Dance Visions NY presents "Through the Portals," Duncan's "Orfeo" and other collaborative works
![Dance Visions NY presents "Through the Portals," Duncan's "Orfeo" and other collaborative works](/images/features_large/Beth_and_Adrienne_in_Morning_Star_CP_2014-3-2-2.jpg)
Company:
Dance Visions NY
Through the Portals is a new multi-disciplinary work created by choreographer Beth Jucovy that incorporates the works of visual artist Susan Ruth Cohen as portals into worlds of color and relationship. In creating Through the the Portals Ms. Jucovy employed the Isadora Duncan dance technique as a primary source of the movement approach. In this same program, Dance Visions NY will also present Duncan’s major work to the 2nd act of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, showing the pure technique as portrayed through original Duncan dances. Other contemporary works by company choreographers complement the program.
Through the Portals depicts dancers as colors that begin as one entity. The colors separate and establish independent identity. They interact in various groupings; identity is tested and strengthened through these interactions. As the dance proceeds, the play between independence and codependence continually cycles. Through the Portals developed out of Ms. Jucovy’s 2014 theatrical ballet ColorSong Universe, an interpretation of Ms. Cohen’s Colorsong paintings and poem. Both artists chose to rework their original Colorsong interpretation in order to go deeper “through the portals” of their initial explorations. With a backdrop of new artworks by Ms. Cohen, a new music collage and fresh choreography by Ms. Jucovy, Through the Portals is a fully integrated multidisciplinary art experience.
About ColorSong Universe: ”The [Colorsong] book comes alive with imagination, creativity and lots of wonderful choreography” Ken Grimball, News 12 Long Island.
Duncan’s masterpiece to the music of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice depicts the story of the Greek myth. This work illustrates Duncan’s ground-breaking range of dynamics with the uplifted dances of the Elysian fields and the tormented dances of weight of the Furies. This version, which includes the aria of Orfeo’s passage with the Furies at his feet, envisioned and originally recreated by Julia Levien, has been presented only twice before in modern times, in 1994 by Duncan Dance Continuum and in 2005 by Dance Visions. The work will include live music.
“...The Duncan works, when danced with clarity, musicality, and conviction, as they were at this performance, are touching and exhilarating...Jucovy filled the unornamented movements with quiet intensity... (the dancers) bounded like racing does until falling to Earth after an excess of ecstasy.” Joseph Mazo, Newsday
Program also include a new work, Andine, by dancer/choreographer Courtney Ramm. Through the Portals dancers include Louisa Armstrong, Danielle Atkinson, Vanessa Ferranti, Courtney Ramm. Orfeo also includes Natalie Isaza, Beth Jucovy, Adrienne Ramm and Christina Stampolis. Andine also includes dancer Forrest Hersey. Actress Shirley Romaine will host the program.
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