Description
What is the significance of one life in the grand scheme of the world? This is one of the questions that drives What Lies Between, Jan Bartoszek’s emotionally vivid work. Using modern arrangements by Steven Reich, Faultine, and Arvo Part, as well as the classical scores of Bach and Chopin, the dance depicts one woman’s life as a journey through the various relationships that shape her. Mei Kuang Chen brings a crystalline focus and gorgeous fluidity to the principal role as she seamlessly moves from solo movements through duets, trios, and ensemble sections, all the while maintaining graceful transitions between dynamically shifting intentions. This is the role that won Chen the Chicago Music and Dance Alliance Award for Performance in 2003 and exemplifies not only her technical clarity but her emotional dexterity as well. As much as this piece portrays an individual journey, it also portrays the journey of a community as the people surrounding the central character come together in enthusiasm, hope, growth, loss, regret and spiritual reflection.
For me, making dances is not a linear process. I created the final section of this dance in the fall sparked by autumnal themes and the winds of war. When I found Steve Reich’s “Proverb” the words hit a chord with me and seemed the right beginning. The rest is what lies between.
-Jan Bartoszek
Production
Choreography: Jan Bartoszek
Music: Steve Reich, Johann Sebastian Bach, Faultline, Frederic Chopin, Arvo Part
Music Arrangement: Kevin O’Donnell
Costumes: Sue Haas
Lighting Design: Margaret L. Nelson
Stage Crew: Pete Gobel, Atalee Judy, and Bob Kuper
Cast
Victor Alexander, Mei-Kuang Chen, Emma Draves, Eric Eatherly, Kate Elswit, Maray Gutierrez
Performance(s)
Spring Concert 2003
May 8-10, 2003
Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Chicago
The Other Dance Festival
October 9 & 10 2003
Hamlin Park Fieldhouse
Chicago
Hedwig Reloaded 2003
November 7-8, 2003
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
…represents a spiritual journey. Mei-Kuang Chen dances the central role in a piece about the individual’s relationship to her community, laced with gentle but evocative motifs–rolling heads together or across another’s shoulders, standing and rotating in place, keeping one’s eyes fixed on a loved one or the audience even if the head must turn upside down.
— Laura Molzahn, Chicago Reader
Special Thanks
Special thanks to: Benjamin Gimpert, Paul Park, Cliff Questel, Eileen Ryan, Venetia Stifler, Jeff Usow, Ya-Ju, Lois Weisberg, and the staff of the Chicago Cultural Center, Hedwig Dances’ Board of Directors, the 2003 Benefit Committee and all the contributing artists to this show. Joseph Mills, Terri Jo Garner-Englund and the Northwestern Dance Department, Paul Park, Lisa Wymore, Cliff Questal, Eileen Ryan, Jeff & Sohpia Usow, Berryl Riley-Sawyers, Jin Wen Yu, Michelle Blakely, c:change, Lois Weisberg, Anthony May and the staff f the Chicago Cultural Center, Hedwig Dances’ Board of Directors and all the contributing artists to the show.