There was something spectacular and deeply moving in watching yvonne rainer and simone forti perform iconic choreographies of their own repertoire during the opening of judson dance theater. The judson dance theater was found in 1960s by a group of dance students who wanted to showcase choreography they had been working on taught by robert dunn, who worked with john cages music banes, 1982, p. Judson dance theater wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Although the dancers from the socalled judson school continue to perform and create new worksand their influence continues to grow from the us to europe and beyondthere has not been a booklength study in the last two. The deep roots and airborne particulars of judson dance. When barriers between performance and art didnt exist. Judson dance theater performative traces 1st edition by ramsay burt and publisher routledge. Carolee schneemann talks about her time with judson dance theater at danspace project on september 21 and 22.
Judson dance theater was an informal group of dancers who performed at the judson memorial church in greenwich village, manhattan new york city between 1962 and 1964. Beginning april 15, the newly renovated danspace of st. This concert proved to be the beginning of the evolution of postmodern dance. Judson dance theater marthas choreographic investigations. Born in 1920 in illinois, anna halprin studied modern dance and later abandoned her training in favor of improvisation and other investigative movement practices. Democracys body offers a lively, detailed account of the beginnings of the judson dance theatera popular center of dance experimentation in new yorks greenwich villageand its place in the larger history of the avantgarde art scene of the 1960s. Judsons legacy has been explored primarily in the work of dance critic sally banes, in a book published in the 1980s. Judson dance theater was very much a phenomenon of the 1960s. The judson artists emphasized new compositional methods meant to strip dance of its theatrical conventions and foregrounded ordinary movementsgestures more likely to. It will appeal to students of dance history, theory, and practice, as well as all interested in the avantgrade arts and performance practice in the 20th. From 1962 to 1964, members of the group met weekly to present choreography for criticism and they also cooperatively produced twenty concerts of dancesixteen group programs and four evenings of choreography by. In 1964, the company splintered throughout the city to. Judson dance theater, 19621964 1993 describes pelican, a dance choreographed by artist robert rauschenberg for a 1963 judson dance theater concert held in a washington, dc, skating rink.
In her interview, yvonne rainer discusses her dance background, which includes her studies with martha graham, merce cunningham, and robert dunn and reflects on her rebellions and explorations in the judson dance theater. Other articles where judson dance theater is discussed. Judson dance theater ebook by ramsay burt rakuten kobo. In this volume an impressive range of dance critics and scholars examine the pioneering choreographers and companies of the era, such as anna halprins west coast experiments, the innovative judson dance theater, avantgarde dance subcultures in new york, the work of meredith monk and kenneth king. Part marcel duchamp and part rachel carsonwith a dose of 60s happenings thrown insigman aimed to create a charged space that could function like theater without the exclusivity of one. The term judson dance theater requires some additional clarification. Following is a listing of plays presented by judson poets theater from 1961 to 1966. The work is never done at the museum of modern art.
George jacksons 2010 reflection examines the work of jill johnston and allen hughes, two dance critics who paid early homage to judson dance theater in the 1960s. This excerpt by dance historian sally banes in her book democracys body. The artists involved were avant garde experimentalists who rejected the confines of modern dance practice and theory, inventing as they did the precepts of postmodern dance. Radical juxtapositions is the first book to present both artistic facets of yvonne rainer, dance innovator and awardwinning filmmaker. All judson theatre company shows are recommended for ages 12 and up. An avantgarde modern dance collective, the judson dance theater created nearly 200 works between july 1962 and october 1964.
Judson dance theater last updated february 16, 2020. It grew out of a dance composition class taught by robert dunn, a musician who had studied with john cage. How the judson theater changed american dance the new. It also connects these practices to the lineage of modern dance, explaining how judson dance theater and contact. Democracys body offers a lively, detailed account of the beginnings of the judson dance theatera popular center of dance experimentation in. Colby and susan condos interviewed al carmines about the arts program, the judson poets theater, the judson dance theater, and the judson gallery.
In fact, a focal point in the judson dance story, al carmines, accomplished composer and pianist in his own right, entered as the churchs assistant minister, and started producing the judson poets theater in a ground floor gallery where higgins, al hansen, and happenings artist allan kaprow first showed their intermedia work, directly influenced by that cage class. Post modernism, judson dance theater, robert ellis dunn, yvonne rainer, downtown modern dance, steve paxton, henry st. Judson dance theatre, the antiestablishment collective of the nineteensixties, and grand union, its seventies outgrowth, are often thought of as being earnestly conceptual. Everyday movements became inspiration for material in many of the pieces created. The work is never done, a major exhibition that looks anew at the formative moment in the 1960s when a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers made use of a local church to present groundbreaking crossdisciplinary performances. Judson dance theater celebrated in moma exhibition art. The work is never done museum of modern art, new york september 16, 2018february 3, 2019. The work is never done, moma brings visitors into this seminal moment when a collective of choreographers and downtown artists across disciplines came together to create and show new. Performative traces and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The artists involved were avant garde experimentalists who rejected the confines of modern dance practice and. Judson dance theatre and its legacy combines history, performance analysis, theory, and criticism to give a fresh view of the work of this seminal group of dancers. Buy tickets for the odd couple march 2629, 2020 at bpacowens auditorium. How the 60s new york arts scene revolutionised dance. This list is based on files from the judson archives which are now part of the the fales library and special collections at nyu.
Here is a list of the founders of the judson dance theater. Now some of the works created by artists associated with the judson years are being revived in. One of the most respected artists of the twentieth century, rainer broke new ground as part of the judson dance theater in the early 1960s, where she created choreography that connected directly to life and utilized everyday movementsvery much in. Judson dance theater, museum of modern art, new york. In 1968, village voice critic jill johnston proclaimed that between 1962 and 1964 a revolution had occurred at judson memorial church.
New york the museum of modern art presents judson dance theater. The performances that evolved from these workshops. Jackson contrasts jill johnstons breathless, energetic writing in the village voice with allen hughes spartan, unbiased prose, published in the new york times in between years as. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. A look at lucinda childsphilip glasssol lewitts dance by walker art center. Marks churchinthebowery will offer a series of programs of revivals of works by choreographers associated with the judson dance theater. Combining impeccable archival work, a nuanced understanding of the drama of vision, and a lyrical sensitivity to movement, being watched is an absolute pleasure to read. Judson memorial church judson poets theater listing. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The judson dance theatre explores the work and legacy of one of the most influential of all dance companies, which first performed at the judson memorial church in downtown manhattan in the early 1960s. Judson dance theater american dance group britannica. Yvonne rainer radical juxtapositions 19612002 artbook d.
New york in the 1960s saw a creative explosion as dancers, artists, poets and musicians came together in a church. The artists involved were avant garde experimentalists who rejected the confines of modern dance practice and theory. Judson dance theater members were able to participate in performance and multimedia art instillations, or happenings, that took place around the city. Judson isd performing arts center 9443 schaefer rd, converse, texas 78109 rated 4. Judson dance theater was a collective of dancers, composers, and visual artists who performed at the judson memorial church in greenwich village, manhattan new york city between 1962 and 1964. Robert rauschenberg by robert rauschenberg, paperback. The artists involved were avant garde experimentalists who rejected the confines of modern dance practice and theory, inventing as they did. Featuring celebrated dance works by judson artists, the work is never. Productions were generally but not always presented over three consecutive weekends.
In the program, held in conjunction with platform 2012. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Al carmines and the judson poets theater pdf in 1974 nyu students michael e. It is not appropriate to bring infants or children under 6 to judson theatre company shows. Settlementplayhouse, alwin nikolais, the grand union, bill t. There, a group of choreographers and dancersincluding future wellknown artists twyla tharp, carolee schneemann, robert morris, trisha brown, yvonne rainier, and otherscreated what.
Considered one of the pioneers of postmodern dance, halprin founded the san francisco dancers workshop in 1955, hosting and collaborating with many of the dancers and artists who later founded the judson dance theater. Jdt started when robert dunn, a student of john cage, offered a dance composition class in merce cunninghams studio. Carolee schneemann talks about judson dance theater. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. For a brief period in the early 1960s, a group of choreographers, visual artists, composers, and filmmakers gathered in judson memorial church, a socially engaged protestant congregation in new yorks greenwich village, for a series of workshops that ultimately redefined what counted as dance. A brilliantly vivid description of rainer, judson, and art making in the 1960s, being watched sets a new scholarly standard for dance and performance studies. The group was judson dance theater, its name borrowed from judson memorial church, the socially engaged protestant congregation that hosted the dancers open workshops. And, says judith mackrell, the dance world is still feeling the fallout. Moore is the director of the archive of her husband, the late photographer peter moore, which includes hundreds of thousands of images chronicling the development of fluxus, happenings, judson dance theater, multimedia, and intermedia.
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