No More Beautiful Dances
World Premiere
By Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama
No More Beautiful Dances wrestles with the ideas of being an immigrant and the exploration, introspection and re-framing of a woman after becoming a mother. This dance theater piece uses drawing, spoken word and video projections to tell a personal vision of femininity, and what it means to be a woman today.
It is a search to define identity in a modern context, and discern the way in which to shape one’s own agency through a post-colonialist lens. What does it mean to be human? The body becomes the homeland, and movement is a mother tongue. The show explores two ideas: the body as a container and the body as a tool, using two live-streaming cameras, two projectors and two laptops. Technology in this piece is a magnifying glass, showing something normally hidden from normal view. The cameras become a portal to another dimension for the audience and performer.
CREATIVE TEAM
Choreography by Anabella Lenzu
Performed by Anabella Lenzu
Video Projection Design by Todd Carroll
Directed by Daniel Pettrow
Costumes by Jennifer Johanos
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Originally from Argentina, Anabella Lenzu is a dancer, choreographer and teacher with over 25 years experience working in Argentina, Chile, Italy and the USA. As Artistic Director of Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama, Lenzu draws on her diverse background to create thought-provoking and socially-conscious dance-theatre in the interest of improving our human condition. Classically trained at the renowned Teatro Colòn in Buenos Aires, Lenzu studied the modern dance techniques of Humphrey/Limòn and Graham in New York. Her studies of Tango and the folkdances of Argentina, Spain, and Italy, further inform her work. Her choreography has been commissioned all over the world, for opera, TV programs, theatre productions, and by many dance companies, such as Anna Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble (New York) and Movimento Danza (Naples, Italy). Lenzu founded her own dance school L’Atelier Centro Creativo de Danza in 1994 in Argentina, and has maintained an active teaching career ever since. Currently, Lenzu conducts classes at Peridance Capezio Center. Lenzu has written for various dance and arts magazines, and published her first book in 2013, entitled Unveiling Motion and Emotion. The book contains writings in Spanish and English on the importance of dance, community, choreography, and dance pedagogy. www.AnabellaLenzu.com
Todd Carroll, a professional photographer and educator with over 20 years experience, presently maintains a photo-studio in Brooklyn, New York, where he works freelance for various international magazines and publications, as well as his personally driven projects. He obtained a Masters of Professional Studies in Digital Photography Degree from SVA in NYC in 2009 and currently teaches classes there. http://www.toddcarrollphoto.com
Daniel Pettrow is an actor and director based in New York. He is an associate actor with The Wooster Group. He has performed in HAMLET, VIEUX CARRE, and WHO’S YOUR DADA?!. He is a teaching artist at The Wooster Group’s Summer Institute. Daniel is a frequent collaborator with Anabella Lenzu, having directed IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, PACHAMAMA, and SANGRE & ARENA. Daniel is an associate artist with multi disciplinary theater company Bluemouth Inc. He works closely with French director Arthur Nauzyciel, having performed the lead roles in several plays at National Theaters across Europe. Daniel recently worked with renowned Italian director Romeo Castelluci in JULIUS CAESAR: SPARED PARTS. Daniel performs the role of ‘The Wolf’ in Isaac Mizrahi’s production of PETER AND THE WOLF at The Guggenheim for their ‘Works and Process’ series (since 2012.) Daniel frequently focuses on new and experimental creations while fostering collaborations with artists from different disciplines. He is the director of NY sketch group “Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting.” Daniel is the Communications Director and Drama Teacher for Heifetz International Music Institute, guest teacher at NYU, and guest faculty at BANFF CENTRE.
Jennifer Johanos has designed for many independent choreographers, most recently, Barbara Mahler and Katherine Howard. She worked with DJ McDonald as both performer and designer, with productions in many venues. She has worked as a director on projects small and large, as an actress many companies; and her work in theater crafts and costume construction has appeared On and Off- Broadway ,and in the productions of major opera, dance and theater companies.
La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival
La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival continues to support La MaMa’s commitment to presenting diverse performance styles that challenge audience’s perception of dance by featuring performance/installations, experimental film screenings & public symposiums which address dance artists’ engagement with the current political climate, as well as honoring diasporic histories and legacy, ancestral inspirations and inter-generational dialogue.