Jean Davidson: Saving dance in the US

A Chance to Dance in America
by Jean Davidson, The Huffington Post, August 17, 2012

New York Live Arts announces new season

What in the world is happening here?

Well--believe it or not--it's sort of an impromptu plein air press conference convened by the ever-resourceful Bill T. Jones in front of New York Live Arts (formerly Dance Theater Workshop, now merged with Jones's dance troupe) but actually in front of an NYFD fire truck.... Wait. Is this getting way too complicated?

Let me start over.

At a morning press conference inside NYLA's Bessie Schönberg Theater, Jones (NYLA Executive Artistic Director) had just been introduced by the organization's CEO Jean Davidson. Jones surprised us by elegantly, delicately dancing and even singing a little as he made his opening remarks. Halfway through, he started to talk about his own troupe's upcoming season but, suddenly, the NYFD ordered everyone to leave the building and assemble across the street!

We had to wait until the fire truck pulled up and the firemen did...something...I have no idea and no one seemed to know what. In the meantime, Jones doffed his shirt, as is his wont, and completed his address to the crowd of press, staff, dance world colleagues and curious passersby. Happily--and to the great relief of Carla Peterson, NYLA Artistic Director, who would have had to shout over street noise--we were soon able to return to the theater.

Truth be told, for the first time, the very idea of New York Live Arts does seem hot enough to warrant the arrival of a truckload of firemen. And it certainly seems dance enough to still the fears of folks who thought that the loss of the name Dance Theater Workshop meant something sinister.

The upcoming season--beginning September 16 with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company--and other NYLA programs rock. I'll drop a handful of names, just for starters: Reggie Wilson, Yvonne Meier, Rachid Ouramdane, John Kelly, Richard Move, Ivy Baldwin, Jodi Melnick, John Jasperse, RoseAnne Spradlin and Big Dance Theater. Over 40 diverse emerging, mid-career and established dance artists will participate in the presenting season or other NYLA programs. NYLA will continue DTW's traditions of commissioning cutting-edge performance, offering audiences opportunities to revisit seminal works and giving artists the chance to develop and show new projects in informal presentations.

The 2011-2013 recipient of a new program--Resident Commissioned Artist--will be Yasuko Yokoshi, the well-regarded, Hiroshima-born choreographer who has worked in New York since 1986. Yokoshi's two-year award includes a salary, health insurance, and support for creation and possible touring of new work. Imagine that! Jones described this as "a new standard for the entire field." Indeed and amen, amen.

"We launched New York Live Arts because we want to instigate change, not react to it," said Jones, later explaining the organization's initiatives as "a leap of faith."

There's much more to learn about New York Live Arts. So, for complete information about the mission, the upcoming season and the spectrum of artist services, click here.

NYLA, for your viewing pleasure

New York Live Arts Community Welcome Session

Filmed February 19th, 2011. Co-Presented by Dance/NYC.

The leadership of New York Live Arts: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Dance Theater Workshop re-imagined, conduct a panel to discuss the decisions and visions behind New York Live Arts. Moderated by Michelle Coffey

Invitation from NY Live Arts, Febuary 19

New York Live Arts Community Welcome Session

Saturday, February 19, 3pm

Dance Theater Workshop

Bessie Schonberg Theater

219 West 19th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues), Manhattan

RSVP required: nyla.eventbrite.com

Meet the staff of New York Live Arts and get answers to your questions about the new organization!

You are invited to a Welcome Panel and public discussion addressing the recent merger between Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Dance Theater Workshop to create New York Live Arts.

 Panel

Jean Davidson, Executive Director, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company 
and New York Live Arts

Andrea Scholler, Executive Director, Dance Theater Workshop

Bill T. Jones, Executive Artistic Director, New York Lives Arts

Carla Peterson, Artistic Director, New York Live Arts

Moderator TBA

Followed by open Q & A

Reception to follow in the Dance Theater Workshop Lobby

RSVP required: nyla.eventbrite.com

Merger agreement: DTW & BTJ!

Dance Theater and Bill T. Jones Troupe to Merge

by Kate Taylor, The New York Times, December 1, 2010

Let's stay together...

Bill T. Jones and Dance Theater Workshop Explore Merger

by Felicia R. Lee, The New York Times, April 26, 2010