Evento

The Mystic Fountain

The New York Baroque Dance Company is producing The Mystic Fountain, a 4 day workshop exploring expressive gesture emobodied in dance from the 18th century to the 20th century. Taking place in NYC at Gibney Dance 280 Broadway at Chambers Street, from June 20-23, 2019.

The exact times are
Thursday June 20 from 10-6
Friday June 21 from 10-6
Saturday June 22 from 10-6
Sunday June 23 from 10-6

In our American legacy, Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, and Ted Shawn explored the expressive body in a surprisingly similar fashion as their baroque counterparts, John Weaver, Marie Sallé, and Jean-Georges Noverre. Their commonality lie in a study of expressive gesture and a tradition of teaching that goes back to the Greco-Roman aesthetic. What was their aim? Truth. Beauty. Persuasion.

The lineage is clear. Ted Shawns book, Every Little Movement, (1954) uses the system of François Delsarte, a famous 19th century teacher of gesture, as its base. Delsartes teaching, in turn, relates directly to the gestural practices promoted by orators and dancers of the 18th century as seen in the writings by Gilbert Austin and John Weaver.

In order to perform the early works of Duncan, Denishawn, and Sallé one must combine physical and scholarly research. This workshop addresses both areas by offering practice classes, sources of research, as well as presenting lectures.

Our workshop, guided by a team of expert teachers, performers and historians, will take students from 18th century expressive and mimetic dance to classes on Delsarte and repertoire of Duncan and Denishawn. Lectures will also be offered that present the influence of Delsarte on choreographers and dancers both past and present.

Why? We hope to shed light on an important aspect of the early dancers training, ballet and modern. Questions will certainly arise. Is the study of expressive gesture still relevant for todays dancer/choreographer? How could we, or should we, integrate any of these practices in todays classes?

Link to the Mystic Fountain on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/events/271545986886152/

Dances to be taught and Faculty:
Works of Art in classes:
Expert Catherine Turocy and Caroline Copeland of NYBDC will teach a Baroque warm-up and then focus on choreographer Marie Salle (1701-1756) and her pantomimic solo from Handels Terpsichore (1734), "La Gelosia." The students will also learn the later theories of Gilbert Austin as applied to dance.

Joe Williams, one of the few experts on François Delsarte still teaching, will lead the morning Delsarte exercises which were concurrent with Austin. Delsarte never wrote a book explaining his method. However, Genevieve Stebbins did write a book in 1885 titled The Delsarte System of Expression. Williams will draw his exercises from this book as well as Shawn's "Every Little Movement."

Catherine Gallant and a company member will teach Saturday and Sunday afternoons, her version of the Allegretto section from Isadora Duncans untitled work to Beethovens Symphony No.7 Op.92. Performed between the years 1904-1909 in the US, France and the Netherlands, this dance is an important representation of Duncans musical intelligence and marks her primary foray into abstraction. Gallants reimagining of the dance is a significant historical and educational undertaking and reanimates the work by enlivening the extant fragments. Gallant will discuss the cultural context of Duncans work and her innovations.

After the Denishawn warm-up, Livia Vanaver will teach St. Denis's "White Jade." This solo from 1926 shows a statue of Kuan Yin, the Chinese goddess of mercy, coming to life. The Oriental figure's gentleness, serenity and compassion bring to mind a Western Madonna.
The use of the arms and the stillness of the body with an economy of movement beautifully portrays the mystic and spiritual side of Denishawn. Vanaver will discuss what was revolutionary about the style of St. Denis.

Michael Novak, Artistic Director for the Paul Taylor Dance Company, is one of our lecturers. Norton Owen, dance historian for Jacobs Pillow is helping us with our content for lectures and classes. Michelle Mathesius internationally known for her work on Ruth St. Dennis and Ted Shawn is an advisor for this workshop.

This workshop is open to students, professionals, teachers and would be attractive to dancers, actors, musicians and enthusiastic amateurs with an intermediate level of dance training in any style.

Please email cturocy@gmail.com with any questions.

TUITION : 4 days of classes from morning until night in a friendly, supportive environment suitable for intermediate levels and above. (Students are responsible for finding their own housing. Hotels, hostels, airbnb, vacation rental by ownerthere are many options.)

$425 Standard rate (age 26 and up) includes $25 non-refundable registration fee

$350 Student rate (age 18-25) includes $25 non-refundable registration fee

For the teacher rate below we will need a letter by email describing your student's status. The student can register online. However, your registration and payment will go directly through the NYBDC.

$350 Teacher rate for teachers bringing at least 2 students.

Contact person: Catherine Turocy cturocy@gmail.com