The tearing blue of the sky
The Center at West Park Presents
the tearing blue of the sky
As a part of the Evolution Festival
Thursday, October 2, 2025 @ 7:30PM
Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
248 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023
Appropriate for All Ages
Carrying the weight of her family’s story—her mother fleeing Algeria for France as a young girl—Caroline has long been drawn to the complex and often silenced narratives of forced migration, particularly through the eyes of children.
In the wake of the conflict in Ukraine, Caroline found new inspiration in the story of Gaby, one of her dance mentors, who shared a raw, stream-of-consciousness recollection of her own childhood escape from Central Europe to the other side of the world. In Gaby’s voice, Caroline recognized the same blend of tragedy, innocence, and resilience she had heard in her mother’s stories.
“The Tearing Blue of The Sky” is a poignant investigation into those memories—an attempt to bring Gaby’s childhood to life through movement—while inviting reflection on how we, as a society, consume and emotionally process the news. This work seeks to reawaken empathy and human connection in the face of distant headlines. It invites us to see the world through the resilience of a child’s gaze.
Concept & Choreography: Caroline Brethenoux / El Human Animal
Performers: Caroline Brethenoux, Eran Bugge, Alex Toedtli
Set Design & Videography: Julie Flechoux
Voices: Solal Toedtli, Lukas Toedtli
About the Lead Artist
Caroline Brethenoux is a French choreographer and performer based in New York City. She trained in contemporary dance in Paris, Hong Kong, Madrid, and New York with Sophie Daviet, Lai Tak Wai, Barbara Fritsche, and Jennifer Archibald. Caroline began her career with companies in Madrid and Paris before performing with Eryc Taylor Dance, Mare Nostrum Elements, and Jennifer Archibald in New York. She co-founded KAFRA, a collective uniting dancers, visual artists, and composers. Her choreography has been presented at The Shed, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, and other venues. She is also a certified Gyrokinesis® and Gyrotonic® teacher.
The CWP Evolution Festival is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
