The Birds, 2025,  a new dance work by choreographer and artist, Lenio Kaklea (b. Athens, Greece), explores how humanity can relate to living creatures through the prism of dance. The work builds on Kaklea’s earlier project, Agrimi (Fauve), 2023, and continues her examination of the complex relationships between predator and prey, between the watcher and the watched – drawing attention to how birds structure their behaviour via a spectacular repertoire of dance and song. 

Referencing mating rituals and territorial defense, Kaklea reflects on the innate desire to be seen and heard which is at the heart of our individual and collective identities – both human and non-human. She considers these ideas through a choreography featuring seven hybrid beings who are thrown into a dance that highlights their vibrant individuality even as they move in unison. Through a subtle play with space, the dancers' gestures resemble planetary movements or flocks of migratory birds, each their own character but part of a larger whole. 

Yet, this apparent utopia of individual and collective freedom is shattered by the omnipresent figure of control, here taking the form of birds of prey watching overhead. With The Birds, Kaklea questions the contemporary construction of societal control where theatricality is exacerbated, a society in which freedom and subjugation are more than ever in precarious equilibrium.

Following the performance on Saturday, November 8th Lenio Kaklea and members of the cast will join Associate Curator, Alex Sloane for a short conversation about The Birds and its development.

Wonmi’s WAREHOUSE Programs is organized by Alex Sloane, Associate Curator, and is produced by Amelia Charter, Producer of Performance and Programs with Michele Huizar, Performance Coordinator, The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles.

Major support is provided by Nora McNeely Hurley and Manitou Fund.

Generous support is provided by the MOCA Environmental Council.

Additional support is provided by Villa Albertine.

This performance is made possible by generous endowment support from Wonmi & Kihong Kwon and Family.

Performances at MOCA are supported by the MOCA Fund for Performance with generous funding provided by Betsy Greenberg and The Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund.

Wonmi's WAREHOUSE Programs is founded by Wonmi & Kihong Kwon and Family.