Imaginary Dances was one of two chosen by producer Sangeeta Yesley to be presented at “Fast Forward”, a program for new choreography curated by Dixon Place. The opening night performance will take place on Wednesday evening, March 15 at 7:30 P.M. at Dixon Place.
Stanley Grill’s score for Imaginary Dances was inspired by the famous Baroque dance suites, where each dance form in the suite has its own rhythm and character. During the Baroque era, composers such as J.S. Bach and Handel included dances such as Sarabande, Minuet and Gavotte in their suites. In Grill’s visionary dance suite, the dances were yet to be named and invented. In 2021 Grill approached the choreographer and Baroque dance specialist Julia Bengtsson in order for her to choreograph a neoclassical dance suite for the 21st century to accompany his composition.
Julia Bengtsson’s extensive work as a dancer and reconstructor of 18th Century choreography and as a classical ballet dancer, made her the ideal collaborator for the creation of a reimagined dance suite. A graduate of Royal Swedish Ballet School, she has choreographed dance works in classical, contemporary and Baroque style for venues including Carnegie Hall, the UN Headquarters, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, and Alvin Ailey Dance Center. She is a mentee of world-renowned choreographer Catherine Turocy and gained much of her experience in her work as a dancer with The New York Baroque Dance Company for five years.
Imaginary Dances is an homage to the classical form, as well as to the fascinating relationship between music and dance present in Baroque choreography.
The March 15 Fast Forward performance at Dixon Place will also include Thomas/Ortiz Dance performing “Sacre Du Printemps, (under siege)” by choreographer Ted Thomas.
Dixon Place presents “Imaginary dances”, March 15 performance at 7:30 P.M.
Choreographer: Julia Bengtsson
Composer: Stanley Grill
Violinist: Luigi Mazzocchi
Producer: Sangeeta Yesley, Creative Performances
Presenter: Dixon Place
Performed by New York Dance Project
NYDP Artistic director: Davis Robertson
NYDP Director of Operations: Erica Cheun
