Post by deanna on Mar 24, 2011 12:40:03 GMT -7
By Kathleen Clawson
Students from UNM’s Department of
Theatre & Dance perform alongside
dancers from the world-famous Martha
Graham Dance Company in “Panorama”
on Friday, March 25, at 8 p.m. in Popejoy
Hall. The restaging of this historic piece is
an opportunity to build bridges between the
community, high schools, the university and
the professional dance world.
Founded in 1926, the Martha Graham
Company is the oldest dance company in the
United States. Regarded as one of the foremost
pioneers in modern dance, Graham was
the only dancer named one of the 100 most
important innovators of the 20th century by
Time magazine.
“Panorama” was originally choreographed
by Graham for dancers in her professional
company and for student dancers at Bennington
College in 1935. It is an example of
the mass dance movement integral to modern
dance of the 1930s.
“Panorama” has been described as Graham’s
commentary on the state of the world at that
time, a world in economic depression and on
the brink of World War II. It has also been
described as a call to action and a powerful
statement of human capability in the face
overwhelming social challenges.
Speaking about the genesis of this project,
Assistant Professor Mary Anne Newhall said,
“In the summer of 2010, I restaged an historic
dance work for the Martha Graham Dance
Company in New York. During that time,
the artistic director of the Graham Company
approached me about setting ‘Panorama’ on
student dancers at the University of New
Mexico. I knew this would be a remarkable
opportunity for our students.”
The project required an intensive rehearsal
schedule and demanded professionalism
from all involved. The cast of almost 40 dancers
come from UNM, Keshet, Albuquerque
High School, and the Public Academy of the
Performing Arts.
Undergraduate Marissa Manion said, “It’s
wonderful to watch such an influential piece
of history unfold before us and to really be
able to appreciate every aspect of the process.”
Master of Fine Arts candidate Jacqueline Garcia
said, “We are discovering what it takes as
dancers to convey the deeper meanings embedded
in the vocabulary of the choreography.”
Tickets are available at UNM ticket offices
at the UNM Bookstore and the Pit, by calling
(505) 925-5858 or at unmtickets.com.
Students from UNM’s Department of
Theatre & Dance perform alongside
dancers from the world-famous Martha
Graham Dance Company in “Panorama”
on Friday, March 25, at 8 p.m. in Popejoy
Hall. The restaging of this historic piece is
an opportunity to build bridges between the
community, high schools, the university and
the professional dance world.
Founded in 1926, the Martha Graham
Company is the oldest dance company in the
United States. Regarded as one of the foremost
pioneers in modern dance, Graham was
the only dancer named one of the 100 most
important innovators of the 20th century by
Time magazine.
“Panorama” was originally choreographed
by Graham for dancers in her professional
company and for student dancers at Bennington
College in 1935. It is an example of
the mass dance movement integral to modern
dance of the 1930s.
“Panorama” has been described as Graham’s
commentary on the state of the world at that
time, a world in economic depression and on
the brink of World War II. It has also been
described as a call to action and a powerful
statement of human capability in the face
overwhelming social challenges.
Speaking about the genesis of this project,
Assistant Professor Mary Anne Newhall said,
“In the summer of 2010, I restaged an historic
dance work for the Martha Graham Dance
Company in New York. During that time,
the artistic director of the Graham Company
approached me about setting ‘Panorama’ on
student dancers at the University of New
Mexico. I knew this would be a remarkable
opportunity for our students.”
The project required an intensive rehearsal
schedule and demanded professionalism
from all involved. The cast of almost 40 dancers
come from UNM, Keshet, Albuquerque
High School, and the Public Academy of the
Performing Arts.
Undergraduate Marissa Manion said, “It’s
wonderful to watch such an influential piece
of history unfold before us and to really be
able to appreciate every aspect of the process.”
Master of Fine Arts candidate Jacqueline Garcia
said, “We are discovering what it takes as
dancers to convey the deeper meanings embedded
in the vocabulary of the choreography.”
Tickets are available at UNM ticket offices
at the UNM Bookstore and the Pit, by calling
(505) 925-5858 or at unmtickets.com.