In Sonya and Layla Go Camping, a new work incorporating live performance and video, robbinschilds (Sonya Robbins and Layla Childs) uses prosaic repetition as a springboard into a playful exploration of “craft” in relation to choreography and (Intelligent?) design. Inspired in part by Jacques Rivette’s 1974 surrealist film Celine and Julie Go Boating, the piece also investigates the multifaceted nature of collaborative creation and allows for a fluid interplay between viewing and performing.

Curated by Matthew Lyons, the performances will run Thursday through Saturday, May 28—30 at 8:00 P.M. at The Kitchen (512 West 19th Street). Tickets are $12.

Conceived and directed by robbinschilds, Sonya and Layla Go Camping is performed by Rebecca Brooks, Childs, Michael Helland, Robbins, Colin Stilwell and Sarah White. The work features lighting design by Carrie Woods; cinematography by A.L. Steiner, Robin Placet and Raphael Wertheimer; and video editing by Hedia Maron.

robbinschilds was formed by choreographers Sonya Robbins and Layla Childs in 2003. The company was founded on the artists’ shared interest in performance and installation, and focuses on presenting highly visual, time-based works that explore the intersection between architecture and human movement. Their performance work has been presented at Dance Theater Workshop, The New Museum, PS122, The Kitchen, Movement Research at Judson Church, Triskelion Arts, Danspace Project, PS 1, The Whitney Museum at Altria, Autumn Skate Bowl, Fritz Haeg’s Sundown Salon performance series in LA, and most recently at the Donau Festival in Austria.

In addition to their live work, robbinschilds’ video, C.L.U.E. (color location ultimate experience), made in collaboration with A.L. Steiner and AJ Blandford, has been exhibited at the Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid (2007); Taxter and Spengemann Gallery, NY (2007); LACE: Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (2007); BAM’s 2007 Next Wave series; Zendai MoMA’s Intrude 366 series in Shanghai (2008); and most recently at The New Museum, NY (2008). robbinschilds has worked with the art collective Chicks on Speed and collaborated with Brooklyn-based duo Japanther on the rock spectacle Dinosaur Death Dance commissioned by the Performa 07 biennial. Recently, robbinschilds was commissioned to create original choreography for David Byrne on his world concert tour.

Upcoming activities include a summer residency at Mt. Tremper Arts in July and an installation and performance of C.L.U.E. this September at PICA’s TBA Festival. In November, robbinschilds journeys to Christchurch, New Zealand to complete a month-long residency at the Physics Room, where the duo begins work on a new film and performance project, ¡Bottoms Up! Visit www.robbinschilds.com for more information.