 The
New York premiere of David Gordon’s "Private Lives of
Dancers 2003" will be presented at The Joyce Theater, February
18-23. Almost two hours in length, the work will be performed by
the Pick Up Performance Company.
A masterful and witty fusion of text
and movement, "Private Lives" continues Gordon’s
four decade investigation over, under and through the slippery and,
at times, invisible line that divides performance and life. For
dialogue Gordon appropriated snatches of conversations overheard
during rehearsal: bits and pieces about boyfriends, girlfriends,
complaints about performing, mothers and wives. Recorded conversations
between Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn; Merce Cunningham and John
Cage; Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane, as well as Maude Lloyd and Nigel
Gosling are integrated into the score.
Issues of rehearsing and performing
are magically blurred, with the territory between reality and fantasy
assured of poetic mystery. For instance: about "Private Lives,"
whose dancers are Tricia Brouk, María de Lourdes Dávila,
Karen Graham, Valda Setterfield, Tadej Brdnik, Scott Cunningham
and David Gordon, Gordon says it "…is not about these
dancers but it couldn’t have been made without them. These
dancers represent fictional other dancers. Just like them. Or maybe
it could have been made without them but it wouldn’t have
been the same. It might have been similar. But not as good."
Performing also are the show’s pianist (Alan Johnson) and
its stage manager (Ed Fitzgerald). The music is by Michael Gordon,
whom David Gordon clearly states is not a relative in real life,
not "even a cousin." The lighting is, however, definitely
by Jennifer Tipton.
Earlier versions of "Private
Lives of Dancers" were presented at Danspace in January 2002,
and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival this past summer. Alyce
Dissette is the show’s producer.
Created in 1978 by David Gordon, The
Pick Up Performance Company has performed throughout Europe, Asia,
South America and across the United States introducing audiences
to work that unites theater and dance in new ways. Gordon has received
numerous commissions from major ballet and modern dance companies
such as American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Extemporary
Dance Theatre of London, Groupe de Recherche Choréographique
de l’Opéra de Paris and White Oak Dance Project. In
theater, Gordon has received commissions from the Guthrie Theater,
the American Conservatory, the Mark Taper Forum and the American
Repertory Theatre. In New York City, the Pick Up Company has performed
at BAM’s Next Wave Festival; Serious Fun! at Alice Tully Hall;
the John Jay Theater; The Joyce Theater; and at Dance Theater Workshop.
In 1993 the Pick Up Performance Company expanded its mission to
include the work of David Gordon’s long time, yet informal
collaborator, his son, playwright/director Ain Gordon. Ain Gordon’s
work, created both alone and in collaboration with other artists,
has been produced in New York, Maryland, Washington, DC, North Carolina,
Massachusetts, Ohio and in Sweden.
Curtain times for "Private Lives
of Dancers 2003" at The Joyce Theater are Tuesday through Saturday
evenings at 8 pm, and Sunday evening at 7:30pm.
There will also be a 2pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $38 ($27
for members), and are available by calling 212-242-0800 or online
at www.joyce.org.
The Joyce Theater is located at 175
Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.
###
Listing Editors, please note: On Monday, February 10 at 6pm, The
Joyce willpresent Dance Talks at Joyce Soho located at 155 Mercer
Street. (Call212-334-7479 for reservations).
David Gordon and his dancers will lead the discussion.
Leadership support for The Joyce Theater’s 2002-2003 season
has been received from the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
This Joyce presentation is made possible, in part, with public funds
from the National Endowment for the Arts, Natural Heritage Trust,
under the auspices of Thomas K. Duane, and the New York State Council
on the Arts, a state agency, and with private funds from The Fan
Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc. to encourage the performance
of New York City-based companies at The Joyce Theater.
Additional funding provided, in part, by the National Dance Project
of the New England Foundation for the Arts, with lead funding from
National Endowment for the Arts and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Support also provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Philip
Morris Companies Inc.
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