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By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Photo by Ali Duffy
Posted 3-19-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Ali Duffy presents a concert of six dances – “Six Degrees of Instigation” – at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, in the UNCG Dance Theater.
The UNCG Dance Theater is at Walker Avenue and Kenilworth Street. For directions, visit http://www.uncg.edu/dce/directions.html. Tickets – $12 general admission, $9 seniors and children, and $6 students – are available from the University Box Office, (336) 334-4849 or boxoffice.uncg.edu.
The artist describes the six dances as follows:
• “Guerilla Cage” gapes unapologetically at the stark violence and injustice of guerilla warfare. Set to cellist Zoe Keating’s chilling score, the work is a tragedy of rapidly shifting alliances and abandoned loyalties. Unspeakable horrors are told through bold, aggressive movement, and moveable fencing panels act as both prison and barricade throughout the piece. This work has been selected to appear at the 2009 N.C. Dances Festival in May.
• A loose autobiographical sketch of the choreographer’s sister, “Caitlin” is a quintet that captures innocence and internal struggle. Arvo Part’s heartbreaking violin score highlights the silence between notes as the dance focuses on the stillness between movements.
• “’not that I care anymore’ (the 3rd degree)” features two UNCG graduate students, Melissa Pihos and Tricia Zweier, embattled in a bitterly passive-aggressive relationship. Adapted sound from Hollis Frampton’s 1971 film “Critical Mass” heightens the redundant, roundabout argument between the two, while lighting serves to trap them in their oppressive world.
• First premiered in 2007, and most recently selected to appear at the 2009 American College Dance Festival, “Agresiva, Maliciosa” explores the ever-present phenomenon of female bullying and dominance among young American women today. Four dancers battle for position in an elite clique with a movement style that fuses contemporary and tango elements.
• “Quitting Betty,” a quintet featuring UNCG theatre student Luke Legrand, was created with the support of a summer research grant from the UNCG Graduate School that allowed Duffy to study and develop a feminist creative process. Soloist Rachel Kempson portrays the modern woman who struggles either to conform with or reject the notion of the ideal woman. Projected film, poetry, and movement combine to make both genuine and ironic statements.
• In “Image Schema,” randomly selected audience members provide the dancers with instruction cards to direct them in how to present the dance on that particular evening. At first based on dreams experienced in the dancers’ own lives, the large group work is now an improvisational experiment transporting audience members to strange worlds and encouraging the acceptance of fresh perspectives.
Duffy has performed internationally for Stiletto Entertainment and Holland America Line. Her work has been shown in New York, California, North Carolina and, most recently, in Virginia at the 2009 American College Dance Festival at Hollins University.
She is a freelance dance writer for World Dance Reviews, Dance Spirit Magazine and Ballet Dance Magazine, and teaches contemporary and ballet technique at UNCG. She will join the faculty at Texas Tech University as an assistant professor of dance in the fall.