Exit Wounds

World Premiere – Commissioned by Dr. Beverly Dale

When loss rips through you—and when life takes from you—transcendence requires courage.  In this most personal of works, Stephen Mills explores what it is to acknowledge human fear, yet ultimately choose courage. Exit Wounds is a full evening-length work portrayed in three chapters that explore situations in Mills’ life in which he witnessed acts of courage that altered his personal perspective. The title, Exit Wounds, refers to the idea that when those we love and those who have influenced us exit this life, they take with them unrecoverable and intrinsic elements while leaving with us positive memories and important lessons. The work also explores the impact fear of loss can have on our lives and the options we have to face it, understand it, and ultimately, grow beyond it by choosing courage above all else. Experience this emotionally provoking and inspirational dance work designed to move your heart and mind while encouraging us all to find a way forward.​

CHAPTER 1: FIELDS
Choreography: Stephen Mills
Music: Graham Reynolds
Scenic Design: Michael B. Raiford
Lighting Design: Tony Tucci
Video Design: Jordan Moser
Costume Design: Monica Guerra

CHAPTER 2: FOUR MORTAL MEN
Choreography: Stephen Mills
Music: Claude Debussy
Scenic Design: Michael B. Raiford
Lighting Design: Tony Tucci
Video Design: Jordan Moser
Costume Design: Michael B. Raiford and Stephen Mills

CHAPTER 3: TRUTH RESCUED BY TIME
Choreography: Stephen Mills
Music: Joby Talbot, Jordan Moser, and Bryce Dessner
Scenic Design: Michael B. Raiford
Lighting Design: Tony Tucci
Video Design: Jordan Moser
Costume Design: Michael B. Raiford and Stephen Mills

Graham Reynolds’ original score for Fields is commissioned by Ballet Austin and funded by the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Claude Debussy music by arrangement with Kirshbaum Associates Inc. publisher and copyright owner.

Bryce Dessner and Joby Talbot music by arrangement with G. Schirmer INC. publisher and copyright owner.

About the work…

Exit Wounds examines the role courage plays when confronting fear, loss, isolation, and indifference—social ills that impact our daily experience, point of view, and sense of self. The new contemporary ballet, which was inspired by Artistic Director Stephen Mills’ personal experiences, explores what it is to acknowledge human fear, yet ultimately choose courage.

“While the world feels very chaotic now, history shows this has always been the case,” Mills said. “Acts of courage, both large and small, are what have inspired us and allowed humanity to persist. I think the best way to encourage others to tell their stories of courage is for me to tell my own. Hopefully, Exit Wounds will encourage dialogue about this topic.

“Our lives are blessed by the relationships we develop, and when those relationships end, we are left with a void; something is torn from us, and there are small ‘exit wounds,’ Mills continued. “Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.’ Exit Wounds is a work in which I tell my stories of witnessing courage in action. Understanding that courage is not an absence of fear, but a way to control it, my hope is that those who see this dance work will reflect upon times in which they have witnessed courage and use those examples to expand its power. Through Exit Wounds, I hope to explore with our dancers and audience the power and inspiration of courage.”

Sharing stories of courage…

Exit Wounds includes three stories of courage: Fields, with an original score by well-known Austin composer Graham Reynolds, follows the path of a mother, from life to death, from fear to courage. Four Mortal Men with music by Claude Debussy tells the story of the loss of innocence at the beginning of the AIDS crisis and the challenges faced by entire communities torn apart by illness, uncertainty, and bigotry. Truth Rescued by Time, featuring music by Bryce Dessner and Joby Talbot, strikes on themes prevalent in today’s headlines, giving a platform to thousands of individuals affected by sexual harassment and assault.  The three stories are connected through a series of short films produced by multimedia artist Jordan Moser, featuring stories from Mills’ personal experiences.

Dr. Beverly Dale, a distinguished microbiologist, and patron of the arts, commissioned Exit Wounds. Dale’s generous decision was influenced by her personal reaction to Mills’ latest original full-length ballet, Belle REDUX / A Tale of Beauty & the Beast, which she first experienced when it debuted in February 2015.

“Stephen Mills’ willingness to use the art of dance to examine complex issues that encourage important dialogue is something I admire,” Dale said, “and I want to support his efforts to create new works that explore aspects of the human condition. Exit Wounds draws inspiration from subject matter that connects to a chapter of my life when I worked as a medical researcher developing treatments for AIDS. I’m thrilled to help bring this new work to the stage and hope the audience finds the experience—and the larger conversation about courage—meaningful and uplifting.”