A Time with Isadora, Movement Arts Atlanta’s (MAA) current major project, is making progress! Following are several updates, information about performances and what to look forward to next.
Since March 3, A Time with Isadora has raised $5,435 towards the first phase goal of $6,000. We hope to meet this goal by April 30. This first phase includes supporting the reconstruction of excepts from José Limón’s Dances for Isadora and the performance of these three dances during the Inman Park Dance Festival. After April 30, fundraising for the second phase of the project will begin. For this phase the goal is $9,000 which will support the reconstruction of an original Isadora Duncan work, commissions for three new dances by Atlanta choreographers and the performance of all of these dances on September 29 at the Trolley Barn.
From April 1 through April 4, Movement Arts Director, Carolyn Stine McLaughlin, hosted Natalie Desch the Limón Foundation Reconstructor. She worked with three Atlanta based artists, Julie Feracota, Andie Knudson, and Mercy Matthews, who learn the solos, Primavera, Maenad and Niobe, which are three of the five dances of Limón’s Dances for Isadora. In addition to teaching these solos, Ms. Desch also taught two masterclasses which were attended by dancers from ages 10 to 75. The work of the weekend was joyful and engaging. These events were documented with photographs taken by John Ramspott. Here is a gallery of some of the reconstruction rehearsals and here is a gallery of one of the master classes.
During the last month, the three choreographers for the commissioned works have been confirmed. New works based on the theme of A Time with Isadora, how one artist influences many, will be made by: Carolyn Stine McLaughlin, Director of Movement Arts Atlanta; Douglas Scott, Artistic/Executive Director of Full Radius Dance; and, George Staib, Artistic Director of Staib Dance.
The first performance of the project will be the presentation of the three solos from Dances for Isadora at the Inman Park Dance Festival (IPDF). IPDF will celebrate it 20th anniversary during two free performances on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 at 4:00 pm in the Trolley Barn, 963 Edgewood Avenue, 30307. MAA along with Atlanta Historic Dance, Ballethnic, Full Radius Dance, the Georgia Ballet, and ImmerseATL will perform works spanning 350 years of concert dance; Baroque, ballet and modern.
Next steps for A Time with Isadora are exciting and numerous. Details about a documentary film are just around the corner. There will be more fundraising with solicitation of donations and sponsorships, a raffle and perhaps a champaign (Isadora’s favorite drink) tasting. There will be the reconstruction of an original Isadora Duncan work. Support will be provided to the commissioned artists as they make the new works for the project. And of course, all the details will need to be managed for the major performance of the project in September at the Trolley Barn.
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