Tradition suggests that on a first wedding anniversary a couple
should celebrate with the exchange of paper goods. But World Arts
and Cultures master’s candidate Nehara Kalev and spouse C.
Derrick Jones are not your average couple.
They will celebrate their first anniversary with a multimedia
performance titled “The Wedding Journey: Paper,” which
will be performed at Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater on Nov. 4 and
5.
Inspired by their first year of marriage, the performance
explores their life together post-wedding. Kalev and Jones dissect
their everyday life through various mediums, including dance,
music, video and dialogue.
Jones explained that this piece is about the truth of their
relationship. “We want to bring out the conflict, show a less
idealistic romance, expose the daily things that get under your
skin,” he said.
“Paper” could essentially be seen as a sequel to
another of their compositions ““ last year’s “The
Wedding Journey: Vows in Midair” ““ that focused on the
performance aspect of their marriage ceremony.
In fact, the couple considers their wedding to have been their
first show together. Jones said they connected to the pageantry of
a wedding and thought they could best express their feelings
through dance.
But Kalev and Jones aimed beyond the standard crash course in
ballroom dancing associated with weddings, instead choreographing
an aerial dance spectacular in the style of Cirque du Soleil.
In their current performance they also examine the shortcomings
of their marriage. “This performance is about how we are
falling into rhyme or not with each other,” said Jones.
The artists met as students in the WAC department in 1998, in
the very theater in which they will perform “Paper.”
The performance is part of the WAC department’s MFA Upstart
series, which allows graduate students to finish their studies with
a performance. “Paper” will serve as Kalev’s
final step to a master’s degree.
Kalev and Jones draw on their diverse backgrounds as individuals
and artists for their work about life and marriage.
“The strength of our union is through the embracing of our
individuality,” said Jones.
Artistic differences may sometimes slow down the rehearsal
process, but Kalev and Jones enjoy working together. Jones sees the
creation of “Paper” as a career highlight.
“This is the pinnacle (of our artistic partnership). We
are equal collaborators. We have different aesthetics, but we
embrace the conflict of daily life and work,” he said.
The unique qualities of each partner often affect the ways in
which the couple approaches the creative process.
“We come at the creative process from different angles.
I’m “˜do, do, do,’ while he is “˜think,
think, think,'” said Kalev.
Although they might conceptualize their work in different
manners, Kalev says they ultimately have a superior result when
they work together.
“Our collaboration leads to a better artistic
product,” she said.
One of the most striking elements of the performance is the
couple’s daring aerial acrobatics. The piece has a
distinctive circus-like mentality that distinguishes Kalev and
Jones from other artists.
This fearlessness stems from the couple’s history in
modern dance companies and their strong trust in each other.
Kalev and Jones use aerial dance as a way of visualizing their
union.
“We have trust on so many levels, between us and then
within oneself,” Jones said. “Components of our
relationship are magnified through our work.”