Details

Elisa Monte Dance was founded in 1981 on the conviction of bridging cultural barriers through the universal language of dance. From its earliest recognition on the world stage as 'best company' at the International Dance Festival of Paris in 1982 to it tremendously successful touring to over 40 nations worldwide, Elisa Monte Dance has lived that conviction for over two decades. The work, created by Elisa Monte (formerly a principal with Martha Graham Dance Company) is widely recognised for its highly athletic and sensual style as well as its technical and physical acuity. With non-stop, virtuosic dancing by a tour de force, multi-ethnic group of dancers, Elisa Monte Dance has performed to critical and audience acclaim around the globe. A heart warming and honest work that reflects on loss and recovery. It's creation began in early 2001 and swiftly evolved into a far more ambitious project in 3 parts, only to be completed earlier this year. Excessively stylistic, sensual and with razor sharp technical precision. The opening work that was originally created just prior to 9/11/01 causes Elisa to still ask herself whether the inspiration for the piece was a premonition or purely a coincidence: "This piece reflected a moment. Art, in its expression of society, manifests the currents that push and pull at us, defining its emotional status." It is sadly ironic that Lost Things, which deals with loss on many levels, had its first rehearsal on September 10, 2001 with its premiere scheduled for October 2001 at the World Financial Center. Because of the damage and the devastation at Ground Zero, the work was delayed. However, the piece was later included in a showing at the World Financial Center in 2002 and finally had its World Premiere to thunderous applause on Opening Night of the New York Season at The Joyce Theater on February 11, 2003. The second section was created this past year as part of a three week New York State Council on the Arts residency at The Egg Theater (NYC), as well as at the New York University Summer Dance Festival. Its focus is on working through life, with its ups and downs and daily expectations, no matter what may be thrown at you unexpectedly. The final part of Via Sacra addresses the realisation of the multiplicity of life - that we, as humans create our own reality and can work though any tragedy, as the world as we see it is for us to create in our own minds. This is demonstrated through the colour theories of Josef Albers and the rationale that the juxtaposition of certain elements, like light, can create a whole new reality - things simply don't exist on their own. This same theory parallels the overriding theme of the work that any tragedy can be turned into a positive and any positive can be turned into a negative depending on one's own personal perception of the situation. Commissioned by the Josef Albers Foundation, Light Lies had its critically acclaimed World Premiere as part of the celebration for the opening of a Josef Albers Exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, June 2002. Elisa Monte Dance website.

Cast/Performers

Lulia Wolfe (The Way it Should Be), Nicole Dalia, Kyla Ernst-Alper, Kevin Ferguson, Jennifer Hardy, Fabrice Lamego, Bafana Solomon Matea, Marden Ramos, Tiffany Rea

Creatives/Company

Choreographer: Elisa Monte
Music(s): Bang on a Can (Michael Gordon), Peter Zager (Music for Video), David Lang (Lost Objects), Michael Gordon (The Way it Is), David Lang (The Way it Is), Julia Wolfe (The Way it Is), Michael Gordon (The Way it Should Be), David Lang (The Way it Should Be)
Lighting(s): Clifton Taylor (The Way it Was), Clifton Taylor (The Way it Is), Clifton Taylor (The Way it Should Be)
Costume(s): Karen Young (The Way it Was), Karen Young (The Way it Is), Karen Young (The Way it Should Be)