Borne Away on a Crooked River, 2007, is a tribute to Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River and the bodies of water that support us. The piece is about the tenuous relationship humanity has with bodies of water; we need them to survive, yet sometimes we cannot survive them. The piece was inspired by Cleveland’s own Cuyahoga River and the author Flannery O’Connor’s writings: The Violent Bear it Away, The River and The Wide Net. During the 20 minute quintet, the dancers use water‐filled steel tubs and buckets. In part of the piece, dancers link to form a net in the river. They work together energetically, but paradoxically drag and throw each other at times leaving each other to the mercy of the river. There are moments when they are swirling effortlessly only to drop down into the mud where they must be pulled free by others. This piece is performed to an original music composition by local Old‐Time musician Ron Andrico.
