PHILADELPHIA — The Bryn Mawr College Performing Arts Series presents Susan Rethorst: Inquiring Mind/Choreographic Mind, an exploration into the artistic process of acclaimed New York choreographer and dancer Susan Rethorst, a recent Philadelphia transplant. Rethorst’s work has been called “meticulously made, sensually satisfying and thrumming with possibilities” by The New York Times. Residency events begin December 8, 2012 and culminate in performances February 22–24, 2013.
Susan Rethorst: Inquiring Mind/Choreographic Mind kicks off with Susan Rethorst and Other Voices on Saturday, December 8. Joined by a chemist and two neuroscientists, Rethorst will explore the nature of creativity in an experiential workshop geared toward non-dancers.
In the new year, Bryn Mawr College welcomes Big Dance Theatre and choreographer David Gordon to take part in Wreckings. On January 5 and 26 respectively, the public will be given a rare opportunity to watch as these consummate artists “wreck” Rethorst’s new material—demonstrating how these collaborations can be both an instructive and influential part of the creative process. Describing the experience of her first “wrecking” with Tere O’Connor in NYC, Rethorst wrote, “He entered into the rehearsal process and looked at the piece as though it was to become his from that moment forward, changing it to his liking, imposing his own aesthetic with complete disregard for my intentions. I then took back the rehearsals, [it was] akin to culture shock; disorienting, the center of gravity shifted.”
Inquiring Mind/Choreographic Mind concludes in February with the Philadelphia premiere of Behold Bold Sam Dog and the world premiere of 208 East Broadway Part 5, as well as on-going opportunities for audiences to connect with the Bessie Award-winning artist’s theories and approach to dance making. On Saturday, February 23, Danspace Project’s Judy Hussie-Taylor will curate a day of dance focusing on Rethorst’s career with conversations, installations and other events that will take over both theaters in Bryn Mawr’s Goodhart Hall, as well as an exhibition space, and includes a post-show discussion with Claudia LaRocco, frequent contributor to the New York Times.
UPCOMING RESIDENCY EVENTS SCHEDULE & INFORMATION
Tuesday February 19, 2:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Master Class in Composition with Vicky Shick
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Pembroke Dance Studio.
Reservations requested: reservations [at] brynmawr [dot] edu or 610-526-5210
Wednesday, February 20, TBA
Open Rehearsal for208 East Broadway, Part 5
Location: Bryn Mawr College, McPherson Auditorium in Goodhart Hall
Thursday, February 21, 4:00 pm – 5:30 p.m.
Master Classin Technique with Jodi Melnick
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Pembroke Dance Studio
Reservations requested: reservations [at] brynmawr [dot] edu or 610-526-5210
Friday, February 22, 8 p.m.
Behold Bold Sam Dog
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Hepburn Teaching Theater in Goodhart Hall
Saturday, February 23
Day of Dance at Bryn Mawr College in Goodhart Hall
12:30 - 2 pm, How to Get Started Elizabeth Streb and Claudia La Rocco, Hepburn Teaching Theater
3 pm, 208 East Broadway Part 5 (premiere), McPherson Auditorium Stage
4 - 7 pm, dance/film installations by Susan Rethorst, McPherson Auditorium
2-3pm, 4 – 8 pm Exhibition, Glass lobby
5 - 6:30 pm How to Get Started Anne Waldman and Douglas Dunn, Hepburn Teaching Theater
5:45 – 7:45 Dinner, Common Room
8pm Behold Bold Sam Dog, Hepburn Teaching Theater
9pm Philly Performance Club led by Claudia La Rocco, frequent contibutor to The New York Times, Common Room
Sunday, February 24, 3 p.m
208 East Broadway Part 5
Location: Bryn Mawr College, McPherson Auditorium in Goodhart Hall
March TBA
Wreckings/Coda with selected area dance companies
Bryn Mawr’s Campus is located at 101 N. Merion Ave. All special events are free. General admission for performances is $20, $18 for seniors, $10 for students with ID and Dance Pass holders, and $5 for children under 12. Day pass for events on Saturday, February 23 is $45 and includes dinner.
Tickets and information: brynmawr.edu/arts/series.html or 610-526-5210.
ABOUT SUSAN RETHORST
Rethorst began her study of modern dance at an early age under Erika Thimey, a contemporary of Mary Wigman. She then studied with Judith Dunn at Bennington College, laying the groundwork for her artistic sensibility. Rethorst has been creating dances out of New York City since 1975 and teaching choreography while creating work throughout Europe, Scandinavia, and the U.S. since 1995. She has lectured at Dartington College in the U.K., Arizona State University, New York University, and the Amsterdam School of the Arts.
Rethorst was among the first to receive a New York Dance and Performance Award (‘Bessie’) for Outstanding Achievement in 1985. In further recognition of her choreographic achievements, she has been the recipient of many grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (1979-1989, 1992-1995), as well as support from the Creative Artist’s Public Service Program (1979), the New York State Council on the Arts (1979-1983), the Foundation for Contemporary Performance (1988 and 2003), the New York Foundation for the Arts (1989,1993), the Ernie Pagnano Memorial Fund (1991), the Joyce Mertz Gilmore Foundation (1992), and a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1999). In 2008, Rethorst received her second Bessie for 208 East Broadway: Suitcase Dreams and in 2010 she received the prestigious Alpert Award.
In 2005, Rethorst started a summer program devoted to the study of choreography in Pennsylvania co-sponsored by Wilson College: Studio Upson in Pennsylvania (SUPA). A mid-career retrospective of her work, Susan Rethorst: Retro(intro)spective, was presented at Danspace in 2011, and her book A Choreographic Mind: Autobodygraphical Writings was published by the Theater Academy of Helsinki in April of 2012.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This presentation of Susan Rethorst: Inquiring Mind/Choreographic Mind is part of Susan Rethorst/ Moving in Philadelphia 2013-2014, which will continue through a second collaboration with Philadelphia’s Group Motion and Philadelphia Dance Projects. Support for these projects has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through Dance Advance.
