Dancers with Dirty Feet
Donation protected
Australian Dance Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2015. My project 'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will pay tribute to A.D.T's earlier years, highlighting the works created especially for me by American choreographer, Eleo Pomare. Eleo Pomare is an icon in contemporary dance in America.
I am proud to say, I am a founding member of A.D.T. 'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will be a three night performance season (October 8th, 9th and 10th in the Odeon Theatre, Queen Street, Norwood) comprised of four beautiful and powerful live dance works, ( performed by my daughter and four other dancers), and then Eleo Pomare's film "Blues for the Jungle". This controversial film is a terrifying spectrum of Black American life from the time African slaves arrived in America to their present misery in a modern day "Jungle", (that being a Black American slang word for Harlem). My role in the project is Director.
The project will be honouring Eleo's memory (1937-2008) because his works played a vital role in the birth of A.D.T's early repertoire. Most importantly, I was a young white female dancer working in a predominantly black company whose Artistic Director was known as the 'angry black artist'. The choreographic language of Eleo Pomare crosses generations through his ability to create works of sheer beauty, as well as, revolutionary and rebellious works of art.
While I recognise Eleo's revolutionary and rebellious aspects I believe it is important to mention his great commitment to education and the generous mentorship of young artists. I know few choreographers who were as dedicated to their dancers and students as they grew and moved on in their artistic journey as Eleo Pomare. An important influence from Eleo to his dancers and company was to embrace the politics of the time and to challenge authority. I for one, was privileged to have his ongoing support, involvement, and mentorship in my development as a dance artist. I know firsthand his gift of inspiring and skilfully directing dancers to discover the power and presence of their unique artistry.
The works to be presented are historically significant yet they also speak to contemporary audiences. The themes of time passing, the body in space and comments on classical ballet are all timely today (for example, the current Artistic Director, Garry Stewart's re-working of 'Swan Lake', and 'Giselle'). The vast collections of photos, reviews, articles, videos will be displayed in the foyer of the theatre. All of this will provide a wealth of information of the early days of Australian Dance Theatre.
The music for this project is very diversed, from Sandor Veress, Pousseur, G.F. Handel, Bela Bartok, Harry Belafonte, Oscar Brown jr., Charles Mingus and Michael Olatunji.
'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will demonstrate the overseas contacts ensured that A.D.T. did not remain a parochial regional company in the 1960's but became one with international aspirations and which was in touch with developments in modern dance overseas. A.D.T was in those early years up with the world's progress in modern dance.
I truly believe the performances will be of interest to professional dancers, dance teachers, dance students, undergraduates and post graduates, dance lovers, the general public and researchers. My perspective on these times and artistic environments will make a valuable contribution to the understanding of our dance history, both for the profession and for students.
So much has happened in dance development since the 1960's, especially in the multi-faceted field of contemporary dance, and till it is recorded by the people who were there and lived it, the truth and detail of what has happened will be lost or distorted. I have been in the unique position to observe and participate in some of the events that have been instrumental in forming part of our modern dance history.
'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will provide accurate documentation of a time when modern dance was considered inferior to classical ballet in Adelaide and throughout Australia. My unique position to provide the audience with my wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise of the early days of A.D.T, combined with my own personal journey, would be very rewarding.
The legacy of this project is ongoing, with the performance season to be documented and included in Eleo's collection, which will be seen in the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., the New York City Public Library at Lincoln Center and the Schomburg Library in Harlem. The documentation will also be included in the Performings Arts Collection dance archive and the Mort Lock Library in Adelaide, South Australia.
My grant applications to the Australia Council and S.A. Arts were unsuccessful. So please, reach out and help make 'Dancers with Dirty Feet' come to fruition.
I am proud to say, I am a founding member of A.D.T. 'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will be a three night performance season (October 8th, 9th and 10th in the Odeon Theatre, Queen Street, Norwood) comprised of four beautiful and powerful live dance works, ( performed by my daughter and four other dancers), and then Eleo Pomare's film "Blues for the Jungle". This controversial film is a terrifying spectrum of Black American life from the time African slaves arrived in America to their present misery in a modern day "Jungle", (that being a Black American slang word for Harlem). My role in the project is Director.
The project will be honouring Eleo's memory (1937-2008) because his works played a vital role in the birth of A.D.T's early repertoire. Most importantly, I was a young white female dancer working in a predominantly black company whose Artistic Director was known as the 'angry black artist'. The choreographic language of Eleo Pomare crosses generations through his ability to create works of sheer beauty, as well as, revolutionary and rebellious works of art.
While I recognise Eleo's revolutionary and rebellious aspects I believe it is important to mention his great commitment to education and the generous mentorship of young artists. I know few choreographers who were as dedicated to their dancers and students as they grew and moved on in their artistic journey as Eleo Pomare. An important influence from Eleo to his dancers and company was to embrace the politics of the time and to challenge authority. I for one, was privileged to have his ongoing support, involvement, and mentorship in my development as a dance artist. I know firsthand his gift of inspiring and skilfully directing dancers to discover the power and presence of their unique artistry.
The works to be presented are historically significant yet they also speak to contemporary audiences. The themes of time passing, the body in space and comments on classical ballet are all timely today (for example, the current Artistic Director, Garry Stewart's re-working of 'Swan Lake', and 'Giselle'). The vast collections of photos, reviews, articles, videos will be displayed in the foyer of the theatre. All of this will provide a wealth of information of the early days of Australian Dance Theatre.
The music for this project is very diversed, from Sandor Veress, Pousseur, G.F. Handel, Bela Bartok, Harry Belafonte, Oscar Brown jr., Charles Mingus and Michael Olatunji.
'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will demonstrate the overseas contacts ensured that A.D.T. did not remain a parochial regional company in the 1960's but became one with international aspirations and which was in touch with developments in modern dance overseas. A.D.T was in those early years up with the world's progress in modern dance.
I truly believe the performances will be of interest to professional dancers, dance teachers, dance students, undergraduates and post graduates, dance lovers, the general public and researchers. My perspective on these times and artistic environments will make a valuable contribution to the understanding of our dance history, both for the profession and for students.
So much has happened in dance development since the 1960's, especially in the multi-faceted field of contemporary dance, and till it is recorded by the people who were there and lived it, the truth and detail of what has happened will be lost or distorted. I have been in the unique position to observe and participate in some of the events that have been instrumental in forming part of our modern dance history.
'Dancers with Dirty Feet' will provide accurate documentation of a time when modern dance was considered inferior to classical ballet in Adelaide and throughout Australia. My unique position to provide the audience with my wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise of the early days of A.D.T, combined with my own personal journey, would be very rewarding.
The legacy of this project is ongoing, with the performance season to be documented and included in Eleo's collection, which will be seen in the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., the New York City Public Library at Lincoln Center and the Schomburg Library in Harlem. The documentation will also be included in the Performings Arts Collection dance archive and the Mort Lock Library in Adelaide, South Australia.
My grant applications to the Australia Council and S.A. Arts were unsuccessful. So please, reach out and help make 'Dancers with Dirty Feet' come to fruition.
Organizer
Jennifer Barry Knox
Organizer
Kent Town, SA