Purchase Dance Company

On May 24 through May 27 at 7:30pm, the Purchase Dance Company performs in two programs dedicated to the memory of Trisha Brown, a pioneer of postmodern dance, who influenced generations of artists. Members of the Purchase Dance Company are selected from the college’s highly competitive Conservatory of Dance BFA program at Purchase College, SUNY, which, according to The New York Times is “one of the country’s most highly regarded dance conservatories.” The programs showcase the dynamic range of the company’s professional caliber students and reflect the Conservatory’s stature as a leading center for world-class dance training.
The Company will perform Trisha Brown’s landmark work Glacial Decoy (1979), which relies on sudden and unexpected shifts of phrase. More than a nostalgic piece, the work is an important indicator of Brown’s large scale, theatrically complex work that would follow as she crystallized her personal choreographic language. Also on this program, award winning choreographer and Purchase College alumnus Doug Varone’s MASS (2016), a dynamic movement-based inquiry into the personal act of prayer drawing on Varone’s own curiosity about traditional and secularly spontaneous uses of prayer. Completely unreligious in nature, this abstract work questions our acts of coping, realization, choice and all the expectations attached to it. It was created for Varone’s own company of eight performers along with twelve students, and premiered on November 5, 2016 in the Performing Arts Center as part of Doug Varone and Dancers 30th anniversary season.

Additionally, the Company will present a fresh re-staging of acclaimed contemporary ballet choreographer Norbert De La Cruz III’s work Talsik (2015), a virtuosic pointe work created in collaboration with San Francisco based composer, Ben Juodvalkis. Talsik translates in Tagalog as the leap of a spark, a sudden launch, a splash, or an abrupt flight into air. The combination of challenging pointe technique alongside a thrilling synthesized score, enabled De La Cruz to create an intricate flow of space that explores quick rates of change within relationships. Finally, award winning Purchase College graduating senior Jessica Smith will make her NYC debut, and present the engaging rehtegot yats stel (2016).

In addition to the program, three graduating seniors will perform solos choreographed or re-staged for them by guest choreographers. Sierra Herrera will perform DARN RITE by Ana Maria Lucaciu, Claire Deane will perform Scherzo 300 by Deborah Lohse, and Jacqueline Calle will perform a study for STORY/ by Bill T. Jones.

Lastly, an exhibition, entitled Interpretations, will display a selection of powerful photography by Purchase College junior Joy-Marie Thompson. The exhibit pays homage to historic images of African American dancers by recreating the original images in order to introduce them to a new audience. Among the images is Thompson’s interpretation of Tseng Kwong Chi’s famous photo from 1982 featuring New York Live Arts Artistic Director Bill T. Jones painted by Keith Haring.

Program 1 (5/24 and 5/27)

Glacial Decoy (1979) – Trisha Brown
A study for STORY/ (2013) – Bill T. Jones
Mass (2016) – Doug Varone
rehtegot yats stel (2016) – Jessica Smith
Scherzo 300 2017 – Deborah Lohse
Talsik (2015) – Norbert De La Cruz III

Program 2 (5/25 and 5/26)

Glacial Decoy (1979) – Trisha Brown
DARN RITE (2017) – Ana Maria Lucaciu
Mass (2016) – Doug Varone
rehtegot yats stel (2016) – Jessica Smith
Scherzo 300 2017 – Deborah Lohse