Event Title
Jewish Postmodern Choreographers: Religion and Identity through Dance
Location
Diamond 343
Start Date
1-5-2014 2:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 4:00 PM
Project Type
Presentation- Restricted to Campus Access
Description
Through my research, I examine the choreographic processes and works of three leading American Jewish choreographers: Liz Lerman, David Dorfman, and Vic Marks. While Lerman and Dorfman tend to use their religion as either a jumping off point for their creative research, or as the driving force behind their work, Marks acknowledges her stance as a secular Jew who is culturally Jewish and, while her religion is certainly part of her identity, it is not the primary focus of her work. Perhaps the most interesting commonality between these choreographers is their connection with the Jewish philosophy of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Both Marks and Lerman make community-based work to give back, and Dorfman often references Tikkun Olam by making dances that are rooted in Jewish ideas but are also relatable to other minorities. These choreographers, while different in research foci and aesthetics, have shared sentiments surrounding their processes, such as a strong gravitation towards community outreach. Many of these commonalities stem from their individual understandings of their religious identities as Jews, whether they self-identify as culturally Jewish, religiously Jewish or both.
Faculty Sponsor
Carleen Mandolfo
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Religious Studies Dept.
CLAS Field of Study
Humanities
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
59
Jewish Postmodern Choreographers: Religion and Identity through Dance
Diamond 343
Through my research, I examine the choreographic processes and works of three leading American Jewish choreographers: Liz Lerman, David Dorfman, and Vic Marks. While Lerman and Dorfman tend to use their religion as either a jumping off point for their creative research, or as the driving force behind their work, Marks acknowledges her stance as a secular Jew who is culturally Jewish and, while her religion is certainly part of her identity, it is not the primary focus of her work. Perhaps the most interesting commonality between these choreographers is their connection with the Jewish philosophy of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Both Marks and Lerman make community-based work to give back, and Dorfman often references Tikkun Olam by making dances that are rooted in Jewish ideas but are also relatable to other minorities. These choreographers, while different in research foci and aesthetics, have shared sentiments surrounding their processes, such as a strong gravitation towards community outreach. Many of these commonalities stem from their individual understandings of their religious identities as Jews, whether they self-identify as culturally Jewish, religiously Jewish or both.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/312