Repertory
· All At Once, Which received a great review in the New York Times October 2004 features music by Russian-born composer Jakov Jakoulov, conducted by Susan Davenny Wyner and the New England String Ensemble. “All At Once” includes nine dancers, the conductor and twelve musicians (six violins, five cellos, and one bass) all on stage together. This 35-minute piece gives university or community string musicians a chance to work closely with conductor Susan Davenny Wyner, Jakov Jakoulov, and Anna Myer.
“… ‘All at Once’ was visually unusual, and emotionally satisfying. At moments, the dance steps seemed to make the musical phrases visible while the musicians’ bowing arms appeared to be doing dances of their own. As they played a richly textured score by Jakov Jakoulov… Striding, crawling and leaping, the dancers forged choreographic trail among and around them, swooping toward them at some moments, keeping their distance at others. The dancing provided visual counterpoint to Mr. Jakoulov’s intensely moody score.” - Jack Anderson, The New York Times
· Angle of Repose - is a geological term referring to the plane in which rocks, dirt and debris come to rest, as well as the title of a novel by Wallace Stegner. This piece is set on ten dancers, including two children and a 77 year old woman.
Danced to an eclectic array of music, including, Jackie Wilson’s Lonely TearDrops, Brahms, and the new-age sound of the Penguin Caf� Orchestra, Angle of Repose charts the unfolding of a life. Built on layers of choreography that use leaning, resting, falling and propulsive movement, the dance develops as a consequence of the weight of preceding and surrounding events and our attempt to give them shape. Angle of Repose (funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Cambridge Arts Council) premiered April 2001 at the Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church, New York City.
· Bluebird No. 173 - Featuring seven adults and seven children, this work was inspired by Marc Chagall’s painting, “The Birthday Party,” as well as musings on domestic life, love songs, and the image of a bluebird. The music, drawn from popular culture, pushes at the boundaries of nostalgia and sensuality.
“Ms. Myer is a master weaver, smoothly blending ages and degrees of professionalism in intricately plotted yet simple-seeming dance … Bluebird No. 173 drew cheers from the audience.” - Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times
· Heartchunks - This provocative piece explores the passions of the human heart. It is punctuated by love-struck cartwheels and heart-stabbing gestures that surround the centerpiece, a romantic pas de deux. Heartchunks is set to a musical collage of Chopin, Chris Isaak’s Two Hearts, Michael Convertino’s It’s a Big Planet, and Los Tres Ases’s Sabra Dios and Queseas Feliz.
“Myer makes everything extreme, from the walk on tiptoe to the heart-stabbing gestures to the Petrouchka-like turned-in feet and hands held almost as if crippled.” Anna Myer’s work is full of high energy … Her choreography is passionate, sweaty and tense … A killer workout, both physically and emotionally.” -Christine Temin, The Boston Globe