Trans Choreographer Ashley R.T. Yergens’s Exploration of Surrogacy and Parenthood
Ashley R.T. Yergens’s latest work, "Surrogate," premieres this week at New York Live Arts. This performance delves into the experiences of trans men with pregnancy and the IVF process. Yergens, a Brooklyn-based choreographer known for his brash and irreverent style, uses this piece to explore his unexpected longing for parenthood, despite being on testosterone.
Yergens, who froze 24 embryos using his eggs and an anonymous donor’s sperm, reflects on his surrogacy journey through the performance. "Surrogate" includes a mix of personal fears, pop-culture references, and virtuosic movement, creating a complex narrative that mirrors the structure of social media feeds.
The work also draws inspiration from a 2008 Oprah Winfrey interview with Thomas Beatie, one of the first trans men to publicly share his pregnancy, which influenced Yergens during his adolescence.
Through the lens of surrogacy and family creation, "Surrogate" juxtaposes the physicality of dance with the emotional labor of parenthood, making an intriguing connection between artistic expression and personal desire.