MAY 8-9, 2025
The initial development of Indifferent Forest was made possible, in part, by a Danspace Project 2023–2024 commission and premiere for PLATFORM 2024, guest curated by Kyle Abraham. Thanks to Michelle Boulé for early development. Materials for this work were also developed during Bebe’s 2023 residency at MacDowell; many thanks for its community of fellow artists and staff. Thanks also to the Smith College Department of Dance for hosting multiple creative residencies.
Rain (1989)
Choreographer and Originating Performer: Bebe Miller
Performer: Tamisha A. Guy
Composer: Hearn Gadbois with Jay Bolotin, Robert Een and Rich Franko
Additional Music: Heitor Villa Lobos, Bachianas Brasileiras #5, performed by Salli Terri (vocalist) and Laurindo Almeida (guitar)
Original Lighting Design: Ken Tabachnik
Visual Design: Bebe Miller
My inspiration for Rain came from vocalist Salli Terri singing Villa Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras #5. I thought it was the most beautiful song I’d ever heard. I also felt I didn’t have the temperament to approach it. I was too intense—struggle was what I took for granted. Deciding to dance to it meant looking for a way to be at peace.
Lighting Designer: Stan Pressner
Stage Manager: Tricia Toliver
Production Manager: Moqu Alqudah
Project Manager: Lila Hurwitz/Doolittle+Bird
from the Seraglio and The Rake’s Progress for the Munich Staadtsoper; scenery and lighting for The Logic of the Birds; scenery and lighting for John Jasperse’s See Through Knot for The White Oak Project; and Giant Empty for John Jasperse. Broadway designs include Twelfth Night and Richard III for the Globe Theatre. He has served as UCLA’s Visiting Professor of Dance Lighting from 1992–1994 and on faculty at both the Juilliard School and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He served as the resident lighting designer of the Lincoln Center Festival for its first 15 years. As a theatre consultant, he works with Theatre Projects Consultants. Mr. Pressner is the recipient of a 1988 New York Dance and Performance Award (“Bessie”) for cumulative achievement, a 1997 Cable Ace Award for Bravo’s Inside the Actor’s Studio and a 1988, 1991 and 1994 American Theatre Wing Design Award nomination. He is thrilled to be working with Bebe again and otherwise is turning wooden bowls.
Tricia Toliver was the resident Lighting Designer/Technical Director for the Barnard College Dance Department from 2009–2022. She has worked for the Vail International Dance Festival since 2013 and has also stage managed for Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project. She has had the pleasure of working primarily in the dance world for such companies as the Trisha Brown Dance Company, Lucinda Childs, Lar Lubovitch, The Limon Dance Company, Doug Varone and Dancers, Donald Byrd/The Group, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Susan Marshall, David Dorfman Dance and Yin Yue Dance Company. Her other credits include production management for the National Ballet of Cuba, Netherlands Dance Theatre II, City Center Theater and NJPAC as well as stage managing Cirque Dreams, Jungle Fantasy on Broadway in 2008. She has a B.A. in dance from UCLA and an M.F.A. in dance from the University of Washington and danced with Donald Byrd/The Group from 1987–1991.
Moqu Alqudah is a freelance theater technician based in New York City, with experience in lighting, electrics, sound, scenic work, and production management. Over the past four seasons, Moqu has worked with the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, where he currently serves as the School Production Manager. He also regularly works at both union and non-union houses. Recently, he has collaborated with Ishmael Houston-Jones, New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, David Dorfman Dance, and Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Moqu holds a degree from Connecticut College, where he had the privilege of dancing with Bebe Miller during his senior year. Originally from Jordan, Moqu is dedicated to fostering international artistic collaboration and supporting innovative work that balances technical precision with creative expression.
Lila Hurwitz (Doolittle+Bird) supports creative people via project/tour management, grant-writing, communications and more. Current clients include dance artists Bebe Miller, Susan Marshall, Rosy Simas, Kathy Westwater and Feldenkrais® Trainer Jeff Haller. She is a co-founder of Motion State Arts, a presenting organization supporting innovative dance in Providence, RI. Lila co-founded Dance Art Group, which created and produced the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation and related events for 18 years. She was the graphic designer for Contact Quarterly magazine for 11 years, and served as Communications & Associate Director at Seattle’s Artist Trust for 10 years. She is also a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. Lila feels extremely fortunate to support artists so that they can better focus on the art-making sides of their careers. doolittleandbird.com