The following is an article printed in an online magazine in California prior to the world premiere of Meta 4 by the Lewitzky Dance Company.

Choreographer builds a new ‘Meta-4′ for dance.

California has once again become a hotbed of modern dance, at least in trailblazer-choreographer Bella Lewitzky’s eyes. [...]

“New York is a wonderful place to visit, but I could never be happy there,” says California native Lewitzky. “It’s a whole different state of being.” Born in the Mojave Desert, Lewitzky and the famous Lester Horton formed one of the first dance institutions combining art and theater in 1946.

Twenty years later, Lewitzky confused the dance world when she insisted on moving back to California to establish the Lewitzky Dance Company. She became the first non-New York City­-based modern dance choreographer to receive three major grants. Her critics quickly bit their tongues. Today Lewitzky has established herself among the forefront of dance companies. Through her electric choreography, Lewitzky tackles anything from satire to social issues.

Discussing the recent Kobe earthquake and Los Angeles faultlines, Lewitzky was asked about doing a piece on the earthquake. She quickly laughs and just as quickly says no. “Nature’s truths are difficult to match. Dance is an extraordinary form of communication, but always an ephemeral art form.” However, “Dance may be less joyful and more difficult, but it’s always informative,” she stresses.

UCLA gets the opportunity to see this powerful form of dance at the Veterans Wadsworth Theater tonight. Lewitzky brings her striking images and daring choreography in a program of various works by Lewitzky herself and also by guest choreographers.

Meta 4 by Yorke Dance Project

Her newest creation, included in a four-part performance, is “Meta 4,” sponsored by a “Meet the Composer” grant, which features the music of Robert Xavier Rodriguez, a professor of music at the University of Texas at Dallas, and veteran of numerous composer-in-residence appointments. For “Meta4,” a commissioned collaboration by the American Art Alliance, Lewitzky chose Rodriguez’s music out of hundreds of hopefuls. “His piece caught my attention,” Lewitzky says. “That would be the only way I could describe it.” After completing the score, Lewitzky began to choreograph to the music, interpreting what she heard as well as various ideas. “It’s very satisfying to communicate through this art form. I’m always amazed by what it has to offer.”

Jan. 20, 1995 at midnight
By Barbara E. Hernandez
Daily Bruin Staff

Mount Haven - view from the balcony

The hotel has recently had some major refurbishment and offers fabulous views overlooking St Michael’s Mount and the bay. Mount Haven Hotel has a distinctly contemporary feel, lending itself to a more informal, relaxed and relaxing atmosphere. It’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of modern living, an oasis of peace and tranquillity, which will no doubt suit John after a day’s hectic rehearsal in the studio. We are all definitely jealous. We’ll just have to join him on the balcony for an after work cocktail!

Mount Haven bar area

www.mounthaven.co.uk

His current practice is concerned with sound, movement, American roots musics, audio engineering/recording, and performance/authorship questions, concerning improvisation and composition.

He is currently living in the UK, from where he teaches internationally, provides music for performance and video, does session work and creates solo and collaborative performance, media,and band works.

Fania returned to freelancing and has since participated in the choreographic platform Dancelines, mentored by Wayne Macgregor at the Royal Opera House London, Maiden Voyage Dance Company, Belfast creating works by Dylan Quinn, Suzanna McCreight, Andy Howitt and Omar Gordon and Dancexchange ‘Funny Bones’ choreographed by Enrique Cabrera and Luca Silvestrini.

The performance is on at the Merlin Theatre at 7.45pm and the programme also includes Darren Ellis performing Sticks and Bones, plus Antonia Grove, director of Probe. She will be presenting two new solos created for her by Charles Linehan and Wendy Houstoun.

This will be your first opportunity to see our two new dancers – Anthony and Maurizio, onstage. You can read all about them on their biography pages. This may also be your only chance to see Yolande dancing this Autumn as she steps back from performing to concentrate on choreographing and directing the company. She will be performing her quirky and clever solo Stay At, which will feature in City Limitless.

The company will deliver a range of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunities for Wiltshire Dancing members, including bringing in Corinna Cuff as Assistant Producer, and working with Carrie Sykelmoore (Salisbury Youth Dance Company ) and Gemma Driver who runs the Arc Theatre Youth Dance Company. Carrie will be taking part in this year’s Youth Leaders Programme that Yorke Dance Project runs each year, and Gemma will shadow Carrie for part of this year’s programme to prepare her to play a full role in the programme in 2011.

Yorke Dance Project will also provide a number of opportunities for young dancers to develop their dance techniques and performance skills by leading a workshop for young dancers at the Arc Theatre on the 29th October, prior to the company’s performance there.

Carrie Sykelmoore taking part in Youth Leaders Programme 2009

After their adventures in Lowell, David and Yolande have moved onto the west coast – the desert of course, and found some very long train tracks…amazing!

tracks in the desert

And a fab picture inside on this staircase….more details needed please Yolande!

staircase

After two nights in NYC, David and Yolande have moved on to Lowell, Massachusets, where Jack Kerouac was born and buried. They visited his grave at the Edson Cemetery located off Gorham Street.

Yolande at the Kerouac grave in Lowell. MA

David filming in Times Square

And another…

On the subway heading to Queens

We have new videos from the 2009 season – Grace, as well as a load of new images taken by Pari Naderi, our resident doyenne of all things photographic. Don’t forget to follow the rehearsal process on our facebook page, and subscribe to our mailing list for an up to date list of participation opportunities – take class with us, sketch the company during rehearsal, follow the Youth Leaders Programme, and watch open studio afternoon rehearsals. We’ll keep you posted! Thanks so much to Kilroy James for their extra efforts in making the site look and work like a dream…..an American one!

Maurizio performed at Glyndebourne Festival in “The Fairy Queen”, choreographed by Kim Brandstrup and directed by Jonathan Kent, which went on to the Royal Albert Hall. He then danced in the film “The Death of Pentheus” directed by Philip B Haas, choreographed Lucy Burge, as well as “Stimulus” choreographed by Christopher Marney, at the Bridewell Theatre London. His other recent work includes  “La Gioconda” and “Pulcinella” choreographed by Regina Wielingen for Holland Park Opera, “Peter and the Wolf” Uk Tour – Choreographer Didy Veldman; “Spellbound Dance Company” direction Mauro Astolfi, Rome; “Salzburg Dance Company” direction Peter Breuer.

Maurizio regularly teaches professional classes in modern, Contemporary, Jazz and Ballet Techniques. He speaks fluent Italian, English, German and Portuguese.

This is Maurizio’s first production with Yorke Dance Project.