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Moth, 2023

Moth explores female desire in a darkened space of imagination using a single light source: a lantern. The film complicates ideas of sexual objectification, regret, and loss by tracing the flux of whose feelings matter most in the act of coupling.

Longing permeates Nicole Vaughan-Diaz’s rendition of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” originally written by Horace Ott as an apology to his girlfriend for his own bad behavior, and subsequently made famous by Nina Simone’s iconic interpretation.

WATCH Moth IN THE SCREENING ROOM


WATCH THE TRAILER


From the HOTHOUSE Blog

Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

In a way, Moth is an homage to Nina Simone. I’ve had a complicated relationship with her music since I was a young artist and it continues to draw me in, like a moth to the flame.

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Space and Face

I developed Moth by letting go of the idea that this movement material would ever hit a stage and focused on two things: space and face.

read more

Credits

Director & Choreographer: Kate Weare
Director & Cinematographer: Jack Flame Sorokin
Dancers: Kendall Teague and Nicole Vaughan-Diaz

Music: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
Written by Horace Ott, Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell & Sol Marcus for Nina Simone
Performed by Nicole Vaughan-Diaz
Produced by Kate Weare Company

Supplemental Sound Design: Danielle McConaghy
Executive Producer: Keira Heu-Jwyn Chang
Kate Weare Company © 2023

Acknowledgements

Special Thanks to The Bonnie Cashin Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Dance/NYC’s Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund, Ann Dunn of The Asheville Ballet, Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub and The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.