Repertory

DISAVOWAL

Disavowal, inspired by the life and legend of radical abolitionist and (in)famous "race traitor" John Brown, is a flight of movement imagination on the stakes of racial identity, commitment, and the possibility of freedom and choice under conditions of white supremacy. Disavowal probes the fight versus flight relationship between militancy, civility, and conviction, asking: What price are we willing to pay for our deepest commitments? What are we willing to die for and to live for? Disavowal is having its New York City premiere at Danspace Project.

Disavowal was created in consultation with, and based on a concept by David Kyuman Kim. Original music composed by Mike Vargas, with a song by Alison Wonderland, and sound design by Jane Shaw. Toupie designed by Henri Ogier and constructed by Joshua Friedman; Lighting Design by Joe Levasseur; Media Design by Jacob Pinholster; Costume Design by Liz Prince.  Performers:  Kyle Abraham, David Dorfman, Patrick Ferreri, Renuka Hines, Tania Isaac, Molly Poerstel, Jenna Riegel, Karl Rogers, and Whitney Tucker.



UNDERGROUND

underground is Dorfman's current touring work that premiered at the American Dance Festival the summer of 2006 before being presented in Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival in November 2006. Using the 1960s as a starting point, underground explores the principles of political activism, in particular the activities of the Weather Underground and asks the questions: when can activism become terrorism, or vice versa, and is condoned or endorsed killing/destruction ever justified?

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
Prophets of Funk in Nashville
Join us at Vanderbilt University to see the first public performance of Prophets of Funk - Dance to the Music.

Click here for details