthew Spangler, Zachary Jeppsen, Haley Winegarden, Matthew Johnson, Makani Yerg

New Dances: Edition 2022
Performed and recorded on December 9, 2022 at Peter Jay Sharp Theater