The New Dance Group Gala Historical Concert

The mid-20th century period of dance, while not so long ago, produced many fascinating and artistically significant dances worthy of meticulous preservation. Members of The New Dance Group were idealistic artistic innovators that aimed to make dance a viable statement about the social injustices of the world. This DVD presents some of the most influential modern dance pioneers’ legendary work and pays heed their message of social consciousness. This beautiful survey presents 18 celebrated, recreated dances and excerpts originally performed by The New Dance Group. This celebratory concert is a testament to the dance personalities that made a difference, but whose works have been largely unavailable for viewing until now. The Gala Concert presents the original choreographers or their artistic heirs, together with talented professional dancers in a program of influential and compelling works. Produced by the American Dance Guild in June 1993, it includes mini-interviews with the choreographers.

A celebratory film that captures the essence of the influential New Dance Group choreographers. Dance Teacher Publication
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DVD run-time: 160 minutes on 2 DVDs
An educational nine-page brochure is enclosed in pdf file format.

THE NEW DANCE GROUP GALA RETROSPECTIVE

June 11, 1993

1. SONGS (1956) part III “To each His Own”
Choreography: Mary Anthony

2.TENANT OF THE STREET (1938)
Original choreography: Eve Gentry

3. BLUES
Choreography: Ronnie Aul

4. MOURNER’S BENCH (1947) excerpt from ‘Southern Landscape’
Choreography: Talley Beatty

5. THE DESPERATE HEART (1943)
Choreography: Valerie Bettis

6. LYNCHTOWN (1936) from the suite ‘Ativisms’
Choreography: Charles Weidman

7. THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS (1944) excerpts
Choreography: Pearl Primus

8. THE FLIGHT (1947) excerpt from ‘Pursued’
Choreography: Joseph Gifford

9. SHUVI NAFSHI (1947) Return oh my soul unto thee
Choreography: Hadassah

10. TIME IS MONEY (1934)
Choreography: Jane Dudley

11. HARMONICA BREAKDOWN (1934)
Choreography: Jane Dudley

12. SIGN DANCE FOR SARAH (1979)
Choreography: Irving Burton

13. RAINBOW ROUND MY SHOULDER (1959) suite excerpt
Choreography: Donald Mc Kayle

14.THE TRANSFORMATION OF MEDUSA (1942)
Choreography: Jean Erdman

15. LYRIC SUITE (1954) duet excerpt
Choreography: Anna Sokolow

16. STRANGE HERO (1948)
Choreography: Daniel Nagrin

17. CONCERTO IN E (1979) excerpt
Choreography: Joyce Trisler

18. FOLKSAY (1942) excerpt
Choreography: Sophie Maslow

Produced by Dancetime Publications in agreement with The American Dance Guild

DISCOUNT PACKAGE
2 DVD Set – Pioneers of Modern Dance

Reviews

A treasury of Dance History, highly recommended especially for public library collections. The Midwest Book Review

Mid 20th century modern dance is an endangered species. Fortunately, in 1993, the American Dance Guild recognized the groundbreaking work of the New Dance Group in a retrospective of works by 17 of the choreographers nurtured by that revolutionary organization. The dances were technically challenging; their radical social content was all the more powerful for being integral to the structure of the dances. The DVD preserves iconic works of masters like Charles Weidman, Pearl Primus, Anna Sokolow, Jean Erdman, Talley Beatty, Daniel Nagrin, Donald McKayle, Hadassah, and Joyce Trisler. Interviews with choreographers and reconstructors give us invaluable insights into their artistic processes. And a handbook in both printed and PDF form offers a history of the organization and biographies of the choreographers. Dance Magazine

The New Dance Group is a presentation of performances of some of the best-known modern dance created from the 1930s through the 1970s. Many of the original choreographers are still alive; others’ works have been reproduced with Labanotated scores. Pieces such as Lynchtown (Charles Weidman, 1936) and The Desperate Heart (Valerie Bettis, 1943) have not lost their immediacy, nor their power to resonate deeply with the viewer. …highly recommended. Library Journal

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