At Home Concert
April 18 & 19 2014
Strange…But True
Choreography: Brad Garner
Music: “Strange” and “I Fall to Pieces” by Patsy Cline and “Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash
Lighting Design: Kim Ames
Dancers: The Company
“Strange…But True” was originally choreographed in August 2013 on students from the University of Texas-Pan American, less than an hour drive from the Mexican border. I knew before beginning the creative process that the UTPA Dance Department had a celebrated ballet folklorico (traditional Mexican folk dance) program, which all of their students were required to participate in at some point in their program of study. A lot of the footwork I use in the piece was inspired by the student’ keen rhythmic sensibility and ability to maintain a strong social dynamic while executing complex patterns in space.
Journey to Wherever
Choreography: Shannon Mockli
Music: “Girl from Ipanema” by Joao Gilberto, Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto, “Sway” by Dean Martin, “Can We Mix the Unmixable?” by Gustavo Santaolalla, “Fugitif 2” by Swod
Lighting Design: Jenifer Craig
Dancers: Shynna Harper, London Mahina, Mariah Melson
“Journey to Wherever,” is a re-staging and re-titling of an original work “Exit 17” premiering in 2009. The trio reflects on a time in my life when I experienced wonder about the various directions my life had gone and the interactions and relationships I’ve fallen in and out of along the way. The original cast for
Journey to Wherever” included Mara Bateman, Doug Hooker, and Jana Meszaros.
Requisite Resolve
Choreography: Rita J. Honka
Music: “Number 9” by Moon Hooch
Lighting Design: Shynna Harper
Dancers: Kyra Bannister, Megan Duling, Ferena Kagata, Rachel Matthews
“Requisite Resolve” sprang from images of how one pushes through their daily life, and about participating in one’s daily experiences with intention, perseverance, and, subsequently, satisfaction. “Requisite Resolve” was created for UORDC this season.
Intermission
GIRL POOL
Choreography: Rachel Winchester
Music: Found sound designed by Joseph Einertson
Lighting Design: Jenifer Craig
Costumes: Rachel Winchester
Dancers: Kyra Bannister, Megan Duling, Shynna Harper, London Mahina, Rachel Matthews, Mariah Melson
“GIRL POOL (an adaptation)” is a dance theatre piece inspired by the short fiction of author, Kurt Vonnegut, developed through an experimental choreographic process involving dramaturgical research and structured improvisation. This dance piece has recently been selected by the American College Dance Festival Association to represent the Northwest region of the country at the 2014 National Conference in Washington D.C. In the original cast seen in Grad Loft 2013, were Carolina Caballero, Ayumi Hori, Jessica Hoage, Molly Everts Johnston, Melanie Meenan, and Taylor Theis. The ACDFA cast is Dakota Bouher, Jessica Hoage, Nadya Matiya, Faith Morrison, Cecilia Potter, Sasha Rawlinson.
Solo from The Deep Field
Choreography: Walter Kennedy
Music: Talvin Singh
Lighting Design: Jenifer Craig
Dancer: Ferena Kagata
“Solo from The Deep Field” was originally made as a study to challenge a lovely dancer here in the UO Dance program, Marlena Oden, in 2003. It has since been performed in other settings by two other virtuoso dancers, Heather Klopchin in 2004, and Diane Vivona in 2006. This year, I set it on Doug Hooker in order to see if it would work on a man, and he performed it admirably in our Faculty concert in February. Ferena Kagata is the fifth dancer to work on it, and she brings a lustrous power as you will see. Look for it as a duet later this spring as a new experience with both Doug and Ferena together!
letters from the attic
Choreography: Jenifer Craig
Music: John Craig, original score, “Ghosts”
Lighting Design: Jenifer Craig
Dancers: The Company with former UORDC dancers Nick Herman (2012-2013) and Doug Hooker (2009-2010 and 2012-2013)
Special Guests A3 dancers: Megan Denham, Maddie Doerr, Adey Gabuya, Maria Gomez, Sionna Stevens
“letters in the attic” was first seen in 2003, with my daughter Sarah, a dance minor, in the cast. My son John provided the original score. It was an exploration of our family, in the sense that we are fortunate to glimpse an understanding of our place in this stream of humanity, through photos and journals – scrapbooks, stored in boxes, and attics. This version has the same impetus, with the dancers in the Faculty concert 2014 cast exploring their family stories. John provided a new score, got married and has a daughter…. I’ve started a scrapbook for her.