‘Heart’ delivers message in modern dance
Self-sufficiency, power of women conveyed via historical dance
pieces
By Elizabeth Bull
Daily Bruin Contributor
Janet Eilber, co-director of the American Dance Repertory
Company, remembers spending hours in a studio with dance legend
Martha Graham perfecting her "Lamentations" and learning a little
something about modern dance.
"In the studio Martha taught me that form goes with substance to
create dance," Eilber says. "The dance ‘Lamentations’ is done with
a piece of stretchy cloth that I pull and wrench around my body,
like grief wrenches inside the body. I had this form, this piece of
fabric I had to stretch and bend – but in those early rehearsals
Martha gave me all of the substance, all of the images, and the
depth of feeling."
These images and emotions will come together as Eilber, Bonnie
Homsey and their company perform pieces choreographed by Graham and
other women dance pioneers at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall this
weekend.
The performance, "Heart of Woman," features eight solo dances
and five professional dancers. Both Eilber and Homsey have danced
with Graham and all of the other members, who are in their mid-40s,
have trained with dance greats from Alvin Ailey to Mikhail
Baryshnikov.
Started in 1994, the company seeks to reveal the works of female
choreographers and bring their visions to the community and to
students.
"There is a strong message in all of them about woman defining
herself," Homsey says. "There is a heroic quality that underlies
all of the dances. I think there’s also ideas of women’s
self-sufficiency and endurance.
"Through our bodies, we are showing students the power and
timelessness of these dances," she says.
And though the pieces were all created between 1914 and 1948,
Eilber claims they are ageless and says they still give insight
into the lives of modern women.
"These pieces are vital today," Eilber says, "many of them could
have been choreographed yesterday – they are not dusty antiques. I
hope that students will recognize the power of this artform – the
communication of dance."
The company also explores the history of the choreographers –
their roles in being the first women to delve into the world of
modern dance. "We wanted to show the many aspects of women through
the message that these revolutionary choreographers delivered,"
Eilber says.
"Before these women, dance had been emotional but really only
decorative. These choreographers were able to make political,
religious and emotional statements that were revolutionary and
important. Considering this was the 1920s and ’30s, for women to
have this kind of voice was incredible. The weight of that
importance is represented in our program."
And though the works are important to the history of dance, most
of the works the program plans to present are rare pieces which are
difficult to actually see live today. In fact, their company is the
only one beside the Martha Graham Dance Company that can perform
Graham’s works.
"For students, particularly those in the world arts and cultures
department, connections to this choreography have only been through
textbooks or maybe the rare bit of film," Homsey says. "We’re
actually showing them the entire dance."
Using works by Graham, Mary Wignam, Sophie Maslow, Jane Dudley,
Joyce Trisler, Eleanor King and Anna Sokolow, the performance
combines the artistic talent of many different female
choreographers but essentially creates one message – the power of
women.
"Each of the eight pieces approach the meaning of the ‘Heart of
Woman’ from very different perspectives," Homsey says.
"Some come in with a humorous approach, some are spiritual, some
are very primitive, and ‘The Dust Bowl Ballad’ comes in with a
point of view from the heartland.
"Even the music ranges from Woody Guthrie to original piano
scores to down-home harmonica and washboard music in ‘Harmonica
Breakdown,’"she says.
And while each piece uses original techniques to explore a
woman’s psyche, the company hopes to reach, not only women, but a
truly diverse audience.
"Even though the solos have been choreographed by women there is
a universality about the messages," Homsey says.
"I mean, within the company, the five of us are very culturally
diverse. The fact that we come together to perform, bringing our
personal life experiences and our own ethnic backgrounds, is
something we want to share with the UCLA campus.
"I believe the dance community is just a microcosm of a larger
global community and it shares the issues that the whole world
faces. So, if we can somehow stimulate more dialogue in a positive
way I think we will succeed what we set out to do," she says.
DANCE: "Heart of Woman" at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall on Saturday
evening, March 16 at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
CenterStage lectures begin one hour before the performance.
Students pay $9 with a valid I.D. For more info, call (310)
825-2101.
"These (women) choreographers were able to make political,
religious and emotional statements that were revolutionary and
important … (in) the 1920’s and ’30s."
Janet Eilber
American Dance Repertory
American Repertory Dance Company
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