REPERTORY Spotlight: Mapping

Mapping

FROM THE CHOREOGRAPHER

What’s Mapping about?

Mapping finds inspiration from the prescription of so much of our lives: from the specific pathways of our daily commutes, to the global positioning systems which track us everywhere and anywhere in the world. We live each moment of our lives now on the map, turned on, enabled, trackable. We can always be found. Even our phone can be found. It’s harder to get lost. So intent on mapquesting everything, have we lost the journey for the destination, the process of discovery? I wanted to explore this literally and metaphorically, the idea of leaving the grid, of getting lost, themes of limitation versus liberation.

What do you remember most developing this dance?

I recall how difficult the opening sequence was to learn! The non sequitur aspect took some time to gel muscularly. Also, I remember the interest in playing with speed, of challenging how quickly some steps could be executed, as well as how lengthy stillness could be.

Who designed the wonderful lighting?

The wonderful Roma Flowers!

Coupling

 

IN THE CREATOR’S WORDS

DANIEL GWIRTZMAN (Choreographer)

For me the genesis of Coupling was actually just that, genesis…in the beginning. I thought, what if Adam had come from Eve’s rib? The concept for the dance sprung from that initial premise. In this world, women preceded men, women supported and nurtured men. I’ve always been interested in representing gender equality through choreography and Coupling was a way to subvert the biblical tale.

INTERVIEWS WITH THE DANCERS

JASON GARCIA IGNACIO

What do you remember most about the process of developing this dance?

In Coupling, he really looked for architecture, symmetry, inner timing and the psychological impact of each gesture. He is not a big fan of superficial facial expression, so he really took time on finding the right gestures or movements that would communicate to us and to the viewers.

What performances are memorable for you?

It was the time when we incorporated Coupling as part of the show Chapters. Danny made us perform the duet in four different angles, which I think was very effective. The audience gets to see the dance in 360 angle and got more out of it.

How did this work challenge you?

There was a time where I wanted to cry because of Danny’s perfectionism. He really cares about his work and he would never show the dance unless it’s well crafted. Every angle of arms, subtle position of legs and feet, where we look and how we look at each other matters to him greatly. There is a part in the dance just seconds before it ends where Cary and I would fall off-balance and would catch ourselves with our palms without looking at them. We attained this through constant drill. These qualities of Danny’s challenging process really influences me whenever I rehearse somebody’s work or create my own.

Did you feel involved as a collaborator in this process?

Our rehearsal has always been an open discussion and we are very involved in his creation process. He welcomes suggestions and he would always ask questions.

What is your viewpoint looking back at yourself as a dancer from this point in time?

I was a ballet boy when I first worked with DGDC. Coming from ballet made it difficult for me to understand pedestrian movements. Danny helped me let go and taught me how to break rules in dance. He also taught me how to be respectful of time, studio , fellow artists and value professional etiquette. I am glad DGDC was the first professional company I worked for when I moved in the States. I carry what I’ve learned from him wherever I go and I’m proud to say it got me where I am.

CARY MCWILLIAM

Coupling was fun to be a part of making and a joy to perform. During the making of Coupling I remember Danny asking us to find different ways for Jason to come in front of me while staying firmly planted behind me. We’d come up with different ways – Jason would wrap around me or come through my arms and then he’d just tip over, which made us hysterical. Once the sequence was made it was very difficult to remember we since would always come back to the same starting place. One of us would always mess up the order, which again would put us over the edge with laughter. It was a silly time and we had a lot of laughs (unusual for such an intense dance!) while making this seemly simple dance. We performed it so many times though that it became second nature. We performed for children a number of times and Danny decided to rename it just for them. The Snake in the Tree. The kids loved it.