'Monster' Tackles Gay Bullying Through Dance

Seattle-based choreographer Olivier Wevers takes aim at gay bullying through an emotion-filled dance “Monster,” which can be seen as part of the upcoming Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival this month.

“I wanted to portray a kind of relationship that is truly about love and about how people are supporting each other by going through the trial of bullying and not being accepted by society,” the 40-year-old artistic director of Whim W’Him said in a recent interview with Patch.

Two dancers, Andrew Bartee and Vincent Lopez, depict men in a homosexual relationship during the performance, said Wevers, who is openly gay.

“I didn’t create this to upset people. I didn’t create this to make people anti-gay. It’s something I had to grow up with. It’s something I deal with everyday,’’ he said.

The piece has three parts that show relationships struggling with drug addiction and abuse, but only the first part about gay bullying will be shown at the ’s 14th annual Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival on Nov. 12-13.

The festival showcases work by emerging and established choreographers.

“Monster” recently took Wevers to the 4th Copenhagen International Choreography Competition in April, making Whim W’Him the first American group to be invited to compete in the finals of the dance competition.

He said he hopes people come to the show in Palm Desert with a willingness to open their mind.

“With the way people have been reacting to it, it’s really very inspiring. People being touched by it and people understanding (homosexuality) in a way they have never understood before,” Wezers said.

IF YOU GO: Performances are set for Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 760-340-ARTS.