During the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists are feeling out of their element in their creative practices. Joe’s Pub is supporting joyful, collaborative work by offering micro-commissions to 8 duos of artists/performers who have never worked together before. This piece - by Merián Soto and Roshni Samlal - is the result of one of these joyful, collaborative pairings. 

Artists were encouraged to tap any side of their creativity that is bringing them joy during this time, whether meant working in their normal medium or experimenting with something outside of their genre.

Spirit Vine by Merián Soto and Roshni Samlal will premiere on our YouTube channel and IGTV at noon ET on Thursday, July 29.

Dancer, choreographer, video, and improvisation artist Merián Soto, is the creator of aesthetic-somatic dance practices and methodologies, Branch Dancing and Modal Practice. Her 40+ years career in dance has spanned various artistic movements.

Roshni Samlal is a NY-based tabla player, and a student of both Farukhbad exponent, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee and Shri Surdarshan Singh of the UK. Rooted in the study of traditional tabla repertoire, she explores the application of Indian classical percussion to electronic, chamber and multi-disciplinary contexts.