Games, Grapples, and Growth Grit — it’s all fun and games… until someone grows. Growing Takes Time is a life-sized interactive arcade where the audience becomes the astronauts, presented as Noo Arts Wildflowers Rooftop with stunning NYC skyline views. Inspired by Pikmin, performers exist as PIKMII inside a living performance world where collective survival depends on responsiveness, care, and collaboration. Participants move through childhood anxiety-driven game structures — functioning as levels that build respect, trust, and community. Blending contemporary dance with jiu-jitsu–inspired partnering, the experience uses conflict, resistance, and cooperation as engines for growth. Work together and the group levels up. Lose coordination and the game stalls. Resolve tension and the world evolves. Alongside the arcade, explore a digital art gallery installation in collaboration with Josh Sauceda, showcasing visuals that extend the Growing Takes Time universe. The audience doesn’t watch the world — they power it. Play the game. Earn rewards. Grow together. 🕰️ Event Timeline Doors Open — 6:00 PM Immersive Arcade Performance — 7:00–8:00 PM Rooftop Dance Party — 8:00–10:00 PM Move through the world, complete missions, and earn rewards — then stay for a post-show rooftop dance party with skyline views. RAIN DATE: June 21st
Audience Role
Participant Pass includes interactive gameplay + missions + performer interactions + collectible goodie bag.
Ages: 16 +
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About Karley Wasaff
Karley Wasaff is a freelance movement artist, producer, and educator based in NYC, shaping change through movement as both method and mission. They are the founder of Kinetics with Karley, a nonprofit offering accessible training to underserved performers, and the creator of immersive dance shows like Growing TakesTime and Bonedaddy's Bacchanal. Their solo XwhY premiered at Christie’s New York, where they were the institution’s first performing art soloist. XwhY has since been commissioned for live performance twelve times since 2021, and adapted into a dance-for-film commissioned by RAD Fest, CineCorps, and Oddfest Film Festival. Their work has been presented with Art Basel 2024, The Oculus, Abrons Arts Center, The Tank, and more. Karley has held residencies with BAX, New Dance Alliance, Satellite Art Show, MetaBetties, Alpha Omega Dance, The Floor, and multiple collegiate institutions. They hold an MFA from Hollins University and are a 2022 Social Justice Fellow from TheField.org and a BAX Emerge NYC 2023 Artist.