We were able to film some of the initial rehearsals with David Dorfman and ask him why he is so excited about working with AXIS!

Edited by Rachel Wolf

A fabulous few days

Last month, we spent a glorious few days in the studio with the incredibly warm David Dorfman, just getting to know each other.  We started out in a circle talking about our backgrounds, things that were on our mind in a worldly sense and our desires for dance and for the piece.  David joined us in warming up and improvising together, which was great fun. And then we proceeded to just dance our butts off, exploring some of David’s wild and crazy movement concepts, using our voices and creating material with each other. Though our time was brief, we parted ways highly energized and inspired and can’t wait to get back into the studio in August to really get the party started!

David has been on my radar screen since I saw his work underground in 07. I immediately sensed that he could do something extraordinary with us.  I loved the humanness of his work combined with wry wit and sometimes an unnerving rawness.  I felt his athleticism and intricate partnering would push AXIS even further in directions that are strong points for us.   As Artistic Director, I want commission artists who will challenge us and take us to new places as individuals and as an ensemble. It’s always alternately exciting and frightening to work with choreographers who are new to us.  Will it work, how well will it work?   In our first few hours of work together, I could tell we’ve struck gold on this one.

For David, this collaboration will be his first work for a physically integrated dance company and he is excited by this challenge. He states “for 25 years I’ve created radically humanistic, inclusive, physically engaging, risky dance theater in a personal, political and bold way. My mantra is "Invite and Indict!” I feel a personal renaissance to not only make a difference but to make whatever kind of art I desire. I want to rouse people to act, to feel, to talk, to deal with the world around them in a heightened state. I am enthralled with the notion that our bodies in space, in contact with one another, can unleash power, provocation and passion.  Even amidst the political, I seek the personal because they are inextricably linked. If we spent more time safely touching and dancing with each other, we would find no time to wipe each other off the earth. We need to converse instead of assault, to heal instead of harm, and to respect the uniqueness of personal process, preferences and socio-cultural positions.  Dance can do this, and it is exciting to dream of creating a work with AXIS that will be performed by a physically diverse cast – thus modeling these beliefs with a new community of committed citizens.”

This collaboration will definitely further his personal goal to “get the whole world dancing,” something that AXIS can certainly get behind!”  And put this goal further into action we are all very excited that this work will have a section featuring community performers of all abilities and ages-- something AXIS has wanted to do for years and David has extensive experience with this kind of community engagement. This community component offers our home community and those where we tour a new way to participate with us.  Other artists that we are thrilled to involve in this endeavor are composers Albert Mathias (SF) and Michael Wall (OH) and lighting designer Heather Basarab (SF).

Watch for open rehearsal, an audition call for the community cast and save the date November 6-8, 2009 to join us for the premiere!  Then, watch for the work on tour in 2010 and 2011.