Duets Project and New Dances from Finland

25th Anniversary Concert

December 11 and 12, 2009, 8 pm
Tsai Performance Center at Boston University
685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Tickets $25, students/seniors $12 (general admission)
Box Office: 617.353.8725
Directions

Twenty-five years since the founding of her company, choreographer Caitlin Corbett continues to make powerful and complex dances, often created for or inspired by pedestrian movers. These works challenge our notion of beauty and gender, and act as a postmodern showcase for her stunning company of dancers.

Dancers: Leah Bergmann, Jimena Bermejo, Caitlin Corbett, Kelli Edwards, Maggie Husak, Mia Keinanen, Erin Koh, Rebecca Lay, Kaela Lee, Irene Lutts, Meghan McLyman, Nicole Pierce

This 25th Anniversary Concert includes the premiere of Duets Project for non-dancers and also New Dances from Finland created in Helsinki, Finland last spring while Corbett was in residence on a Fulbright fellowship.

duetduet (premiere). As a continuation of Corbett’s on-going exploration of movement for non-dancers, she sent out an invitation to over 200 people offering to create one-minute duets for couples of any age, gender, or physical ability. The only stipulation was that each couple choose music for their duet. The result is an eclectic collection of 15 one-minute duets performed by a truly dynamic assortment of unlikely couplings, most of whom are non-dancers.

Quiet Line/Hiljainen Viiva. While in Helsinki, Corbett worked with students of the Theatre Academy of Finland to create this new piece which premiered in Helsinki in April 2009.

Half/Puolet. Also created during her stay in Helsinki, Half/Puolet is a duet for Corbett and Finnish dancer/choreographer Mia Kainenen.

Heart Starvation, (premiere). a solo choreographed by Peter Schmitz and performed by Caitlin Corbett. Schmitz relied upon Corbett’s intrinsic understanding and awareness of compositional elements, phrasing and architectural space in the making of the piece.

Little Known Facts (2006). This intricately crafted sextet set to music by The Books and video by Ann Steuernagel, is an abstract commentary on oppression and patriarchy.

Three Quartets (2004). a mathematical investigation of form and pattern inspired by Michael Nyman’s String Quartet No. 1.

Collaborating artists

Mia Keinänen studied at London Contemporary Dance School, the Alvin Ailey School and Merce Cunningham Studios and has worked as a dancer and choreographer in the US and Europe for the past 20 years. Mia also holds a Doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University with a focus on dance and cognition, and has worked as a researcher at MIT Media Lab as well as with many independent artists on matters of movement, art and technology. Currently Mia resides in Moscow where she researches intuition as a post doctorate fellow by the Finnish Academy.

Peter B. Schmitz has been involved in the creative and performing arts for over 30 years. He has worked as a choreographer/professional dancer/teacher through out the United States, Europe, New Zealand and the Middle East. Peter currently lives in Brooklyn where he is working as an actor …well he is working at working as an actor.

Ann Steuernagel is an experimental video and sound artist who has collaborated with Caitlin Corbett for over 20 years. Ann’s work has been presented throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. She is the recipient of the grand prize at the XX VideoArt Festival in Locarno, Switzerland, a Massachusetts Cultural Council Media Fellowship, a LEF grant, and a fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Ann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Design at Northeastern University.