Join us for an Evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word!
Adams Company Dance presents, Lonestar: A Showing of Dance, Film shorts, and Spoken Word
Nine exquisite performers explore the universal need for oneness, and the capacity for the human spirit to endure. Soloists will be highlighted in four premieres, as well as in gems from ACD’s repertoire. Now in their 34th year making dances, ACD will feature an elite fleet of artists including guests from the companies of Alvin Ailey, Limón, and Carolyn Dorfman Dance. These poignant films, and emotionally charged dances, and texts concern deep matters of the heart, and are poised to create a sense of spiritual theater. The RT: 90 minutes
Adams Company Dance Presents, “Lonestar,” at the 14th Street Y on 3/26 at 7p!
Join us for an evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word that will feature 6 artists who will perform in four premieres, and some favorite pieces from ACD’s repertoire and filmography. Based on the themes of solitariness, this showing juxtaposes raw power with sensitive artistry.
If you’ve kept up with my blog posts, you’ll see that a month ago, that this all was a blur of an idea, but with the passing of each day, the content evolved, the cast came forth, and viola, Lonestar was born. As with many of my productions that originated from my inimitable “Jiffy-mix” style — just add water and stir, there’s an element of risk, but always impassioned!!
“Solely United” was a pure experiment in 2023. James A. Pierce, III, and Mark Willis came together to award me a gift that keeps on giving. A film short embracing the human spirit at its core, that I can continue to watch whenever I want. Woven among three sections of poetry, and featuring spoken word and dance — this poignant, experimental interplay between two performers, invites you into a mystical journey of darkness and light.
Our film footage was shot on February 2nd, 2023 at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, by Joel Stephen — a longtime partner with ACD. And, with the magic of my editor, Val Gomez Acosta, we whipped together this rare experiment pulling levers, in a couple of dozen hours. The day at the theater was another one of my Jiffy-Mixes, where when all was said and done, we probably were working only 2.5 hours.
Joel Stephen
Val Gomez Acosta was one of those rare finds. My former editor from my last project, Tareek Jones, had gotten a new job, and was unavailable right when I needed to start my work editing. I lucked out finding Val — a former graduate from Yale, who responded to my inquiry. I knew right away that we’d be a match. Without the genius of the editing of Val’s technically superior work, this film never would have gotten off the ground. From our shoot date up until May, I was consumed with an impending move. It all coincided where the film was finished within a day of the moving truck arriving! Our magic together worked! Our YouTube LIVE premiere was fit into a chaotic time in my life, and yet, we pulled it off in May. It deserves much more attention than what I was able to give it, but perhaps in the near future, we can revisit another go at it, in a new state of mind, and virtually, in a new state!
Val Gomez Acosta
I owe a debt of gratitude to James and Mark for trusting me with this huge experiment. As they are both pros, they dug their heels in and brought out the best of their abilities, and gave me the most wonderful gift from 2023~
Mark Willis & James A. Pierce, III
I invite you to see their work, if you haven’t seen it yet. I’m sure they’ll move you in many ways! Cheers to 2023 being all about experimentation, finding great talent, and transitioning!
Join us tonight for the premiere of our new film short, “Solely United.” This film short embraces the human spirit at its core. Woven amongst three sections of poetry, and featuring spoken word and dance — this poignant, experimental interplay between two performers, invites you into a mystical journey of darkness and light.
Our film footage was shot on February 2nd, 2023 at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, and with the magic of my editor, Val Gomez Acosta, we whipped together this rare experiment pulling levers, in a couple of dozen hours. The day at the theater was another one of my Jiffy-Mixes, where when all was said and done, we probably were working only 2.5 hours.
In the decades long career path as a choreographer, February has always been a fertile month for creative projects. The fact that it’s my birthday month invigorates me, and some deep push from the universe seems to happen without my need to coerce it into happening. This season, a new solo set to the incomparable Nicole Renaud’s music, as well as the creation of a new film short, are on the docket. I’m excited to share with you a little sneak preview of things to come.
I was lucky, yet again, to be given the permission to use the music of the exquisitely talented singer, composer, and accordion player, Nicole Renaud. Her pure soprano voice and deep passion for reaching into my heart with her melody, made her piece, Le Bleu, the perfect match to my new solo, Fall Away. Nicole’s French flair is highlighted by her elaborate costumes, often equipped with unique lighting that illuminates her statuesque elegance. I was able to see her perform live during a Christmas show some years ago, and I’ll never forget how she captivated the audience with her unique display of artistry.
Nicole Renaud
Dancer, Mark Willis , gave a mature performance of his solo the day we did our showing in Brooklyn at the Triskelion Arts Theater. He seemed to have found the core of what the music was expressing, and what I was relaying as we were creating the piece. He’s a natural mover, and has a sensibility to use his technique to the fullest extent of the movement. Fall Away is about the shedding and letting go of that which no longer serves us. With Nicole’s music and Mark’s dancing, it felt like a symbiotic telling of a familiar life theme.
Next up was our shoot for my new film short with James A. Pierce, III, and Mark, entitled, Solely United. This experiment, using spoken word, dance, and a dose of theatricality, was shot by longtime cameraman, and editor, Joel Stephen. He was quick to maneuver his way around the stage, and capture the fusion of activity that took place in just an about an hour and a half. James is not only a dancer, but such a physical actor, because of his dance background. He learned all his lines ahead of time, making my life easier, as it sped up the process of filming each scene. After a brief rehearsal with the two of them prior to our theater day, they ended up looking like they had been working together for years. They utilized improv within the framework of what I had choreographed, and had me standing back in awe of their genuine inclinations. James hit his marks and dug into the material as if the words were coming out of his body. My husband, Don, was acting line producer, and without his help, I’d be lost. The tech went well due to the artistry and talent of Anna Wotring. She rolled with all of my flying by the seat of my pants style! With all the production elements percolating on high, this Winter project went off without a hitch — down to the choice parking spot we got right in front of the theater! Stay tuned for our YouTube premieres coming soon. Now, back to the editing room!
James on deckMark ready to goDon, Mark, Anna, Me, Joel, James
Working toward a new film and creating a new solo has been on the docket. Today, all will be a bit wild and crazy as we shift our senses for a film shoot. Dancer, Mark Willis, has been learning a new solo, “Fall Away,” which he dances beautifully with his whole heart and soul. Nicole Renaud’s music will highlight his piece — stay tuned for more on her in my next blog. As for the film, I’m excited to break new boundaries and invite in spoken word to add to the mix with one of my long-time dancers and consummate performer, James A. Pierce, III. James has been acting up a storm, and when last I saw him perform in Martha Clarke’s, “God’s Fool,” I was wowed by his vocals and acting ability. This film will incorporate all of his and Mark’s talents — an ambitious undertaking, but with the Triskelion Arts theater as my security blanket, I hope to bring all the elements together as we roll around on our playground! Stay tuned for more on this project~
Tonight James A. Pierce, III & Heidi Sutherland perform the duet “Willing to Catch,” in a redux premiere on YouTube.
Tonight at 8:30p I will share the same piece I shared last week, but with different dancers performing.
About the piece:
“Willing to Catch,” was made for a residency at Temple University back in 2017. Two couples learned this duet back then, and one duo went on to perform it in Philadelphia, while the understudies performed it in NYC, at the CBG Dance Fall Festival. The music chosen then required a $500 fee every six months for me to share online. Well, that simply wasn’t possible, so with the help of a composer I found by the name of Jurrivh, and the ability to purchase a reasonably priced license, I am now able to share thiswork with you, displaying both couples with new music edited to the performances. Cheating? I guess, but art gives us the allowance to do what we want, right? Ha!
This is my yearly opportunity to share our piece with you, Undisclosed Recipients: A Tribute to MLK, Jr. The power of Martin Luther King’s words are as needed today, as they were during the Civil Rights Movement. We are losing grip of justice and equality in our country, and it is vital that we remember the “dream!”
Please enjoy this dance tribute to Dr. King on this auspicious day~
Watch a replay of an Adams Company Dance favorite: “Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty, “ where a tug-of-war of musical chairs, meets a folk-frenzied ballet, in this trio made up of world class dancers performed at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in 2012. When so many of you have said, “sorry I missed your show,” we’ve made it easy for you to catch up!
RT: 12 minutes in length
See the dance here:
Dancers: Catherine Borrone, Milan Misko, & James A. Pierce, III.
There’s a fine veil between our physical and spiritual lives. Much of what is created in the studio is a product of what, I believe, is being downloaded from a higher source. From the rough, scrappy Jiffy-Mixes I create, to the finer works that have had time to age a bit, the process of allowing movement to come through me without too much deliberation has been my joy as a choreographer. 2017’s political climate wrestled with my spirit– I know I’m not alone here! As with most artists, I took to the studio and used the deep feelings from within to mix-up a variety of movement, inspired by our country’s state of conflict.
The timing of the year was filled with fits and starts. With many obstacles hitting me outside of my dance life, it was a slow start to organize events. Honoring my qualitative time with dance has become more important than quantity, so taking my time was part of the rhythm. The quality of dancers I used this year, some new and some veterans, sparked new frequencies of energy that started after my June Master Class. Not only did I love the experience teaching at Ripley Grier Studios, but I was so thrilled to have had a live accompanist, William Ruiz, to lead us through the hot, sweaty, rhythmic class — a high time for me, and per the feedback, a high time for the dancers, too!
Dream Spell was a highlight for me in August, when in just two-hours-plus, we created another one for the archives in our Jiffy-Mix series. The dancers (several chosen from the Master Class), were so inspiring, and that process of higher- source downloading, definitely assisted me through the day! New artists also appeared that day with our videographer and filmmaker, juicing-up the energy in the room even more! Joel Stephens created a film about the process of our day, entitled, “Ebb and Flow.” With music by collaborating artist, Nicole Renaud, it was pure energy in motion, filmed with an eye for innovation. Our day together also raised $750 for Peace Community Chapel’s SummerStock Fund, where donations went to: Bridgeport Rescue Mission (Bridgeport); Beth-El Center (Milford); New Covenant Center (Stamford); and Food Bank For NYC. Thank you to all our donors!
“Willing to Catch” was a special time for me in the Fall, working with four amazing artists: Claire Hancock, Paulo Gutierrez, James A. Pierce, III, and Heidi Sutherland. The two couples, dancing the same duet, embodied the movement with their own distinct styles, delivering a story from the heart each time they took the stage. From our NYC CBG Fall Dance Festival performance, to the Temple University Alumni Dance Concert, the grace and strength these dancers conveyed, superseded my expectations! I was so proud of them, and so honored to have had amazing photographers involved with our events, who captured the essence of my work, and the deep level of the conviction and passion of the dancers. Thanks to Christian, Noel Valero, and Bill H, for their time and talents! It was a joy to be back on the old stomping grounds of Temple during my residency this Fall, teaching to a new crop of fresh and eager dancers, who seemed happy to spend time with an old vet!
Claire Hancock & Paulo Gutierrez
The best thing about the picture of Claire looking through the veil in the picture at the top of this blog (taken during the making of Dream Spell), is that that veil was from my Masters’ Dance Concert, roughly thirty years ago. It was then that I knew about the process of creating coming from a higher source. That veil was used in a solo I choreographed about a woman looking back at her life, and seeing how she triumphed over adversity — the great story of our time, and the irony of this year. An insider’s view from behind the veil will tell you that it’s all just an illusion — nothing remains the same, and everything is always changing. 2017 was on its way to breaking our spirit, but somehow we triumphed, yet again… we kept the issues of the day at bay, and let the spirit pour through us, washing away all that tainted the American landscape, and all the muck that got caught in our spiritual veils. Alas, we put the year to rest, and allow for 2018 to download all the goodness it has to offer! Happy New Year! And thanks to all the artists who contributed this year, and to all the ACD supporters!
