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Interactive Gateway Dance

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Specialist Interviews:
Yvonne Rainer

3 dance specialists were essential to the Interactive Gateway research project. Their participation gave students valuable insights into the work of Judson Dance Theater, Postmodern dance, performing historic works and dance documentation. Listen to these inspiring interviews with choreographer Yvonne Rainer, Dance Re-stager Pat Catterson, and Labanotator Valarie Mockabee.

In her interview, Yvonne Rainer discusses her dance background, which includes her studies with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Robert Dunn and reflects on her rebellions and explorations in the Judson Dance Theater. Yvonne Rainer gives contextual information about the dance Chair/Pillow, such as why she chose those props, the role of improvisation, and Chair/Pillows significance within her work "Continuous Project Altered Daily."

Chair/Pillow interview

Yvonne Rainer talks about Chair/Pillow as one section of a major work, Continuous Project Altered Daily. This dance employs contact improvisation, sports, and very large props. Listen to Rainer describing other sections of Continuous Project Altered Daily.

Effort and Inspiration Interview

Chair/Pillow is a prop dance performed to Ike and Tina Turners' passionate love song, River Deep Mountain High. In this clip Yvonne Rainer discusses why she chose chairs and pillows and what about the music inspired her to create the dance.

Movement and Task Interview

Yvonne Rainer was inspired and influenced by the works of visual artists of the time. Learn the importance of ordinary movement, task and why Steve Paxton ate a sandwich during a performance.

Judson Dance Theatre
interview

Yvonne Rainer encourages contemporary choreographers to explore alternatives for inspiration in dance.

Specialist Interviews:
Pat Catterson

Listen to Pat Catterson's interview where she recalls her experience working with Judson Dance Theater Choreographer Yvonne Rainer, performing Chair/Pillow and Trio A and her responsibility as Rainer's Restager.

Chair Pillow in 1969

Learn the history of Chair/Pillow and why it was also called Audience Piece. Discover what about Chair/Pillow was funny.

Change Improv Chance

Learn how the Space Race, Civil Rights, Womens Rights, and the Vietnam War influenced choreographers and encourage imagination. In this interview Pat Catterson recalls the 1960s as a time of change and describes her personal dance experience.

Redefining Dance

Pat Catterson addresses the challenge of restaging Chair/Pillow due to its task-like performance quality. Hear how Pat helps dancers solve this challenge.

Specialist Interviews:
Valarie Mockabee

Labanotator Valarie Mockabee explains her work in Labanotation and the importance of this form of documentation. She describes the detail, training, and dedication dance documentation requires. She specifically talks about her responsibilities in dance notating Chair/Pillow, such as encoding all of the steps, the use of the props, how the movements should be executed and Yvonne Rainer's notes on to performing the piece in a task-like manner.

Intro to Labanotation

Find out who Rudolf Laban was, what Labanotation is, and how Labanotation is used to record any type of human.

Writing in Labanotation

Examine the notated score of Yvonne Rainers We Shall Run as Valarie Mockabee explains the application of Labanotation. Mockabee demonstrates how she notates the movements, meter of the music, body parts, and spatial arrangements.

Documentation Process

Valarie Mockabee discusses the job of a Labanotator. Learn more specifically about how she recorded Chair/Pillow in this interview.

Recording Dance

Valarie Mockabee discusses the challenges of recording Postmodern dance.

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