(CHATHAM, N.Y.) – New York City-based Monica Bill Barnes & Company (MBB & Co) will perform two evenings of humorous, contemporary dance at PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century on Friday and Saturday, August 2 and 3, 2013, at 8pm. As part of PS21‘s summer season of comedy, Monica Bill Barnes and her dance partner, Anna Bass, will perform two dance duets: Luster and Suddenly Summer Somewhere.

Choreographer and dancer Monica Bill Barnes creates work that celebrates individuality and the innate theatricality of everyday life. Luster premiered at the American Dance Festival in July 2012. Featuring themes of endurance and triumph, the piece highlights autobiographical moments of the performers, who are entering their tenth year of dancing together.

Suddenly Summer Somewhere explores how the passage of time affects the collective lives of two people, which can be simultaneously hilarious and painful. In the piece, two small women stand atop a dining room table in silence and carefully navigate their way, and sending silverware crashing to the floor. Suddenly Summer Somewhere features classic Rat Pack standards, including songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn, Rodgers and Hart, performed by Frank Sinatra, Charles Aznavour and others.

These two special evening performances will take place under the tent at PS21 at 2980 Route 66 in the town of Chatham.

“We saw MBB & Co at Jacob’s Pillow in 2010 and then at the Joyce this past winter and fell totally in love,” said Judy Grunberg, PS21 president. “We just knew that our audience would appreciate the unusual combination of humor and poignancy that underscores their talent as dancers. We hope everyone comes out to see these two amazing performers.”