HAUNTED, A DANCE OPERA
CHOREOGRAPHER
Jamila Glass
FEATURING
Avery Zerr, Dawson Walker, Ayesha Orange (Cast)
PERFORMANCES
June 5-6, 2026
Choreographed and Cast the West Coast Premiere of a 35-minute one-act dance opera featuring live music. READ A REVIEW
Libretto by Dana Gioia. Music by Paul Salerni. Choreography by Jamila Glass. Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Conducted by composer Paul Salerni, features Aron Kallay, piano; Nick Terry, percussion; Shalini Vijayan, violin; Rod Gilfrey, baritone; and dancers Avery Zerr, Dawson Walker, and Ayesha Orange.
Lighting Design by Antonia Yang; Musical Direction by Aron Kallay; Wardrobe Styling by Jamila Glass; Assistant Choreography by Ayesha Orange; Movement Support by Jelani Glass Gervais
“…you have a choreographer, Jamila [who] is now an equal partner in terms of the creation of the work.”
— Dana Gioia
From oral tradition to hymns and chants to modern singer-songwriters, poetry and music have intertwined and sung stories to rapt listeners throughout the ages. On Haunted, composer Paul Salerni uses this time-honored pairing to present a quartet of contemporary works for solo voice, dancers, and chamber ensemble. Dana Gioia’s poetry and Salerni’s musical acumen combine to form a rich and mysterious work that combines dance and opera. With choreography by Jamila Glass, Haunted presents a passionate but doomed love story wrapped around a ghost story, leading to a conclusion no one will predict.
“[GLASS] staged the psychological and emotional conflicts at the heart of the opera, revealing the undercurrents of obsession, seduction, and loss with remarkable clarity. Her work demonstrated not only choreographic sophistication but a keen understanding of dramatic storytelling.” — Joanne DiVito, L.A. Dance Chronicle