In the Presence of Absence brings together a wide range of individuals to tell some of the millions of stories of the last three years –  how the pandemic brought into focus the vast diversity of experiences, and yet provided a unifying lens through which to view our world. Led by Artistic Director Deborah Slater, the project sets out to explore how we all experienced the same moment differently and what we’re left with as we move forward.

Begun in collaboration with culture curator and racial equity consultant Tammy Johnson, In the Presence of Absence integrates dance, theater, text, interviews and image to explore the larger questions of our time by investigating the pandemic and post pandemic circumstances that affected us all, in our myriad differences.

In the Presence of Absence features performances by DSDT company members, members of the Cosmic Elders Theatre Ensemble + and Patricia Silver of Word for Word, original music composed by Marcus Shelby, sound design by Cliff Caruthers, lighting design by Allen Willner, video projections by video designer Oliva Ting, costumes by Dana Kawano and commissioned text from members of Youth Speaks.