.jpg "Lunch_Dates_MBB_NYPL_Paula_Lobo-5-8-1301%20(1).jpg")
The hushed reverence of the New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is, for a few fleeting moments each day, disrupted by something akin to a silent, joyful rebellion. “Lunch Dances,” a new immersive performance piece created by choreographer Emily Barnes and writer Endi Garces Saenz de Viteri, transforms the iconic library into a stage, inviting small groups of audience members to become unwitting participants in a meditation on longing, memory, and the quiet search for connection. The experience, which began performances earlier this month, is a remarkable feat of spatial storytelling, turning the everyday act of library research into something unexpectedly poignant.
The premise is simple, yet captivating. Roughly fifteen attendees are each given a pair of wireless headphones and follow Barnes, who plays a library page diligently delivering materials. But this isn’t a typical library errand. As Barnes moves through the grand halls and reading rooms, a narrative unfolds in the headphones, guided by Saenz de Viteri’s voice, accompanied by a subtly shifting score. The audience, mirroring the page’s movements, finds themselves swept along in a series of choreographed steps, navigating the library alongside researchers and tourists, all while immersed in a story that unfolds around them. It’s a bit like a silent disco, but instead of a DJ, there’s a story, and instead of a dance floor, there’s the majestic backdrop of the New York Public Library.
A Performance Rooted in the Library’s Quietude
The core of “Lunch Dances” lies in its observation of the library itself – a space dedicated to individual quests for knowledge, and understanding. The performance doesn’t interrupt the library’s function; it subtly enhances it, drawing attention to the shared human experience of seeking answers. As Saenz de Viteri notes in the narration, “People come to the library due to the fact that they have a question.” The performance explores the emotional weight of those questions, the hopes and disappointments that accompany the search, and the often-isolating nature of that pursuit. The New York Public Library, with its millions of volumes and countless visitors, becomes a microcosm of human longing.
The choreography, executed by Barnes and a small company of dancers, is deceptively simple. It’s not about grand gestures or technical virtuosity, but rather about subtle movements that mirror the rhythms of library life – the turning of pages, the focused gaze of a reader, the quiet shuffle of footsteps. Barnes’s performance is particularly striking, blending the efficiency of a librarian with a playful, almost mischievous energy. She slides between tables, flicks her wrists, and initiates small, buoyant steps that unexpectedly blossom into more expansive movements. The dancers mirror this style, appearing and disappearing in the library’s spaces, adding layers of emotional resonance to the narrative.
Tracing Memories in the Map Room
One particularly moving scene takes place in the library’s map room. The audience is introduced to Nell, a character hunched over a 1961 map of Greenwich Village. Through the narration, we learn that Nell is tracing the streets of her youth, revisiting the businesses and landmarks that have long since disappeared. An illness has robbed her of control of her legs, but her fingers still remember the contours of her neighborhood. “Hands up if you know what it’s like to have your life cut in half,” Saenz de Viteri asks, a question that hangs heavy in the air. The New York Public Library’s map division, a treasure trove of cartographic history, becomes a poignant symbol of memory and loss.
Photo: Paula Lobo. Courtesy of the New York Public Library.
Audience Participation and a Touch of Disruption
What sets “Lunch Dances” apart is its willingness to involve the audience directly. At one point, participants are led on a brisk walk down a main hallway, instructed to raise their hands in the air. The sight of a small group of headphone-wearing individuals hurrying through the library, faces alight with exhilaration, is both amusing and strangely moving. It’s a moment of collective joy that momentarily disrupts the library’s usual quietude. Library staff are aware of the performances and ensure that foot traffic is managed, but the reactions of other patrons – initially confused, then often captivated – are part of the experience. (Full disclosure: I previously worked as a marketing copywriter for the New York Public Library, and may have contributed to the signage now guiding visitors through the performance space.)
The performance isn’t about escaping reality, but about finding moments of beauty and connection within it. It’s a reminder that even in the most public of spaces, we are all engaged in private searches, grappling with our own questions and longings. “Lunch Dances” doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer a moment of shared humanity, a fleeting glimpse of joy amidst the quiet intensity of the New York Public Library. The experience is a testament to the power of art to transform the everyday and to remind us of our shared vulnerability and resilience.
Performances of “Lunch Dances” are scheduled through November 18th, with limited capacity. Tickets and further information are available on the New York Public Library’s website. The library continues to offer a diverse range of public programs, solidifying its role as a vital cultural hub for New Yorkers and visitors alike.
If you are experiencing feelings of grief or loss, resources are available. You can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 in the US and Canada, or by dialing 111 in the UK.
What did you think of this unique performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Keep reading
