Solo work collides dance and the grotesque at Daredevil Arts Festival
VENICE, CA — Choreographer and performer Adam Kerbel premieres LIVING/EDGE, a new solo dance-theater work, at Daredevil Arts Festival on July 11 and 12, 2026. Presented at Wanda’s, a storefront venue operated by Pacific Resident Theatre, the world premiere blends dance, the grotesque, and storytelling to examine what it means to remain fully alive after profound loss.
Following the sudden and unexpected death of Kerbel’s mother from pancreatic cancer, LIVING/EDGE looks beyond illness toward the experiences that remain: horrific images, lingering memories, play, and the ongoing practice of living. The title reflects two intertwined experiences: witnessing unexpected morbidity and vitality during his mother’s final days in the hospital (LIVING), and navigating the uncertainty that follows a loss (EDGE).
A memorable image from the work is a figure audiences have nicknamed “the grief monster”: a haunched, wobbling body crawling slowly across the floor as if hanging onto the surface of the planet. This haunting image exists within an atmosphere of sensuality and wonder, suggesting that the feelings which move through us may not be as isolating as they may seem.
“What if I stop resisting my emotions and let them move all the way through me,” asks Kerbel. “Terror, desire, humor, pleasure—any of these can be overwhelming but what interests me isn’t any single one. It’s the experience of living with all of them. That’s what being alive feels like now.”
Influenced by Jewish approaches to mourning that emphasize collective action over isolation, LIVING/EDGE is presented at Wanda’s, a space typically associated with music and comedy. The performance embraces the unpolished setting through an interest in removing layers of separation. In Jewish practice, the deceased are interred quickly, naked and unadorned. Though the performance contains full nudity, audiences who have experienced developmental showings remark on how naturally the nudity emerges within the work. By the time physical exposure occurs, many viewers report feeling they have already witnessed the performer’s deepest vulnerability.
Performance Information
July 11, 2026 — 5:00 PM
July 12, 2026 — 4:30 PM
Created and Performed by: Adam Kerbel
Outside Advisers: Gene Farbe, Annie Peterson, and Paul Matteson
Musical Contributions by: Joshua Cabitac
Location: Wanda’s at Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Runtime: 50 minutes
Tickets: $15
Festival Information: Daredevilarts.org
Content Advisory: Contains full nudity and mature themes.
