Ryan Michaels

It's 1962 on the island of O'ahu. Locals gradually learn of a nearby nuclear test set to go down that night. Rather than panic, many seem to want to party. Why? Inspired by true events.

The Shinoda family is a multi-generational, multi-racial household living comfortably on O'ahu. Despite marriage tensions, Mom and Dad decide to take their young son Ikaika on a road-trip around the island - laying out his culture to him. We ride with their route, enjoy their music, soak in Hawaii's rhythms and colors. As they do this, the Shinodas repeatedly miss that they are headed towards serious trouble.

Emotions move in a harsh and unstable way -- dancers enjoy each other's company, but don't -- locations and costumes are cycled through just as quickly. We do know that just as the music is moving ahead, left to right, the camera and dancers will too. And we know that just as the music suspends you out of time - feeling like both 1972 and 2022 - our vision will too. Boys Will Be Toys is an eight-minute dance piece that fuses two unique songs. It is a fast, sensory, exhilarating ride, weaving you through feelings of attachment and detachment from the body - and the needs of the body.