Léo Lérus built his career with Batsheva, Wayne McGregor and Sharon Eyal before turning to the Gwoka drum-and-dance tradition of his native Guadeloupe, and this short outdoor duet pairs an older dancer with a younger one to stage a conversation across generations. It plays on the lawn along Colonels Row, with the island's historic officers' houses as backdrop. If you're already riding the ferry over for a fall afternoon, time your walk to catch one of the three performances.
What to expect
Two dancers, Asha Thomas and Robert Cornejo, perform a 20-minute piece on the grass at Colonels Row, reacting directly to the setting around them. Audiences gather informally on the lawn, and each of the three showings is the same piece, so you can pick the time that suits your ferry.
Good to know
- Ferries leave from the Battery Maritime Building next to South Ferry and from Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6; Colonels Row is a short walk from the Soissons Land
- RSVP is encouraged through the Governors Island event page.
- Recommended for ages 10 and up.
- It is performed outdoors on grass, so dress for the weather and bring something to sit on.
- Each performance is short, so arrive a few minutes early to get a good sightline.
Going? Keep it.
Common questions
Is Traces of Gounouj free?
Yes. Governors Island lists it as free and open to the public, with RSVP encouraged.
How long is each performance?
About 20 minutes, repeated three times over the afternoon.
Where on Governors Island is it?
On Colonels Row, the lawn lined with historic officers' houses in the island's northern historic district.
