WORKS IN REPERTORY
2003-2005
“One of the great pleasures of watching dance in New York over the past decade or so has been seeing the growth of David Dorfman from accomplished to inspired modern-dance choreographer.” -Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times, March 30, 2004.
“IMPENDING JOY”
Premiere: The Duke on 42nd St., New York City, March 2004 / 4 dancers. 40 minutes. Original comissioned score composed and performed by Chris Peck. / Costumes by Naoko Nagata. Lighting by Josh Epstein. / Live Electronic Music Component Available.
“Dorfman's very individual choreography is full of entrancing contrasts, and, lord, what dancing!” -Deborah Jowitt, The Village Voice.
“LIGHTBULB THEORY”
Premiere: The Duke on 42nd Street, New York City, March 2004 / 5 dancers. 40 minutes. Original commissioned score composed and performed by Michael Wall. / Costumes by Heather McArdle in collaboration with Adele Twig. Lighting by Josh Epstein. / Live Music Component Available.
“Lightbulb Theory, set to a haunting piano score by Michael Wall, took on nothing less than life and death.” -Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times.
“SEE LEVEL”
Premiere: The Kitchen, New York City, February 2003 / 5 dancers. 60 min. / Original commissioned score by Chris Peck. / Costumes by Naoko Nagata. Lighting by Blu. Visuals by Samuael Topiary / Live Electronic Music Component Available
“TO LIE TENDERLY”
Premiere: American Dance Festival, Durham NC, November 2000 / 6 dancers. 40 minutes. Original commissioned score by Amy Denio / Costumes by Naoko Nagata. Set by Paul Clay. Lighting by Jane Cox / Live Music Component Available
“Dorfman seems to have taken the energy of the music, allowed it to resonate internally, then thrust it out as gyrating pyrotechnics. The result is an arresting work that engages the audience from start to finish.” -Alice Kaderlan-Halsey, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“NO ROLES BARRED” ( The Arts in Action Project)
Premiere: Boulder Theater, Boulder CO, July 1999 / 7 company members joined by 15-20 local community members. 30 minutes / Music compiled by Hahn Rowe. Lighting by Chloë Z. Brown.
“No Roles Barred became an impressively artful and soulful construction based on rich material, showing with interwoven text and movement how the performers cope with their repertoire of roles and grope for authenticity transcending confining labels.” -Daniel Gesmer, Daily Camera, (Denver, CO)
“SUBVERSE”
Premiere: American Dance Festival, Durham NC, July 1999 / 7 dancers. 30 minutes. Original commissioned score by Hahn Rowe / Costumes by Naoko Nagata. Set by Paul Clay. Lighting by Jane Cox / Live Music Component Available
“Subverse was a marvel. ... In larger ensemble movements, the dance had kinetic magic, fluid to the bone yet highly aerobic. It made me want to get up and dance, too. - Molly Glentzer, Houston Chronicle
"A CURE FOR GRAVITY"
Premiere: Carver Community Cultural Center, San Antonio TX, November 1997 / 6 dancers. 40 minutes. Music by Joe Jackson / Costumes by Liz Prince. Set by Andy Benavides / Lighting by Chloë Z. Brown.
"a handsome, boisterous and poignant celebration of the music of Joe Jackson"
- Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times
"FAMILIAR MOVEMENTS" (The Family Project)
Premiere: The Flynn Theatre, Burlington VT, January 1996 / 7 company members joined by 15-20 local family members, 35 minutes / Original commissioned score by Robert Een / Visuals by Elka Krajewska. Lighting by Philip W. Sandström.
"Purists might cringe at the notion of art born of excited amateurism and no small amount of therapeutic getting-it-off-the-chest, but Dorfman makes it boil as theatrical entertainment...the astute timing, the oddity of some moments, the pockets of thoughtfulness give everything the warmth of life." - Deborah Jowitt, The Village Voice
"approaching no calm counting laughter"
Premiere: The Joyce Theater, New York City, January 1995 / Companion Duets, 27 minutes / Original scores by Amy Denio, Ben Neill / Costumes by Kasia Walicka Maimone.
approaching no calm: "Man and woman are equally athletic, equally subtle, equally vulnerable ... you follow them as if they were heroes of a story whose outcome you burn to know, even while you divine that there is no outcome." - Deborah Jowitt, The Village Voice
counting laughter: "Dorfman and the wonderful performers create a communion, an awareness of each other's skin, muscles, and breath that's as intense as eroticism."- Deborah Jowitt, The Village Voice
"OUT OF SEASON" (The Athletes Project)
Premiere: The Flynn Theatre, Burlington VT, January 1993 / 7 company dancers joined by 15-25 local amateur athletes, 23 minutes / Original music by Peter Zummo / Lighting by Philip W. Sandström.
"Dorfman's idea was to get us to think about athletes in unstereotypical ways as well as for athletes to think of themselves in arenas other than the ones used for sport; he succeeds mightily. And with great humor." - Janice Berman, New York Newsday
"[Dorfman]'s on to something mythic here, something important to American life; the fact that he's lured two dozen athletes onto the stage creates significant cultural exchange." - Elizabeth Zimmer, The Village Voice
"On a personal level, I was deeply moved by the experience. It was intense, painful and wonderful." - Diane Butler, participating athlete, writing in The Charlotte (Vt.) News
