NOW: Premieres
The debut of these commissioned works showcases a variety of choreographers, embodying the heart and soul of the Festival By Sarah Silverblatt-Buser
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ew works and collaboration characterize the ethos of the Vail Dance Festival. Through Artistic Director Damian Woetzel’s thoughtful casting and deep well of trust, spontaneous genius springs from the cross-pollination of artists otherwise divided. The Vail Valley is fertile ground, and NOW: Premieres is the evening to experience the newest results of this creative incubator. Last year’s NOW program celebrated women choreographers in recognition of the need to foster creative potential without barriers. In continuation of the Festival’s mission to nourish new voices and radically disrupt the status quo, this year six choreographers—the majority of whom are women—will create works ranging from neoclassical and contemporary ballet to tap and modern dance. Pulitzer Prize-winning Composer-In-Residence Caroline Shaw and Gabriela Lena Frank, named one of the 35 most significant women composers in history by the Washington Post, will compose new scores commissioned by the Festival.
TILER PECK: THE COLLABORATOR
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iler Peck is a dancer whose speed and finesse stretch time; her meticulous musicality melds movement into sound. The New York Times has described Peck as a “paragon” of dance, and Vail as where the “prima-ballerina’s ever-increasing versatility has been most evident.” Fittingly, Vail will again provide the backdrop for Peck to take her next artistic step into the role of choreographer. “Damian has always pushed me out of my comfort zone as a dancer and individual,” said Peck. “If it weren’t for him, I am not sure I would have taken the leap.” Peck dabbled in choreography as a young girl and has created professional works in
Michelle Dorrance and artists in we seem to be more than one. Photo by Erin Baiano.
collaboration with others, such as Time It Was with Bill Irwin created for the 2015 Festival. For her first true solo choreographic work, Peck said she will consider herself to be in collaboration with her dancers. The ballet world often maintains a strict separation between choreographer and dancer. Peck’s consideration of her dancers as collaborators welcomes a collective puzzlemaking process that encourages dancers to become active participants in the creative process. “Sometimes the steps you make on yourself don’t end up looking the same on someone else,” Peck said, “so you have to see what is in front of you and be flexible.”
“Damian has always pushed me out of my comfort zone as a dancer and individual.”–Tiler Peck
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