"Speaking of Dance" by Joyce Morgenroth - OFF THE PAGE on WSKG Radio

Standing still long enough to tell what they were doing.

" Speaking of Dance"
by Joyce Morgenroth
Twelve Contemporary Choreographers on Their Craft

on WSKG Radio’s OFF THE PAGE
Tuesday, July 11 at 1 & 7pm

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          Considering how dance is an art form that unites space, rhythm, music, design and the expressiveness and flexibility of the human body, the last thing we might expect is that a dancer could put his or her calling into mere words. But in her book “Speaking of Dance: Twelve Contemporary Choreographers on Their Craft”, Cornell University Professor of Dance Joyce Morgenroth draws out revealing and lucid words that open a new understanding of dancers and their devotion to an art form that seems always to be pushing past boundaries.
           Morgenroth interviewed a dozen of the most important figures in the dance world today, beginning with Merce Cunningham, “arguably the most influential choreographer of the twentieth century.” Cunningham joined the great Martha Graham Dance Company in 1939, founded his own troupe in 1953 and at age 86 remains an active force in dance. He has trained many of the most important people in the dance world (including Joyce Morgenroth). “What really made me begin to think about space,” Cunningham explains, “and begin to think about ways to use it was Einstein’s statement that there were no fixed points in space. Everything in the universe was moving all the time.” He also speaks about his long association with composer John Cage.
          The interviews continue with comments from Anna Halprin a founder of the San Francisco Dancers’ Workshop who has worked within a literal labyrinth, David Gordon, who says that since working in theater he has come to realize he is essentially a storyteller, Trisha Brown and Lucinda Childs. Also Meredith Monk (an internationally acclaimed artist who lives in Delaware County and is a regular performer at the West Kortright Centre), Elizabeth Streb, whose work seems to defy gravity, Eiko Otake, Bill T. Jones (a graduate of SUNY Binghamton, founder of the American Dance Asylum), Ann Carlson, Mark Morris, and John Jasperse.
          Joyce Morgenroth is also author of “Dance Improvisations”, a 1987 book of guidance and exercises that is still widely used in dance classes. She joins Bill Jaker to tell about conducting the conversations in “Speaking of Dance”, and discusses the philosophy, sensibilities and current trends in the dance world and the inspiration and hard work necessary to create a dance performance. To join in, call during the live 1:00 PM broadcast to 1-888/359-9754 or post an e-mail here... or directly to WSKG.Radio@Gmail.com.

“Sister Chicas” a three young Latinas from Chicago whose lives intertwine as they deal with love and family relationships and forge a deep friendship. The novel “Sister Chicas” is also an example of sisterly support, written in alternating chapters by three Latinas, including Jane Alberdeston Coralin, a Ph.D. candidate in English at Binghamton University. She visits OFF THE PAGE on July 25th to tell about her literary alter-ego Taina, whose story launches the work of the literary trio.

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This page updated Tuesday, July 11, 2006 3:32 PM

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