Art at Amtrak Presents the Premier Digital Commission of The Oath Performed by Big Dance Theater at Moynihan Train Hall

Choreographed by Annie-B Parson and curated by Debra Simon Art Consulting, the latest installation inspires audiences through movement and color and marks riveting, new creative territory for the ongoing public art partnership with Empire State Development

NEW YORK – Amtrak – in partnership with Moynihan Train Hall and Empire State Development – debuts for its acclaimed Art at Amtrak program, The Oath, a captivating film installation by renowned choreographer and artistic director Annie-B Parson, on the station’s 160-foot-wide, state-of-the-art 4mm LED digital screens on the concourse and on over 40 screens throughout the Train Hall. Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15 this cinematic reinterpretation of Big Dance Theater’s live performance will entertain Amtrak travelers, commuters, and station visitors with a dramatic and powerful exploration of humanity’s shared movements and collective expression.

“The Art at Amtrak program is committed to creating meaningful artistic experiences that enhance the travel journey,” said Art at Amtrak Director Sharon Tepper. “The Oath is a stunning example of how art and dance, presented in a digital format, can invigorate public spaces, reminding us of the profound narratives shared through movement and film.”

Rebecca Pellegrini, Executive Director of Moynihan Train Hall, at Empire State Development, said, “ESD and Moynihan Train Hall serve to elevate access to New York and its greatest assets, including an unrivaled performing arts scene. The Oath breaks new ground, using the Train Hall Art Program’s digital canvas to bring the captivating dance performance to life in unique ways throughout the building and continues ESD’s commitment to offer the public everyday access to inspiring and visionary art.”

The Oath captures the poetic power of unison choreography and celebrates humanity’s impulse to embody a larger physical statement through the universal language of dance. After its live debut at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan, Parson collaborated with director Alla Kovgan associate choreographer Elizabeth DeMent, and executive producer Sara Pereira da Silva to reimagine the performance as a cinematic experience, bringing the energy of the stage to the screen.

“This film was born from the sadness of seeing the dance disappear after its final performance and the curiosity of how cinema could capture and transform that energy,” says Annie-B Parson. “Through meticulous planning and creative collaboration, The Oath became not just a recreation of the performance, but a new artistic expression of movement.”

Annie-B Parson is the co-founder and artistic director of Big Dance Theater and has earned international acclaim for her innovative choreography across stage, opera and film. She has choreographed for renowned artists including David Byrne, David Bowie, Lorde and St. Vincent, as well as major theater productions including Broadway’s American Utopia and Here Lies Love. Her awards include a Guggenheim Fellowship, Bessie Awards, The Jacobs Pillow Dance Award, a USA Artist Award, The Doris Duke Artist Award and The Foundation for Contemporary Art Award. She has received a TONY nomination, an Olivier nomination and two Lucille Lortel nominations.

Alla Kovgan is a New York-based filmmaker, working at the crossroads of cinema and performing arts for over 25 years, most acclaimed for the 2023 Prix Italia winner CUNNINGHAM, a 3D cinematic experience about choreographer Merce Cunningham, distributed in 35 countries, and NORA (2008), about Zimbabwean choreographer Nora Chipaumire, which won 30 awards worldwide. Kovgan co-directed/wrote/edited MOVEMENT REVOLUTION AFRICA (2007) and Emmy-nominated TRACES OF THE TRADE (2008) and edited MY PERESTROIKA (2010). She also created 3D VR experience DEVIL’S LUNGS, with Finnish band Suistamon Sähkö, winning the 2018 Vienna Shorts Grand Prix and a residency at Museum Quarter 21.

The film adaptation of The Oath was brought to life by an extraordinary team of dancers, filmmakers and creatives. The installation was made possible by Art at Amtrak curator Debra Simon Art Consulting, and the generous support of Diane L Max, The Howard Gilman Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), DCLA, Big Dance’s Board of Directors and Materials for the Arts.

Art at Amtrak
The Art at Amtrak program was launched in June 2022, with its first installation at New York Penn Station, and has since grown to feature art in many stations, including Moynihan Train Hall in New York, Washington Union Station, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, and Chicago Union Station.

The program aims to present diverse, unique, and memorable art that enhances and invigorates the travel experience at Amtrak stations. More information about Art at Amtrak and a complete list of artists can be found here.

Moynihan Train Hall Public Art Program

The Moynihan Train Hall Public Art Program was established by Empire State Development (ESD), which led the development of the Moynihan Train Hall with partners Amtrak, MTA Long Island Rail Road, and Vornado Realty Trust. Opened in 2021, Moynihan Train Hall is a world-class gateway at New York Penn Station, and its Public Art Program features three monumental permanent installations commissioned by ESD in partnership with Public Art Fund, among other rotating exhibitions and partnerships.