Groundbreaking dance piece 'Still/Here' returns to its Columbus origins

The two-act contemporary dance-theater piece by Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane will be performed at Mershon Auditorium on Friday.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:56am

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An abstract composition of jagged, angular shapes in deep blue and bright orange, conceptually representing the melancholy yet hopeful themes of the 'Still/Here' dance performance.The return of the groundbreaking 'Still/Here' dance piece to its Columbus origins celebrates the power of contemporary performance to connect communities and share stories of resilience.Columbus Today

Thirty years after its creation in Columbus, the groundbreaking dance piece 'Still/Here' returns to Mershon Auditorium at the Wexner Center for the Arts on Friday. The two-act contemporary dance-theater work, presented by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, was largely created on-site at the Wexner Center in 1994 as an Artist Residency Award project before premiering in Lyon, France.

Why it matters

The return of 'Still/Here' reestablishes its Columbus roots, bringing back history and reflecting the Wexner Center's ongoing commitment to supporting contemporary artists. Created during the height of the AIDS crisis, the piece covers stories of individuals with a range of terminal illnesses, translating their experiences into movement and imagery.

The details

The performance work emphasizes how meaning shifts when a story is portrayed through movement rather than language alone. While the piece includes some language, it also explores 'pedestrian movements' and replicating the movements of patients and those who are terminally ill. Beyond the message, the performance invites the audience to gather and experience the piece in real time as a shared community experience.

  • The piece was created in 1994 as an Artist Residency Award project at the Wexner Center.
  • The piece premiered in Lyon, France after being created in Columbus.
  • The piece is returning to Mershon Auditorium at the Wexner Center for a one-night-only performance on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Bill T. Jones

Co-creator of the 'Still/Here' dance-theater piece.

Arnie Zane

Co-creator of the 'Still/Here' dance-theater piece.

Elena Perantoni

Senior producer for performing arts at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Nathalie Bonjour

Head of performing arts at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company

The dance company presenting the 'Still/Here' performance.

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What they’re saying

“It's beautiful choreography, beautiful storytelling. It's got this kind of a melancholy theme, but ultimately what comes out on the piece is hope and connection and celebrating the lives of the people that inspired this piece.”

— Elena Perantoni, Senior producer for performing arts at the Wexner Center for the Arts

“The focus on terminal illness is wider than that, but that was, I think, in everybody's consciousness at the time. Now we're in different times, but there are still, you know, obviously so many people affected by terminal illnesses.”

— Nathalie Bonjour, Head of performing arts at the Wexner Center for the Arts

“We are experiencing this with everyone else that's in the theater with us. A big part of this piece is about community and about listening to each other and really taking in each other's stories and holding space for those ... I think that having it in this format is the perfect way for us to talk about this subject matter.”

— Elena Perantoni, Senior producer for performing arts at the Wexner Center for the Arts

What’s next

Tickets are on sale in person or online for the one-night-only performance of 'Still/Here' at Mershon Auditorium on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The takeaway

The return of the groundbreaking 'Still/Here' dance piece to its Columbus origins at the Wexner Center for the Arts underscores the venue's commitment to supporting contemporary artists and providing a platform for powerful, community-driven storytelling through movement and imagery.