how blue is my ocean?
we had a final rehearsal for daniel burkholder’s piece, “my ocean is never blue,” on sunday. it was surprisingly great! i’ve been enjoying the ‘big group’ rehearsals, which incorporate some 20 dancers, quite a bit, but haven’t felt fully engaged in the piece somehow. but sunday’s rehearsal really brought things together for me. maybe it’s always like that when the choreographer is developing the piece at the same time as the dancers are learning it, that it only comes together at the end…anyway, it was a very satisfying rehearsal. the movement is all improvised–within a structure, of course–but the overall architecture of the piece is also improvised, so that the order of specific sections is random and will be different during different showings. what i found was that incorporating improv into the piece on a larger scale meant that i had to stay active and alert during all of the piece, not just during the times i was dancing. even when i was standing at the side, watching, i had to remain engaged so that i could enter at any time. the result was that i felt like part of the piece, even from the side. it kept me performing–and present, more importantly–throughout the piece, which i liked a lot.
daniel also allows for a fair amount of un-structured improv during the transitions between various sections, which i absolutely loved. it’s scary–we’re going to be onstage, not fully knowing what’s going on or who’s supposed to be where–but also quite quite exhilarating. i’m excited for the performance.
The info:
The PlayGround @ Dance Place
See “My ocean is never blue” and other repertory
Exploring our personal, environmental and political relationships to water, Daniel Burkholder/The PlayGround presents the theatrical premiere of “My ocean is never blue” April 27-29, 2007 @ Dance Place. Featuring over 18 performers, live music and video projection, “My ocean is never blue” focuses on one of the most important issues facing the world today. Also on the program Director Daniel Burkholder will perform 3 duets: “unmapped” with musician Jonathan Matis, “together/apart (we go each our way)” with Stefanie Quinones Bass, and “Duet for 3″ with his wife, Andrea Burkholder.
For more about “My ocean is never blue” access our ongoing blog about the creation and performance process at
http://improvarts.alkem.org
Daniel Burkholder/The PlayGround @ Dance Place
April 27*-29, 2007
Friday & Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 7pm
Tickets: $7-$20*
To order tickets go to www.danceplace.org
or call 202-269-1600
*Speical Fundraiser for Water for People
Friday, April 27 @ 8pm
Tickets: $20-$25
Water for People helps the most impoverished people worldwide improve their quality of life by supporting sustainable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene projects.