Inverted States
2005
Senator Hotel, San Francisco, CA

Inverted States was a site-specific performance at San Francisco’s historic Senator Hotel featuring aerialists Christopher Love and Sonya Smith. The work was an unusual blend of aerial dance and political satire, slyly addressing the policies and behavior of the Bush administration. The work was commissioned by The Luggage Store as part of their 11th annual In The Street festival on October 8, 2005.

The Luggage Store’s In The Street festival was a cross-disciplinary, full-sensory experience featuring world-class international, national, and local performers in dozens of inspiring shows filling an entire evening and a full day. The multiple-stage, performance space included the physical space of Ellis Street, Cohen Alley, and the Tenderloin Children's Center playground space.

In its commercial heyday, the Senator Hotel was a popular tourist hotel, originally opened in 1924. Movie stars such as Clark Gable stayed at the Senator when in San Francisco. In 1971, the Native Americans who had occupied Alcatraz Island for nearly two years were relocated to the Senator Hotel for one night after being removed from the Island by authorities. They held a press conference in the lobby of the Senator and a commemorative plaque hangs in the lobby today in honor of the movement. Completely renovated in 2005, the Senator is currently an 89 unit affordable housing building that is home to 71 individuals and 18 families.

Collaborators
Choreography and Direction by Joanna Haigood
Music by Walter Kitundu

Performers
Christopher Love and Sonya Smith

Premiere Date
2005

Premiere Location
Senator Hotel, San Francisco, CA

Funders / Commissioners
Inverted States was commissioned by The Luggage Store

Photo / Video Credits
Photography: Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett

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