Faculty shows range of modern dance

Inspired by several 20th century modern dance pioneers, the UW Dance Program proudly presents its spring faculty concert, “Retro/Perspective,” featuring New York guest artist Janis Brenner.

Guest artist Janis Brenner will perform in the spring dance concert. Photo: Tom Caravaglia, courtesy of the Dance Program.

The concert is April 27-29 at 8 p.m. in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space in Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave.

Brenner, an award-winning dancer, choreographer, singer and teacher, will be a guest artist-in-residence with the Dance Program April 10-30. She kicks off her residency with a lecture-demonstration Monday, April 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space. The event is free and open to the public.

During her residency, Brenner will set a voice/movement/text-based work on student dancers entitled “The Memory Project/ University of Wisconsin.” In addition to showing this work, she will perform two solos in the concert. They include her signature solo, “Solo for Janis,” which was nominated for a New York Dance and Performance Award (a “Bessie”), and “On the Rim of Thought,” a 1998 solo set to the music of Brazilian musician /composer Egberto Gismonti.

“Retro/Perspective” is dedicated to dance pioneer Anna Sokolow, who died last week at age 90.

“Coincidentally, Lorry May, the authorized reconstructionist of Anna Sokolow’s repertory, is teaching here as a guest lecturer for the remainder of the semester,” says concert director and professor Joseph Koykkar. “Earlier in the year, June Finch, a faculty member of the Merce Cunningham Studio since 1968, was also a guest lecturer. So throughout semester, our students and faculty have grown to appreciate more and more the groundwork laid by these dance pioneers.”

May, also the artistic director of Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project, will present a reconstructed work of Sokolow ‘s 1975 “Ride the Culture Loop” set to music by Teo Macero.

“A bus route through New York’s patchwork of ethnic neighborhoods was the inspiration for this dance,” says May, “and jazz was the aural equivalent of the alienation and social schisms Anna was exploring.”

Finch’s work features the movement style and technique of Merce Cunningham, one of America’s most innovative contemporary choreographers. Entitled “Open House,” this abstract group piece is set to music composed by Joseph Koykkar, the Dance Program’s music director.

Other works include:

• “Watering the All Stars” choreographed by professor Jin-Wen Yu, is set to the music of Perez Prado.
• “Passer-By,” choreographed by Yu, was commissioned by Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in New York City.

“Glyphic References,” featuring choreography by Anna Nassif, professor emeritus of dance, is set to music composed by Koykkar. This new three-part multimedia work is based in part on Nassif’s travels and study of the Mayan culture. Part 2 and Part 3 were commissioned by the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts in Education.

Tickets: $12/public, $8/students and senior citizens, Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office (608) 262-2201, or at the door. For more information, call (608) 262-1691.