A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CHOREOGRAPHERS CONCERT

(Based solely on hearsay and my faulty memory)

In the 1970’s, a group of local choreographers put on a showcase of new work.  This was not just about new work, but it was for the choreographers to try something they had never tried before…combining movement and music in a way that they had never done.  They did the show at the Woodstock Town Hall, to an enthusiastic audience. A few years later they took time out of their very busy schedules to put on another Choreographers Concert. They continued this way, putting on a show for many years.

            By the mid 1990’s, some of the original choreographers had dropped out, and the show sometimes happened and sometimes didn’t.  A local dancer, Bill Reinhart heard about the project and along with one of the original choreographers, Sara Miot, they revived it; adding new choreographers and a local theater technician to help.  A few years later, the show moved from the Woodstock Town Hall to the Byrdcliffe Theater.

            By the early 2000’s, the performance had evolved into a showcase for local and non-local talent, presenting new and also established work.  In 2003, due to an injury, Bill was unable to coordinate the Choreographers Concert.  He and a few others, including Sara Miot (one of the original choreographers) and Zack Jacobs (a local lighting designer) met to decide the future of the performance.  Zack volunteered to take over the show until Bill recovered.  (Apparently, Bill has not yet recovered.)  It was at this meeting that they decided to attempt to get back to the original purpose: new experimental work.

            The Choreography on the Edge choreographers’ concert is attempting to hold to that purpose, therefore, the show is really about the choreography.  While we try to hold to a standard of professionalism, the quality of the dancing is almost secondary to the choreography.   Most of the work in this show is newly choreographed for this show.  Some pieces that have been previously performed are included to fill in time.  When initially invited to participate, choreographers are asked to do a new work adding elements they have not used before, or to try something totally new for them.  The pieces are not auditioned and most of them have not been seen before.  When putting the program together, only the title, number of dancers and the length of the piece are known.  How it fits together is purely luck.

            If you would like to participate in the future, please send an e-mail to ChoreographyontheEdge@gmail.com.  All experienced and relatively experienced choreographers are welcome.