Philadelphia Dance Projects to Present World Premiere of New Work by Susan Rethorst, 1/16-19

By: Oct. 17, 2013
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Philadelphia Dance Projects opens its 2014 season by presenting perceiving the 'just this'-ness, a world premiere by New York choreographer Susan Rethorst, whose work has been called "meticulously made, sensually satisfying and thrumming with possibilities" by The New York Times. Produced and performed by Group Motion, Rethorst's piece engages with Artistic Director Manfred Fischbeckand dancers Lindsay Browning, Eleanor Goudie-Averill, Gregory Holt, David Konyk, Lesya Popil and Hedy Wyland. Performances take place January 16 - 19, 2014 at the Arts Bank on South Broad Street.

Perceiving the 'just this'-ness reflects on the unique movement potential of the individual and embraces life's daily routines. In Rethorst's words from her essay Dailiness, the work is about "finding each moment, holding the moment until it is perceived, keeping the accumulation of moments until something is happening, something starts to kick in - the dance begins to squeak a little interest at you."

The piece is the culmination of Susan Rethorst: Moving in Philadelphia, Rethorst's yearlong residency in the city that included open workshops, special events and new works meant to bring the scope of her artistry to the Philadelphia community. As part of this residency, an Informance will be held on Thursday, December 5 for the public to observe selections of the work in progress and hear a panel discussion featuring Rethorst, Fischbeck, Danspace Project Executive Director Judy Hussie-Taylor, choreographer Vicki Shick and co-director Megan Bridge, with DanceUP Executive Director Lois Welk as moderator. Rethorst will be signing copies of her book A Choreographic Mind after the event.

"I find work with a group of dancers unknown to me to be a particularly interesting challenge," says Rethorst of her Philadelphia residency. "I am required to develop new strategies to work with dancers who may have a different background/set of goals/expectations from my own. This demands new awareness of what I want and what I take for granted in subtle ways. Daily-ness is embraced over magic and spectacle, informed by a profound acceptance of the body and its knowledge."

Adds Terry Fox, executive director of Philadelphia Dance Projects (PDP): "Rethorst reminds us that all the various and simple ways we move can be viewed as dance or a dance. And that this is worth contemplation philosophically."

Informance for perceiving the "just this"-ness, including preview and book signing, will be held on Thursday, December 5 at 7 p.m. at the Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street. Tickets are $5-10. Performances are Thursday, January 16 through Saturday, January 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 19 at 3 p.m. at the Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. in Philadelphia. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at DanceBoxOffice.com. For more information, please visit PhilaDanceProjects.org or call 215-387-9895.



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