Retrospective 1930s-1970s
DVDs Play Worldwide!
Also available for streaming on demand purchase or rental
Click an image to enlarge:
A celebratory film that captures the essence of the influential New Dance Group choreographers. Dance Teacher Publication
Read more reviews
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