Will Rawls’ [siccer] Explores Black Identity Through Movement

REDCAT and ICA LA present Rawls’ latest work, blending dance and film from April 10–12.

Will Rawls’ [siccer] will bring dance, film, and Black identity to REDCAT and ICA LA from April 10 to 12. Get tickets now.

A Dance Performance That Challenges Perception

Will Rawls [siccer] stage performance – Photo by Jared Sorells.

Multidisciplinary artist Will Rawls is set to debut his latest project, [siccer], in collaboration with the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA). Running from April 10–12, this live performance is part of Rawls’ broader exhibition at ICA LA, which runs from April 5–August 31.

Through movement, stop-motion film techniques, and a layered examination of Black representation in media, [siccer] presents a striking commentary on surveillance, language, and identity.

Blurring Boundaries Between Dance and Film

At the heart of [siccer] is Rawls’ interest in how Black bodies are documented and interpreted. The performance draws from stop-motion animation—where individual photographs create the illusion of movement—but disrupts the process. As performers Holland Andrews, keyon gaskin,  jess pretty, Katrina Reid, and Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste recreate scenes from an iconic American film, they use the pauses between frames as moments of resistance, playing with visibility and erasure.

Even the project’s title, “[siccer]”, nods to language and perception. “[Sic]” is often used to flag non-standard English in a quote, subtly reinforcing linguistic hierarchies. Rawls flips this idea to challenge how Black expression is corrected, filtered, and framed.

Will Rawls: An Artist Redefining Performance

Rawls, whose work spans choreography, video, sculpture, and installation, has built a career exploring the intersections of dance and identity. A recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Herb Alpert Award, he has been featured at MCA Chicago, the 35th Bienal de São Paulo, and the Museum of Modern Art, among others. His writing has appeared in the Hammer Museum and Museu de Arte de São Paulo publications. He is an Associate Professor of Choreography at UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance.

How to Experience [siccer]

Performances run at 8:30 PM from April 10–12, 2025, at REDCAT in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are available now:

• General Admission: $27
• Students & REDCAT Members: $22
• CalArts Students, Faculty & Staff: $14

Get tickets and more information at redcat.org.