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PHOTOS BY DAVID MAIN

ART INSPIRES ART. New York dancer Brian Bender and Jennifer Spors of Dance Theatre Northwest (DTN) perform “Of Times Gone By” at Museum of Glass Aug. 9, a dance inspired by art pieces created by glass masters Dante Marioni and Lino Tagliapietra.

Visiting New York dancer lights up Museum of Glass with Dance Theatre Northwest

By Brian Bender

The gliding and rushing across the stage was exhilarating. The pump of adrenaline and the applause of the audience were addictive. Remembering choreography was a breeze and all because the dancers at Dance Theatre Northwest (DTN) and I believed in what we were doing.

Those of you who read my recent article about the then upcoming dance performance at the Museum of Glass (TW 8/07) will probably remember that the artistic director and choreographer for Dance Theatre Northwest, Melanie Kirk-Stauffer, mounted original works on her core group of dancers and added the talent of guest artists – like me. All of her dance pieces were inspired by works that she had seen at the Museum of Glass.

I danced in three pieces of choreography inspired by two contemporary masters in the field of glass blowing, Lino Tagliapietra (“Endeavors One” and “Endeavors Two”) and Dante Marioni (“Of Times Gone By”). The audience was eager and prepared for anything but I don’t think they were prepared for me to come out as a mechanized robot and dance to the music of Jean Luc Ponty. Sharp angular actions and short clipped ballet based lyrical jazz sections made for memorable movement sequences. I had never danced that way in my life. I am a classical ballet dancer and at first the new jazzy movement was quite a shock to me. Everyday I would take the summer intensive classes in classical ballet and partnering and then rehearse and dance the contemporary movements. Dancers Katie Neumann, Elle Walters and Amanda Morgan were especially helpful with the jazzed up choreography. It was obvious how much they love to dance and I was thrilled that they were willing to put in extra time rehearsing the parts with me. Being with all of the DTN dancers really reminded me how much I love to perform and to dance. But, at times the challenge was unnerving!

In rehearsals I would break into a cold sweat as Kirk-Stauffer would give me more and more dance phrases to learn. Very often I wanted to scream, “But I can barely do the one you showed me a minute ago!” But, I buckled down and rehearsed. We practiced and counted them and after a while the robotic movements and jazzy elements felt natural on my body. The audiences adored the pieces and the artists loved their compliments and applause.

Of the artistic director’s wisdom, this I will take back with me to New York; “Brian, the people who are successful in dance and in life are willing to work and show up for themselves!” And speaking of showing up, Beth Willis, former Pierce County Arts Commission (PCAC) president, and Chris Van Vechten, PCAC member, showed up and spoke on behalf of Melanie and Dance Theatre Northwest. If it was not for PCAC and some generous individual contributions to grassroots organizations like DTN, it would be impossible for artists like me to come from the other side of the country and participate in such special projects with such special people.

I will always remember my time in Tacoma and with the very special people that make it such a beautiful place to be. I cannot wait to return and am now lobbying to be invited back for their pre-holiday performances in October at the Tacoma Dome. Until then, I will be missing all of you!

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