Dekkers recently directed a short film that is part of the larger dance project Lyra. This multidisciplinary performance blends dance, fashion, live music rich with percussion, and acoustic sound into a single immersive experience. Inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this timeless story explores our most urgent questions about empathy, transcendence and identity. This bold piece is one more reason why the San Francisco Chronicle described Post:Ballet as “a company that not only lives dangerously- it thrives on it.” Lyra would have made its debut in 2020 if the pandemic had not happened. Now its live stage performance has been pushed off until 2021. Dekkers might produce more film shorts to increase the audience for the work. Visually stunning dance + music + art on the screen is virtually pandemic-proof.
Dekkers is that rare confluence of creative and business talent together in one body, mind and soul. When he was with Diablo Ballet, Artistic Director Lauren Jonas commented, “He’s so intellectual but relatable. He’s human and intelligent and has business savvy — it’s so rare to find that in one artist.” In many ways Dekkers possesses the characteristics and drive of a creative entrepreneur. Admittedly, he is motivated to go against the grain and do things differently. He once stated, “I was dissatisfied with the direction I saw many ballet companies headed toward — very few newly commissioned works and lots of big story ballets that are pleasantly entertaining, but not necessarily relevant to contemporary culture.” Time and time again, Dekkers has proven that his work mirrors our culture in a way that is timely, compelling and most of all, relevant. His work peels away the layers to reveal what is raw and vulnerable about being human–in all of its glorious manifestations.
Lyra: Surface Down
Lyra Co-produced by Post:Ballet and
The Living Earth Show 'Surface Down'