 Why does The Joyce Theater have the
most danced-upon stage in the world? Witness this season when it
throws another non-stop, far-flung dance party with a guest list
that stretches across the ocean and shimmies up, down and across
the shores of the Americas. While still in the throes of its summer
season, The Joyce is already preparing to put down its welcome mat
for two of London’s hottest names – Akram Khan and George
Piper Dances (the "Ballet Boyz"), fling open its doors
for a series of debuts by the likes of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal,
and lay down its red carpet for many of its royal returnees, most
notably the revolutionary imagination of Alwin Nikolais. Running
down the fall guest list, there also is MOMIX, Garth Fagan, Maria
Benitez, Canada’s Marie Chouinard and the tap happy genius
of Savion Glover – all eagerly awaiting their chance to dance.
No wonder it’s the only theater in the world with Joy built
into its name.
CLASSIC RETURNS: The phantasmagoric dream world of Moses
Pendleton opens the season with three weeks that feature a trio
of MOMIX hits including "Baseball," Pendleton’s
1997 witty and surreal celebration of America’s favorite pastime,
as well as "Opus Cactus" and "Passion." The
revolutionary imagination of Alwin Nikolais will be honored and
feted with a week of classic "Nik" such as "Lythic"
(1956), "Noumenon" (1953), "Crucible" (1985)
and "Tensile Involvement" (1955) performed by Utah’s
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, whose highly
physical choreography resonates with compelling spirituality, is
readying the premiere of Brown’s "Come Ye," a celebration
of the powerful voice and life of Nina Simone. Reflecting Brown’s
African-American roots are two recent pieces, en route to be classics:
"Walking Out the Dark" and "High Life." Garth
Fagan, no slouch in the classics department, is promising at least
one, "Prelude-Discipline is Freedom," as well as a series
of recent favorites, and, of course, a premiere. (But he’s
not telling what or to whom. Too busy working on it, is all he says.)
Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco, whose performances of classic flamenco
are sharpened by the cutting edge of contemporary Spanish choreographers,
promises new works as well as works from her repertory. The return
of the radical Canadian Compagnie Marie Chouinard is always a cause
for anticipation. Two New York premieres, "Le Cri du Monde"
and "24 Preludes by Chopin," are in the works.
THE ACCENT IS ABSOLUTELY BRITISH: Two ultra young British
companies (Akram Khan Company and George Piper Dances) and one,
a bit older (Richard Alston Dance Company) will make a trans-Atlantic
trip to make their Joyce Theater debuts this year. Twenty-eight-year-old
Akram Khan will present "Kaash" (Hindi for If), a fast
and furious fusion of contemporary dance with the classical Indian
dance form, Kathak, which he has studied since childhood. Created
by Royal Ballet alums William Trevitt and Michael Nunn, George Piper
Dances – only two years old and already a major player on
the international circuit – will present a premiere by New
York City Ballet’s Christopher Wheeldon, as well as William
Forsythe’s "Steptext" and the first New York performance
of Russell Maliphant’s "Torsion." Richard Alston
Dance Company will make its New York debut this spring with a repertory
of new works by Alston, who already made his mark as artistic director
and choreographer of Ballet Rambert.
ALL THAT JAZZ AND TAPPING, TOO: Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal
will present a bit of the old and a bit of the new when it makes
its Joyce Theater debut. Among the season highlights will be Patrick
Delcroix’s "Sous le rythme, je…," Mia Michaels’s
"No Strings Attached" and Crystal Pite’s "Short
Works: 24." Savion Glover, once the boy wonder and now, at
age 30, the adult miracle tapper, will present three weeks of glorious
and fast footwork backed by his band of four musicians.
AND ONCE AGAIN, SOMETHING ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT 2004: Count on The
Joyce to scramble expectations with its annual Altogether Different
festival. On the boards for 2004 are Canadian choreographer and
performer Margie Gillis, renowned for her unapologetically passionate
and gripping solos and John Kelly, whose wildly theatrical works
are signaturely "downtown." Peter Pucci will present a
full-evening solo work entitled "To Begin Again;" Rebecca
Stenn will make her Joyce Theater debut and Ben Munisteri returns
to The Joyce, but this time with a smashing company of his own.
MORE IN STORE FOR 2004: An important Joyce debut by the James
Sewell Ballet is in store for season ‘04. The Minneapolis-based
company of eight will celebrate its first Joyce performances with
two new ballets by Sewell, as well as his critically acclaimed 2001
"Moving Works" and "Improvisation #56-63." Also
on the Joyce horizon is Doug Varone & Dancers, which is promising
some major recent work including the first part of "The Bottomland,"
"Ballet Mécanique" and "Of the Earth Far Below."
At least one premiere is also in the works. On the major Joyce Theater
return guest list is Buglisi/Foreman Dance; Stephen Petronio Company;
DanceBrazil; Philadanco; and the Parsons Dance Company. New to The
Joyce this spring will be debuts by BalletMet Columbus, a shared
week by Ailey II and ABT Studio Company and two adventurous projects,
Peter Boal & Dancers and Armitage Gone! Dance. Out-of-staters
include BodyVox from Portland; LINES Contemporary Ballet from San
Francisco; and North Carolina Dance Theatre from Charlotte. Adding
even greater geographic drama is the return of Australia’s
Sydney Dance Company and the debut of Spain’s Compañia
Maria Pages.
Summer 2004 seems set enough to announce: Pilobolus Dance Theatre
will be back again, followed by Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre and
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana. Ballet Tech is hopeful of a return.
(Cross your fingers.)
In addition to its regular performances, The Joyce offers Family
Matinees specially designed for children on selected Saturday afternoons,
as well as a Humanities Series, featuring talks by the artistic
directors following Wednesday or Thursday evening performances.
One of the few theaters in the world designed for dance, The Joyce
opened its doors in 1982 only to rapidly become the most active
dance house in the world. Over 230 dance companies have performed
on its stage since that time. In October 1996, The Joyce Theater
Foundation acquired an additional informal performance venue at
155 Mercer Street. Named Joyce SoHo, it offers dance artists subsidized
rehearsal space, as well as provides an annual series of performances
by smaller dance companies. Additionally, Joyce SoHo hosts Dance
Talks, a series of conversations – between artists and audience,
and open rehearsals illustrated with dance videos and movement demonstrations.
For information on Joyce Membership or on purchasing single tickets,
call Joyce Charge at 212-242-0800 or visit The Joyce website at
www.joyce.org. The Box Office opens for the 2003 fall season on
September 2. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at
19th Street.
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Leadership support for The Joyce Theater's 2003/2004 season has
been received from the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.
Support towards performances by New York City-based dance companies
at The Joyce has been provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels
Foundation, Inc.
Performances at The Joyce Theater by national and international
dance companies are supported, in part, through a generous endowment
established by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund.
The Fall 2003 Season is also made possible, in part, with public
funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, the National
Endowment for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs with additional support from a generous endowment created
by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable
Trust and many friends of The Joyce Theater Foundation.
The Altogether Different festival is sponsored by Altria Group,
Inc.
Additional support for Altogether Different is provided by the Gladys
Krieble Delmas Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the
New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for
the Arts.
The Family Matinee series is sponsored by First Republic Bank.
The Theater's Dance Education Program is supported, in part, by
the Charles E. Culpeper Endowment Fund.
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