WIP 021 Presents New Dance at the Wende Museum

Two local choreographers showcase genre-defying works-in-progress exploring themes of fire, ICE, and memory.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Two independent choreographers, Adam Kerbel and Santiago Villarreal, will present their latest dance works-in-progress at the Wende Museum in Culver City on Monday, March 2nd as part of the WIP 021 series. The risk-taking pieces will take unconventional approaches to dance that turn empathy and play into political tools, challenging formal standards.

Why it matters

The WIP series provides a platform for local artists to test new ideas, receive feedback, and push the boundaries of dance and performance in the Los Angeles community. These particular works address timely social and political issues through the lens of movement, inviting the audience to connect with the themes on an emotional level.

The details

Kerbel's "living/edge" is a dance-theater piece with a live score by Joshua Cabitac that explores loss, memory, and renewal in the wake of his mother's passing and the LA wildfires. Villarreal's "heavy waiting" is a partnered duet with Donny Collinson that physicalizestrust, dependency, and protection in the context of ICE detainments. Both pieces aim to soften the male gaze and recontextualize the relationship between presence and disappearance through dances rooted in play.

  • The event takes place on Monday, March 2, 2026.
  • Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the performances run from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM with an intermission.

The players

Adam Kerbel

A dancer based in Los Angeles and Philadelphia whose work spans improvisation and hybrid forms as tools for reflection. His presentations include New York Live Arts, Jacob's Pillow, The Music Center, Skirball LA, Rosanna Gamson/World Wide, and Breaking Walls. He founded and teaches through Performa Choreographic.

Santiago Villarreal

A freelance dancer and choreographer based in Los Angeles who dances with Backhausdance. He has worked and performed with various companies and choreographers, and teaches regularly at Stomping Ground LA and the popular Dance Church series.

Joshua Cabitac

A musician who is providing the live score for Adam Kerbel's "living/edge" piece.

Donny Collinson

A dancer who is performing in Santiago Villarreal's "heavy waiting" duet.

Daria Kaufman

A WIP alum who will moderate the post-show talk back.

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What they’re saying

“Play is political. We choose to center play because we know what it can do. It sparks wonder and a sense of community, which may be healing, too.”

— Adam Kerbel

“heavy waiting" places viewers on edge in order to connect. Both offerings meet the audience through acts of tenderness that soften the male gaze and recontextualize the relationship between presence and disappearance through dances rooted deeply in states of play.”

— Santiago Villarreal

What’s next

The event will feature a post-show talk back moderated by WIP alum Daria Kaufman.

The takeaway

The WIP series provides a vital platform for local choreographers to experiment with unconventional dance forms that address timely social and political issues, fostering a sense of community and connection through the power of movement and play.