Merli V. Guerra | CHOREOGRAPHY

“There’s nothing new under the sun, they say. They’re wrong. Merli V. Guerra's choreography is, well, luminous.“

BEVERLY CREASEY BOSTON ARTS REVIEW

Guerra's award-winning choreography has been presented by more than 80 events across the country (in California, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont).

She is regularly commissioned to create custom choreographic works for historic sites, cultural festivals, award ceremonies, TED Talks, universities, and mainstage feature productions.

—Featured Works—

“...a myth grafted onto the stage. [Guerra's Phoenixial Cycle] maintains the big emotions and ancient reverence of its source.
It's a triumph.”

NEW ENGLAND THEATRE GEEK

—Repertory—

Over the past 10 years, Guerra has choreographed 44 'made for stage' works.

Enjoy perusing the full choreographic collection by clicking on the thumbnails below.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ–STUVWXYZ

(2020 – 15 min)

Created in collaboration with Rutgers University, coLAB Arts, and intellectually/developmentally disabled (I/DD) self-advocates across New Jersey, this dance theatre work for five performers / vocalists calls attention to the struggles and accomplishments these self-advocates face. What daily dignities do we each take for granted? What does "self-advocacy" mean to those in the I/DD community?

Created for Rutgers University's 2020 "Motion: New Dance Works" MFA production.

River Stories

(2020 – 13 min)

Using shimmering fabric and classical Odissi-inspired movement vocabulary, this commissioned work for nine dancers interweaves storytelling, spatial patterning, and intricate rhythmic precision while evoking a sunset reflecting along the river.

Created as a Guest Choreographer for Rider University's 2020 "Rider Dances" production.

like mercury in the palm of my hand

(2019 – 7 min)

This pensive duet with handheld lights originated as an artistic abstraction of the “Janus molecule,” whose rare properties make it both medicinal and lethal. It later grew to encompass the Panopticonic nature of the microscope, observ-ing versus being observ-ed, and the implications of exposure.

Created for Luminarium's 2019 feature production Luminarium in Concert.

Global Water Dances 2019

(2019 – 1 hour)

This migratory performance installation for five dancers took place along the edges of Lake Mercer in Mercer County Park as part of this international event, bringing awareness to water pollution.

Created for Global Water Dances' 2019 worldwide event.

8.7 million minus 1

(2019 – 9 min)

A sextet integrating classical Odissi Indian dance, modern, and shadow theatre to literally and metaphorically illuminate the effects of human waste and pollution on the planet’s ecosystems. Incorporating found sound and spoken poetry by Guerra, the work aims to remind each of us of our direct impacts on the problem, and the habits we can change in our daily routines to do our part.

Created as a Guest Choreographer for Rider University's Dance and Sustainability Project.

HIVELAND

(2018 – 60 min)

Hailed by the Boston Globe as "a compelling exploration. It is provocative, unpredictable, and gratifyingly visceral," HIVELAND is an evening-length, single narrative work co-choreographed with Kim Holman.

Within HIVELAND are three works by Guerra:
–For you, to mentor me (duet)
–Here (solo)
–Worlds apart ('duet' for 7 dancers)

Trinkets

(2018 – 5 min)

Performed on the beautiful Clermont Historic Site grounds in upstate New York, this commissioned piece sets into motion the real-life story of Clermont historic figure Nancy Shippen—from her marital abuse and custody battles to her ultimate reunion with her child. The program was sponsored in part by a Humanities New York Action Grant.

Weathered

(2017 – 7 min)

Created in relation to Linda Cunningham's striking bronze sculpture War Memorial III, this towering duet used 1970s CBS Vietnam newscasts as a sound score—at times, standing tall as the heroes of war, and at others, becoming engulfed by the darkness as civilian and military victims of war.

Created for the 2017 Outlet Dance Project at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.

Rosoff Awards Commission

(2017 – 5 min)

A commission from The Ad Club to open the prestigious 2017 Rosoff Awards at the State Room in Boston, MA, this quintet celebrates diversity, individuality, and the power of rising as a unified society.

Co-choreographed with Kimberleigh A. Holman.

The Devil's Turn

(2017 – 9 min)

Set on four dancers, The Devil's Turn was choreographed as a commission for the Boston New Music Initiative's orchestral performance Ars Nexa Tempora, and is set to composer and collaborator John Allemeier’s quick-tempoed fiddle reel of the same name.

The Grass Never Grows

(2016 – 14 min)

Inspired by the phrase "The grass never grows under her feet," this solo turned sextet uses metaphor and labyrinth to
portray both the allure and fear of slowing down one’s daily life.

Created for Luminarium's 2016 feature production Portal.

Additionally showcased in:
–Voices From the Future (2017)

The Hostess Diaries

(2016 – 9 min)

Created in honor of the 300th anniversary of Longfellow’s Wayside Inn (Sudbury, MA), thanks to a grant from the Sudbury Cultural Council, this work was an active collaboration between choreographer Guerra and composer Mali Sastri (of Boston-based band Jaggery). Set on 4 dancers, one singer, and one cellist, the dance progresses across
generations, integrating its vocalist and cellist into the choreography itself, while pulling imagery from the Inn’s historic daily journals.

300 Years

(2016 – 3 min)

This 3-minute comedic piece illustrates through pantomime the 300-year history of the Wayside Inn. From George Washington passing by, to Henry Ford purchasing the Inn, this piece offers viewers a brief timeline of the Inn’s development over the years.

TEDxCambridge Commission

(2016 – 5 min)

At the start of 2016, Luminarium was commissioned to create a new work to open TEDxCambridge at the renowned Boston Opera House on June 9, 2016. With an audience of 2,600, this production was the single largest TED event in the world. The choreographic commission promoted creativity and innovation.

Co-choreographed with Kimberleigh A. Holman.

Additionally showcased in:
–Luminarium's feature production HIVELAND (2018)
–Luminarium's feature production Portal (2016)

Phoenixial Cycle

(2015 – 22 min)

Built on the concept of over-extension in modern society, Phoenixial Cycle follows the stages of a woman who—like the phoenix—pushes herself to the point of burnout; only to awake, arise, and begin the pattern again. Amidst 40 yards of satin and thousands of feathers, the work transforms the space through a striking evolution of part-set/part-costume metamorphosis.

Created for Luminarium's 2015 feature production Spektrel.

Additionally showcased in prestigious events.

re|connect

(2015 – 7 min)

A "duet" between a live performer and a video recording of a 4-year-old, re|connect urges viewers to slow down and remember their childhood aspirations.

Created for Luminarium's 2015 feature production Spektrel.

Accelero

(2015 – Time variable)

Accelero is an interactive performance—merging dance with live video gaming—and was created in collaboration with experienced media designer John Guerra.

Created for Penumbra:RME's 2015 Summer Cosplay Event.

With You

(2015 – 3 min)

This upbeat, partner-driven octet was created on Emerson College Dance Company when Guerra was selected as the Spring 2015 Guest Choreographer.

Insomni

(2014 – 14 min)

A solo that shifts into a quartet, Insomni follows the struggles of quieting the thoughts that keep one up at night.

One of six scenes created for Luminarium's The Sleeprunner.

Idle Reverie

(2014 – 6 min)

This quirky, edgy, and oh-so-relatable duet follows the inner musings of
what could be described as “platonic pillow talk.”

One of six scenes created for Luminarium's The Sleeprunner.

Additionally showcased in:
–Amherst Storybook Project's Culminating Performance, Eric Carle Museum (2015)
–Summer in the City (2015)
–Southern Vermont Dance Festival's Gala Performance (2015)
–Dance for World Community Festival (2015)

VIEW MORE

TEDxCambridge

Commission

(2016 – 5 min)

At the start of 2016, Luminarium was commissioned to create a new work to open TEDxCambridge at the renowned Boston Opera House on June 9, 2016. With an audience of 2,600, this production was the single largest TED Talks event in the world. The choreographic commission promoted creativity and innovation.

Co-choreographed with Kimberleigh A. Holman.