danceexchange

Issue #44

Last Update March 2, 2006

Arts Dance Exchange by David Katz August 3, 2005 The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange brought an extraordinary dance experience to the Chautauqua Institution, Western New York's summer-long cultural extravaganza. As dance company in residence for the week of July 24, the modern dance group taught, lectured, performed and entertained, and by example showed that dance is for everyone (including senior citizens, children and dogs), and that boundaries are to be transcended.

The philosophy of the group was spelled out in a lecture given by founder and artistic director Liz Lerman: "Artists can't be without technique, but they constantly have to break the rules they know". The Dance Exchange artists certainly demonstrated that they have technique; their movements were crisp and clean, and had a grace and musicality that few dance companies possess. Breaking the rules came in both the choreography and in the composition of the company itself. In addition to six young, superbly agile and well-trained members, the company also includes a seventy year old man and two women past middle age. These three, with their grace and mature skill, lent a beauty and gravitas to the dance numbers that resonated with the Chautauqua audience. Local children participated in one number, and despite their lack of dance experience, appeared entirely professional. It is one of the great strengths of this company that the choreography makes the most of the strong points of each individual dancer, bringing out each dancer's unique ability while not placing demands inappropriate to the dancer's age.

Many of the pieces presented to the Chautauqua audience had strong emotional content. In one of the most effective numbers, a section of “Dances at a Cocktail Party”, the dancers came on stage twirling illuminated hula hoops while dancing to a cheerful melody, providing an infectious circus-like atmosphere. Suddenly, from above, a voice cried “Stop!”, and, while the dancers froze, berated them for their frivolity. The piece ended with the dancers walking off with drooping bodies, blank expressions and an almost robotic appearance. It is easy to see in this powerful number the chilling effect of political or religious oppression. Actually, this dance illustrates another aspect of the Lerman philosophy, that rather than viewing the arts through a lens of hierarchy, the various arts and their subdivisions should be viewed as parallel processes, to be used and enjoyed without regard to “status”. This dance, according to Ms. Lerman, is actually a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, who held composing and conducting in equal regard, and enjoyed creating both classical and popular works, but was severely criticized by some for not concentrating on one area to the exclusion of all others.

A section of a work in development, “Ferocious Beauty: Genome”, is an ambitious and intricate preview of a mixed dance and film work about the human genome and the scientists that have worked to explore it. From the sample shown, it promises to be a beautiful and successful work of art. “Genome” will premiere in February 2002 at Wesleyan College in Connecticut. Dance Exchange has also been commissioned by Harvard Law School to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials. This work will be performed in November, 2005.

The members of the company, talented performers all, include Peter DiMuro, Thomas Dwyer, Margot Greenlee, Elizabeth Johnson, Matt Mahaney, Kevin Malone, Cassie Meador, Peg Schaefer and Martha Wittman. They gave strong, graceful performances, full of athleticism, humor, sex and skill. Many of these dancers have been with the company for years and reflect a mixture of backgrounds that gives variety and interest to their performances. It is an important part of this unique company's mission to bring dance and movement to schools, nursing homes and community centers as well as the concert stage, and to encourage ordinary people to tell of their lives and see it reflected in dance. All the members of the company participate in this, and many provide choreography for company projects.