TAKE Dance (Thursday only)

Jennifer Muller/ The Works (Saturday only)

Pascal Rekoert/ Flexicurve

Isabel Gotzkowsky and Friends

Erica Essner Performance Co-Op

Claire Porter/ PORTABLES

Kensaku Shinohara

Tina Croll + Company

Bryn Cohn and Artists 

Francine E. Ott

Smallpetitklein

Lisa Peluso

PROGRAM A

PROGRAM B

Camille A. Brown (Friday only)

David Parker & The Bang Group (Friday only)

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (Sunday only)

Carol Nolte/ Dance Collective

Dana Katz/ DaNaKa Dance

VON USSAR danceworks

Khaleah London/ LAYERS

Ingrid Graham/ Collaboration Movement

Jennifer Archibald/ Arch Dance Company

Nellie Rainwater/ Rainwater Dances

                Amos Pinhasi

Aiko Maezawa

Allison Jones, Loni Landon & Yin Yue

PROGRAM A

All WestFest events are at 55 Bethune Street, New York, NY 10014

For a map of the location, please click here!

More about the film marathon here, and more about location shows here!

Cunningham RSVP/ General Info: call 212.627.4275 or email by clicking on the ticket sign...

TAKE Dance - “SALARYMAN (Excerpt; Thursday only)

SALARYMAN explores the life of the Japanese businessman.  This drama includes the daily grind essential for a successful economy, which leaves the salaryman feeling unrewarded, disrespected and emotionally and spiritually vacant.  Struggling to keep hope and creativity alive, he escapes into fantasy, re-living his all but forgotten dreams.

About TAKE Dance & Takehiro Ueyama:

Takehiro “Take” Ueyama was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and moved to the United States in 1991 to study at the Juilliard School in New York.  After after eight years with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Takehiro Ueyama founded TAKE Dance. TAKE Dance has performed at venues across the country including, Jacob’s Pillow, Dance Theater Workshop, PS/21 in Chatham, University at Albany, SaratogaArtsFest, The Lewis Center at Princeton University, and at San Francisco’s Cowell Theater at the Fort Mason Center.  The Company will premiere SALARYMAN in its entirety at DTW, May 18-21.  For more information: takedance.org.

Jennifer Muller/The Works – "The White Room" (Excerpt; Saturday Only)

"The White Room", a large featureless space, alters as the piece progresses influenced by the attitudes and actions of those inhabiting it.  In the beginning, the room echoes the innocence of a young girl; The White Room is her story.  She is both damaged and transformed by encounters with a diverse cast of characters.  The piece concerns the corruption of innocence, contrasting purity with heartless self-interest and questioning the value systems of our times.

About Jennifer Muller/The Works:

Jennifer Muller, an influence in the dance world for over 40 years, has created over 100 productions that illuminate the human condition, including Bench,  a recipient of a Joyce Theater 25@25 Initiative Commissioning Grant. Celebrating its 37th year, Jennifer Muller/The Works has appeared in 39 countries on four continents – most recently, in Bangkok, Bolivia, Brazil and Beijing – 30 States and 21 NYC Seasons in such venues as the Joyce and City Center Theaters. Recent NY appearances include Central Park Summerstage, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Fire Island Dance Festival and the United Nations. The company will premiere THE WHITE ROOM at Cedar Lake Theater, June 22-26.  www.jmtw.org

Erica Essner Performance Co-Op - "THE SOUL PROJECT 2011"

Erica Essner Performance Co-Op takes on the notion of the “soul” from philosophical and religious perspectives. Members of the cast explore the definition of the soul as related to their personal experience. Creating a series of movement tableaus that speak to an age of religious ideology and the symbols that are used to move people toward an uncertain cause.  This project was created in part at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in collaboration with the cast. 

About Erica Essner Performance Co-Op:

Erica Essner Performance Co-Op was founded in 1990 in San Francisco, and enjoyed a decade of performing, teaching and touring in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In 2000, Erica Essner moved to New York City and re-established the Company. The Company is still going strong in New York and is proud to mark its 21st Anniversary this year with significant recent achievements.  These include Performances at the Downtown Dance Festival, San Francisco International Arts festival, Central Park SummerStage, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Joyce SoHo, the Rio de Janeiro Choreographic Center, Alaska DanceTheater, and the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. For more information on the company go to www.eecop.org .

Isabel Gotzkowsky and Friends - “th(RE)a(D) (excerpt of “Bound”)

“th(RE)a(D)” (excerpt of "Bound") is designed to appear as a moving sculpture. A man and a woman with lower bodies rooted in the floor and upper bodies bare are connected to each other via their (red) skirts, suggesting an umbilical cord connection that constantly changes but cannot be undone. 

About Isabel Gotzkowsky:

German-born Isabel Gotzkowsky came to New York City in 1988 to pursue a career in dance. She has had the opportunity to study and perform with a variety mentors and choreographers, including Jennifer Muller. She formed Isabel Gotzkowsky and Friends (IGaF) in 1998. The company has performed Isabel’s work in many venues in New York, including The Kitchen, P.S. 122, Dance Space Project, Symphony Space and the United Nations as well as nationally in places such as Jacob's Pillow and internationally, in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa. IGaF was awarded the prestigious company residency at The Yard in Chilmark, MA in 2001. www.isabelgo.org

Claire Porter/ PORTABLES - “Happen Chance”

“Happen Chance” addresses the confluence of events that bring us to this very moment. Being the result of chance encounters and influences, it is remarkable that we are sitting next to the person by our side and that we are even here, at this time, in this town, at this hour.

About Claire Porter:

Choreographer Claire Porter, www.cportables.com, has performed her work in Europe and Asia, and in the US at Joyce Theater, Town Hall, NY Horticulture Society, American Dance Festival, Lucille Ball Festival, Bates Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, Florida Dance Festival, Kennedy Center, Woolly Mammoth Theater DC, Southern Theater MN.  Porter recently performed in Mikhail Baryshnikov’s GALA, set a solo on Kansas City Ballet and is currently performing Namely, Muscles at festivals, conferences, medical schools and universities.  Porter has received several NEA, NJ and Mid Atlantic Choreography Fellowships, receives support from the Jody and John Arnhold Foundation, has an MA in Dance from Ohio State, a BA in Mathematics, and is a Laban Movement Analyst. 

Francine E. Ott - “In the Heart of those He Desires”

“In the Heart of those He Desires” is a choreographic work that refers to the Bible. The dance speaks of finding solace in prayer and giving thanks to God. The movement is best described as a spiritual hybrid of hip hop, house, modern, and african dance.

About Francine E. Ott

Francine Elizabeth Ott, a native of New Orleans, began her formal training at fifteen.  She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and since then has danced with Brian Green, Tony Kundu and Karen Arceneaux/Genesis Dance Company, among others.  She has taught for the Howard University Summer Dance Intensive, Family Dynamics, and at Mark Morris Dance Center.  Her work has been showcased with Camille A. Brown & dancers at Joyce Soho, E-Moves, and Dance Harlem.  Ms. Ott was featured in the February 2011 issue of SHAPE Magazine, in the article “Confidence Queens.”  She has assisted Camille A. Brown in works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Urban Bush Women and LaGuardia High School.  Francine is currently a member of Evidence, A Dance Company (Ronald K. Brown, Artistic Director) and Camille A. Brown & Dancers.

Tina Croll + Company - “The Stamping Ground”

The Stamping Ground was inspired by a Sanskrit saying Sanghe Shakti Kalau Yuge (In this dark age, strength is in unity.)  The work investigates movement performed by a large group, and East European/ Asian folk dance forms.

About Tina Croll:

After having lived in India, Europe and California, Tina Croll returned to New York City in 1992.  She performed at The Duke on 42nd St., The Kaye Playhouse, Danspace Project, DTW, P.S. 122 & The Kitchen.  Productions at Danspace Project include Ancient Springs with 20 dancers, and Balkan Dreams, a collaboration with Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band with 38 dancers and musicians. Croll and Jamie Cunningham continue their ongoing project From the Horse’s Mouth, produced over the past 13 years in major cities around the US and Canada, Jacob’s Pillow and ADF.

Kensaku Shinohara - “Second Wind”

“Second Wind” finds its inspiration in the sensitivity of the human beings behind the dance. 

About Kensaku Shinohara:

Born in Sapporo, Japan, Shinohara started dancing and creating his own pieces at International Christian University in Tokyo, while studying Anthropology. After dancing for Nomade-s, Grinderman, and directing his own company Team Punchinello, he moved to NYC in 2009. Since then, he has collaborated with artists such as Daria Faïn, Daniel Lepkoff, Darcy Naganuma, Lovid, Philippa Kaye, Giada Ferrone. He has presented his experimental works for Movement Research, PMT, HATCH, and Evolve Dance Festival. Currently he is a scholarship student of Jennifer Muller The Works. Website: http://kensaku.jimdo.com/

Bryn Cohn and Artists - "Leak"

"Leak" is a solo which explores openness and vulnerability.

About Bryn Cohn:

A native from Los Angeles, Bryn received a BFA from California Institute of the Arts, working with Collin Conor and Stephan Koplowitz.  Bryn has attended programs at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and was selected on scholarship to participate in Bridge Choreographic Dialogues in Tel Aviv under the direction of Barak Marshall.  Bryn has choreographed and performed at venues throughout Los Angeles and New York. 

PROGRAM B

Camille A. Brown - “Choices”

A declaration of individuality, this work reflects a woman transitioning into the creation that God assigned her to be. With the commanding poetry of Dana Gourrier, it explores quick changes of weight, dynamic variety, syncopated rhythms, and the use of gesture.

About Camille A. Brown:

Camille A. Brown was a member of Ronald K. Brown/Evidence (2001-2007) and has been a guest performer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dallas Black Dance, and Rennie Harris/Puremovement. She has been awarded The Princess Grace Award in Choreography, a NYFA Fellowship in Choreography, The Project Next Generation Award, and The Presidential Scholar Award in Dance. Ms. Brown has received commissions from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street II, Urban Bush Women, Ailey II, Ballet Memphis, Dallas Black, and Philadanco. Her work has been performed at The Joyce Theater, Jacob's Pillow, Sadler's Wells (England), Brooklyn Academy of Music, NY City Center, The Kennedy Center, and The Apollo. She is currently choreographing the musical, Pins & Needles- produced by The Foundry Theater and for the new show Fortress Of Solitude. This Summer Brown's company (Camille A. Brown & Dancers) debuts at Bates Festival and returns to Jacob's Pillow. http://www.camilleabrown.org/

David Parker & The Bang Group - “T4three” (excerpt “Misters and Sisters Part 2”)

“T4three” is comic trio in which three men deconstruct a soft shoe while grappling with their mutual attraction. The full work will premiere at Joe’s Pub June 2011.

About The Bang Group:

David Parker directs The Bang Group with Jeff Kazin.  He has toured and worked internationally as a dancer and choreographer and has made over 25 commissioned works for companies other than his own.  At the heart of his work is a love of rhythmic form and the humor which flows from it. Many of Parker's works have achieved international acclaim including Slapstuck (2002 Bessie Award for Design), his Velcro duet, and his choreographic reinventions of Annie Get Your Gun and The Nutcracker, entitled ShowDown and Nut/Cracked. www.thebanggroup.com

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company - "Lullaby for my Favorite Insomniac" & "Grooveboxes" (from "Swing Shift"; Sunday only)

Lullaby for my Favorite Insomniac is an intense duet which explores the codependence, love and conflict between two people. Grooveboxes is an intense and energetic group work, which shows life force breaking through a barrier. Both works premiered last December. For more info about Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company please surf to www.nainichen.org

About Nai-Ni Chen & Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company:

A blossom of color, energy and motion, "like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy," says the New York Times. The dances of Nai-Ni Chen fuse the dynamic freedom of American modern dance with the grace and splendor of Asian art. The Company's productions take the audience beyond cultural boundaries to where tradition meets innovation and freedom arises from discipline.

Choreographer/Dancer Nai-Ni Chen is an artist whose work defies categorization, as she is continually working on new ideas from influences around the world. Her mesmerizing and dramatic contemporary choreography has gained increasing recognition among domestic and international presenters and festivals.

Carol Nolte/ Dance Collective - “Lie: I Lie”

“Lie: I Lie” is a premiere choreographed and performed by Carol Nolte in response to David Lang’s exquisite music, “the Little Match Girl Passion.”

About Carol Nolte:

Carol Nolte has created over 50 dances for her award-winning company Dance Collective.  She has received choreographic fellowships and awards from the New Jersey State Council on The Arts, The Djerassi Foundation, The Kalani Honua Institute, The Puffin Foundation, The Wurlitzer Foundation, The Yellow Springs Fellowship for the Arts, The Field Independent Artists Challenge Program and White Oak Plantation.  Recently, her work has been seen at Merce Cunningham Studio,  Fieldays at The Kitchen &Joyce SoHo, Westbeth Theater, and the 92nd Street Y Fridays at Noon.  She has also co-founded two dance festivals, DanceBLITZ, and Taos Dance 2000. For the past three years, she has produced WestFest with Pascal Rekoert. www.dancecollectiveny.com

Nellie Rainwater/ Rainwater Dances - "In Rounds"

The duet "Rounds" is at once light-hearted and poignant as the dancers cycle through connection, detachment, fatigue and curiosity about their glitch-ridden world.

About Nellie Rainwater:

Nellie Rainwater's choreography has been shown locally at BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, WHITE WAVE DUMBO FESTIVAL, COOL NEW YORK DANCE FESTIVAL, Dance Now[NYC] Raw Festival. She holds an MFA in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, and a BA in Dance and English from Saint Olaf College. She has performed with Laura Peterson Choreography, BosmaDance, Jane Franklin Dance, Next Reflex Dance Collective, and Jessica Marchant. Nellie is also a certified Vinyasa and Mind Body Dancer™  yoga instructor.

VON USSAR danceworks - new work

Von Ussar is working from the idea that each performer is an individual and all are united at the end by crossing each other paths. High energy and explosive movement mixed with calm and lyrical moments showcases each woman's strength and how they affect each other in different situations. 

About Astrid von Ussar:

Astrid von Ussar has been faculty at The Ailey School since 1998. She has also taught at Sam Houston University, Columbia University, Long Island University and various studios in NYC.  Her company VON USSAR danceworks premiered in 2002 and has since been presented at numerous festival, most notably the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (Massachusetts) and Graz Tanzwochen (Austria). Recently, she has been commissioned to do a new work on the BFA students at the Ailey/Fordham program. Her choreography is part of the repertory of Lula Washington Dance Theater, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, the Ailey Student Performance Group, and Plesana Izba (Europe). Von Ussar is the artistic director of The Dance Gallery Festival. www.dancegalleryfestival.com

Khaleah London/ LAYERS - “BEING”

 “BEING” is a solo danced by choreographer Khaleah London to a sound collage by Dove/Kyle/London.  The work declares dance an entity, intrinsically able to stand alone. When movement nuances are executed, they inherently create their own sound. Layered movement manifests sounds, producing an original music composition, which can be e viscerally felt and heard.

About Khaleah London:

Khaleah London is a dancer, choreographer, instructor and actress that graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Deemed Dance Magazine’s National Outstanding Performances Award winner, Ms. London performs internationally in Europe, Trinidad and West Africa.  Among teaching workshops at Yale University, she is on faculty at, Long Island University and Ballet Hispanico. Featured in Smirnoff’s 2010 South Africa Ad Campaign, she also performed her solo work at Dance Theater Workshop’s, DanceNow NYC series, Festival Twenty Ten.  Ms. London is the recipient of Harlem Stage’s Fund / New Work awarded grant.

Ingrid Graham/ Collaboration Movement - “Artemis”

“Artemis”, a hunter and the goddess associated with wilderness, is the inspiration for this piece. This solo is a tribute to the warrior spirit that resides in us all. Music provided by pueblo artist/ Grammy winner Robert Mirabal.

About Ingrid Graham:

Ingrid Graham's credits include choreographing at Merce Cunningham, Edinburgh Festival, Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She has performed with the Pacific Northwest Ballet and as a guest artist at Stephen Sondheim’s Gala Benefit. Her television credits include the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Grammy Awards and The Today Show among others. Ingrid Graham started her dance training at the HS of the Performing Arts in NYC.  She trained on full scholarship at San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and the David Howard Dance Center. Ms. Graham is a ballet award recipient from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.  In addition, she is a graduate of Hunter College and a former Richard & Mica Hadar Foundation Scholar. For more information about her company please visit www.collaborationmovement.com

Jennifer Archibald/ Arch Dance Company- “The Uncomfortable Truth”

The Uncomfortable Truth is a group work that aims to inspire women, giving them the courage to break free from limiting societal and religious conditioning, and enabling them to see their true beauty and power.

About Jennifer Archibald:

Jennifer Archibald, Artistic Director of Arch Dance Company, graduated from the Alvin Ailey School. ADC has performed  at John F Kennedy Center, Aaron Davis Hall, The Duke on 42nd Street, Miami's Colony Theater, and MTV.  She has choreographed for the NBA New York Knick's, Ailey School, Ludacris, Shaggy and Audrey Tautou as a movement specialist. Jennifer teaches at Dance New Amsterdam; has taught in France, Mexico, Sweden, and China.  She is a recipient of the "Talk of The Arts" award from the University of South Florida. ADC will perform at Jacob's Pillow summer 2011. www.jenniferarchibald.com

Aiko Maezawa - "The Talk in Whispers of the Canary"
"The Talk in whispers of the Canary" is a quintet in which dancers' words play a hoarse melody as if a lost minded canary is singing...

About Aiko Maezawa:
Aiko Maezawa hold both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Dance from Osaka University of the Arts. She created her dance company, "Piece of Modern", in 2006. Ms. Maezawa is a celebrated dancer and choreographer in Japan, and won Tokyo Web National Dance Competition in 2008. Her vision incorporates the entire experience from costumes to music. 

Amos Pinhasi - “Close Enough to Touch”

A solo dance to songs by Eartha Kitt describing the fragility of love. The dance expresses humor and pain, the two sides of love.

About Amos Pinhasi:

Amos Pinhasi was born in Israel, where he performed and choreographed for Tamar Jerusalem Dance Company. In New York he has presented his own work since 1985, and has been produced by DTW, DIA, Joyce SoHo, Dancenow,The 40Up Project, and Danspace Project. He has toured his solo work in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Israel, and teaches dance improvisation and Yoga internationally.

Dana Katz/ DaNaKa Dance - “Ui”

You and I. A duet about  two female friends living half a world apart. The work documents the struggle of maintaining the relationship as it is regardless of distance. Finally meeting, the dancers discover the joy of reunion.

About Dana Katz:

Dana Katz's unique choreographic  voice was first revealed in the Israeli 'Shades in Dance' Festival. She was the  the youngest creator to create a work for the festival at that time. Ms. Katz received her BA in dance from Melbourne University, VCA, and ever since has been performing her choreography and video dance works internationally. Among them, was the American Dance Festival (ADF) where she received a distinction award for her film 'BoomBox'. In Fall 2009 she was chosen to be one of four choreographers for The Bessie Schonberg choreographer residency at The Yard. Ms. Katz recently founded The DaNaKa Dance group, and performed in Spain, Budapest New York Tel-aviv and will perform in Canada this June where she will also be one of five choreographers of Springboard Danse Montreal.  www.danakadance.com

Pascal Rekoert/ Flexicurve - “Wash” & “RedBlueGreen” (Premieres)

“Wash”, a duet between a woman and an ironing board performed to KD Lang’s Wash Me Clean addresses a woman’s confusion between love and codependency. “RedBlueGreen”, a sextet with live-feed video projection, is a dance in which the afterlife is examined.

About  Flexicurve:

Flexicurve is a New York-based multi-facetted dance company directed by Pascal Rekoert. Through exuberant and witty choreography, the audience is engaged in dialogues of social issues and values. Refusing to stay “inside the box”, Rekoert has created an exciting repertory which has been performed in theaters and dance spaces in the Tri-State area, and has toured the US and Western Europe. Described as “magnetic and intricate,” Flexicurve is known for its high artistic standards and innovative movement vocabulary. www.flexicurve.com

Allison Jones, Loni Landon & Yin Yue - new work

Jones, Landon & Yue will create and perform a 10-minute new work for WestFest 2011. Loni’s speedy partnering, Allison’s quirky movement and Yin's inventive vocabulary will have you on the tip of your seat.

About the choreographers:

Yin Yue was born in Shanghai, China. In 2008, she graduated from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts with an M.F.A. in dance. She was a grant recipient in the A.W.A.R.D. Show! Yin performed at Joyce SoHo, Jacob's Pillow, Lincoln Center Summer Stage, Dancenow[NYC] Festival at DTW, Food for Thought at St. Marks Church, La Mama, DUMBO Dance Festival and Cool New York Festival and many other venues. Allison Jones, an L.A. native, received her B.F.A. from Purchase College, SUNY in 2008. She has presented her work at the Shanghai Expo in China, Symphony Space, Dance Theater Workshop, DUMBO Dance Festival and others. Loni Landon, graduate of Juilliard, danced: Aszure Barton, BalletTheaterMunich. Choreography credits:  BalletTheaterMunich, Hannover Competition,HT Chen Newsteps, SUNY Purchase, Ailey Theater. Commissions : Northwest Dance Project, and CityDance Ensemble in DC.  She Co-founded The Playground NYC together with Gregory Dolbashian.

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul..”

(Martha Graham)

See some stills of this year’s festival participants by clicking here!