With her New York City full-evening debut in mind, choreographer Jessica Lang knew exactly which company of dancers would best represent her work: Richmond Ballet. In March, the professional company will perform three of Lang's works during a special event at Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts celebrating her innovative choreography.
In addition to the dancers' intimate understanding of Lang's unique style, Richmond Ballet's recent successes performing in New York City also makes the company the perfect choice for Lang. This will mark Richmond Ballet's third engagement in New York City in four years; the company had its New York debut at the Joyce Theater in 2005 and participated in a critically acclaimed tribute to American choreographer John Butler there in 2007.
Lang's three New York City premieres will include La Belle Danse, Women and the Sea: A Tribute to Will Barnet and To Familiar Spaces In Dream, all of which were commissioned by and premiered at Richmond Ballet. The performance will be followed by a discussion with Lang.
In To Familiar Spaces in Dream, Lang interpreted the compelling piano music of Craig Armstrong, John Cage and Philip Glass. The dancers in this piece, which Lang created on Richmond Ballet in 2005 and then brought back to Richmond in November 2007, interact with eight boxes of varying sizes to represent white piano keys and an octave of music.
The inspiration for her May 2006 work, Women and the Sea: A Tribute to Will Barnet, came from a different medium: visual art. Lang brought to life three paintings by acclaimed New York artist Will Barnet in a piece with a dramatic set and rich lighting, both designed by Richmond Ballet's Production Director Michael Stewart, that allowed the dancers to step into Barnet's paintings.
Lang added La Belle Danse to Richmond Ballet's repertory in September 2007. Knowing she would take this new work to Brooklyn, she intentionally choreographed a piece that would offer a contrast to the other two works. Using Renaissance and Baroque music by Handel, Desprez, Mozart and Corelli, and drawing from her studies of Baroque dance at Julliard, Lang created a vibrant piece that radiates energy to its audience.
By inviting Richmond Ballet to showcase her work in Brooklyn, Lang will continue her collaborative relationship with Richmond Ballet. The evening, part of Brooklyn College's 2007-08 World of Dance series, will be the first performance in Brooklyn Center's newly launched New Work/New York initiative, which supports multidisciplinary artists in the creation of works that receive their New York and/or world premiere at Brooklyn Center.
About Jessica Lang
In addition to Richmond Ballet, Lang has created work on companies including Colorado Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Washington Ballet, Saint Louis Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, ABT II, Ailey II, Hubbard Street 2, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Ballet de Monterey and New York City Ballet's Choreographic Institute. She has received numerous grants for her choreography, including three NEA grants in sole support of her new creations on Richmond Ballet and Colorado Ballet in 2007, as well as for Milwaukee Ballet in 2008.
Lang is a graduate of The Juilliard School and a former member of Twyla Tharp's company "THARP!" She is currently a faculty member at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre as well as for ABT's summer programs in NYC. -- www.richmondballet.com
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