The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble will revive Steps in the Street, an excerpt from Martha Graham’s 1936 work, Chronicle, with music by Wallingford Riegger, for their 2013 repertory season. Martha Graham (1894-1991) is one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th Century. Her choreography is known the world over as a groundbreaking and courageous break from the traditions of classical ballet, romantic style and earlier modern dance idioms.
“Steps in the Street is an anti-war piece of abstract style likened to the art of Picasso. Miss Graham was dealing here with the aftermath of war but also with the loneliness that can well up in everyone, especially those alienated from society” (Graham Explores her early repertory). – Anna Kisselgoff, The New York Times, 1989
Steps in the Street is being staged by Amy Piantaggini, RCD faculty member and director of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. She is a former member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch will oversee the reconstruction process. In addition to learning the dance in preparation for performances, RCD dancers researched the historical importance of the work. This work is the centerpiece of the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance modern dance curriculum.
Stephanie Ibarra, of Ridgefield, is a senior dancer and member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. She says, “It’s really exciting to get to work on this piece, especially since it’s usually performed by dancers in colleges and professional companies. The choreography is a challenge, but our classes have been preparing us for this experience. I’m learning so much.”
The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance’s pre-professional Contemporary Dance Ensemble will perform Steps in the Street at Connecticut Ballet’s Danbury Dance Initiative and the annual Khalda Logan Dance Scholarship Benefit Performance on April 28, 2013, May 5 at Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance and May 11-12 at Ridgefield High School. For details and more information email information@ridgefielddance.org.
In 1965, Patricia Schuster opened a small dance studio in Ridgefield with a big vision. A passionate advocate for ballet, Patricia wanted to bring New York City quality dance to the Ridgefield community. With this driving vision, over the next 34 years she established her school, formerly the Ridgefield Studio of Classical Ballet, as the leading dance school in the area.
In 1978, she formed the non-profit Ridgefield Civic Ballet as a way to expand her vision to give young dancers the opportunity to perform on the larger public stage alongside professionals, an experience she believed would inspire them to a higher appreciation for the full world of dance. Some of her students from the early days went on to become professionals themselves. With the founding of the company she expanded her dream to include bringing a full-length production of The Nutcracker to Ridgefield.
The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance has grown to become a nationally recognized school of dance. In addition to the prestigious ballet program that has quadrupled in size, the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance now has an internationally recognized jazz dance program and the state of Connecticut’s leading modern dance program. For more information: ridgefielddance.org.
Photo: Atsuko Tonohata, Jacqueline Elder, and Mariya Dashkina Maddux in Martha Graham's "Sketches from 'Chronicle'"
Photo by Costas ~ Copyright Costas