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Thursday, May 28, 2015

In Context: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet



Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet returns to BAM for its final performances June 3—6. Context is everything, so get even closer to the production with this curated selection of articles, videos, and original pieces related to the show. Once you've seen it, help us keep the conversation going by telling us what you thought below, or on social media using #CedarLakeDance.


Program Notes



Read

Writer Susan Reiter discusses Cedar Lake's ambitious BAM program, with a focus on Richard Siegal's My Generation.

About the Company:


About the Choreographers:

  • About Richard Siegal (TheBakery.org)
    Despite winning a Bessie Award, the intrepid choreographer's work has rarely been seen in New York,
  • About Jiří Kylián (Jiří Kylián.com)
    Learn more about the choreographer of Indigo Rose (Jun 4 & 6).
  • About Crystal Pite (KiddPivot.org)
    Pite danced with William Forsythe's Ballet Frankfurt among other companies before becoming associate choreographer of Cedar Lake.
  • About Jo Strømgren (JSkompani.no)
    The choreographer of Necessity, Again is currently the associate choreographer of the Norwegian National BAllet.
  • About Johan Inger (JohanInger.com)
    Rain Dogs, performed at BAM Jun 3 & 5, is among the Dutch choreographer's works.


Look & Listen

Cedar Lake: The Repertoire (CedarLakeDance.com)
Sample clips from the company's repertoire.

Crystal Pite: Conflict is Vital (YouTube)
Says Pite: "[I want audiences to] recognize their own experiences...translated into fierce physical language."

Jiří Kylián Interviewed (ABC.net.au)
The Czech choreographer discusses composer Janacek, revisiting early works, and much more.


Now Your Turn...

So what did you think? Which program(s) did you see? Likes? Dislikes? Surprises? Tell us what's on your mind in the comments below, and on social media using #CedarLakeDance.

7 comments:

  1. What a wonderful evening of dance. I had only recently discovered this tremendously talented company and it saddens me that they are folding. I understand this company was founded and funded by a Walmart heiress, and that this troupe actually had health and dental insurance (laudable) and yet they were fined for mistakes onstage (seriously?) so I can only guess what caused the company to shutter operations. I saw Program B and the highlights for me were the section of "Indigo Rose" set to John Cage music (thrilling use of shadow) and the whimsical "Necessity, Again" (with a table dance I will not soon forget.) The whole evening's performances (including the creatively lighted "Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue") were fabulous and I can only hope that somehow a miracle happens and the singular modern ballet company known as Cedar Lake somehow rises from the ashes.

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  2. Wonderful performance - Program B was certainly among the best dance productions we have seen in the last 20 years at BAM.

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  3. A great evening of dance (program B)! "Indigo Rose" was electrifying, exciting, and quirky. I loved the "Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue" -- very moving; somehow physical images and movement created deep emotion -- this is why I love dance! Very interesting choreography and terrific dancing for the whole evening. (Sorry, the 3rd piece, "Necessity, Again", with the paper flying everywhere, unfortunately had moments that reminded me of doing my taxes (!) and I found some of the sexual stuff creepy, even though I don't think that was the intent. So, not my favorite even though there were wonderful parts to it.) Overall -- wow! I sure hope this is not the end for this company. If they survive, I will make a point of seeing them again.

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  4. Best dance performance I've seen in years. Exciting and moving. Beautiful dancers, unique choreography. So sad I just discovered them and this is their last run.

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  5. I really enjoyed the company last night. I am going tonight and I am excited and sad. I see this is a farewell tour. They are dynamite. I wish you all the best in the future. I am grateful that I was able to experience Cedat Lake.

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  6. I can't believe how amazing these two programs were. I loved them ALL and they all had different aspects to them. A treat for your eyes and ears. Complex yet simple. Movement yet still. Playful yet serious. A ton of movement or none at all. Sometimes a single performer, sometimes everyone at once. I love the variety of skills and movements and diversity of the dancers. My Generation was a personal favorite and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I saw it. So complex that I would need to watch it a few times to really absorb it all. But what a shame that we won't be able to see them all in action again. I just got introduced to them at the very end of their ride together. I'm so glad I was able to experience it and yet so disappointed that I can't ever see them all together again.

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