New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
By Sean McCarthy
Larry Keigwin’s performing career began when he executed a self-taught backflip at a junior high school dance. Building on his energy, skill and individuality he would go on to gain himself increased recognition from the dance world and in 2003 he founded Keigwin + Company, a New York-based dance troupe that would bring his choreography to stages throughout America.
Ultimately Keigwin creates works that are both unique and accessible.
On Saturday, May 13th, at 8 p.m. Keigwin + Company will take to the Zeiterion Theatre with a style that the New York Times described as a form of high art. Tickets for the event are $47, $42, $35, and $27. They can be bought by calling 508-994-2900, online at www.zeiterion.org, or at the Zeiterion Box Office at 684 Purchase St. in New Bedford.
Waterfront & Episodes will feature four of Keigwin’s works two set to the music of Leonard Bernstein and two additional pieces that have earned the director praise for more than a decade. The Bernstein pieces celebrate the composer’s 100th birthday. They were originally commissioned by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Keigwin’s enigmatic style often draws on dichotomies and juxtapositions. His approach is a fusion of accomplished theatricality with elements of pop culture and smart wit.
The physicality of his dance is beautiful and well crafted, but it is also engaging, funny, and pleasantly entertaining, says Ali Kenner Brodsky, a choreographer who owns a dance studio in her hometown of Dartmouth. It’s a style that’s accessible to people who aren’t well versed in dance.
Sydney Skybetter is a professor of Dance at Brown University in Providence.
Larry is able to move his dancers from great delicacy and tenderness to swarms of bodies moving around the stage, Skybetter says. His works are known for being comedic with a highly physical element, and always with an edge. He’s capable of creating scenes of great meaning and he proves that modern dance doesn’t have to be boring.
Skybetter says that choreographers have chosen to use Bernstein’s music forever.
Bernstein can be lush and complicated, he says. He affords a bounty of musical choices and challenges.
The Bernstein selections are “On the Waterfront,” and “On the Town – Suite.” The additional pieces are “Love Songs” and “Portraits,” two of Keigwin’s most popular works.
I was told that when I did my choreography for the Bernstein songs I would not be able to reference any of the characters or the narrative from the shows they were originally composed for, Keigwin says. It gave me a sense of freedom because I didn’t want to duplicate something that had already been done.
With “On The Waterfront” I wanted to create something playful and youthful and have a good time with the dancers that would be transformed to the audience. But with “On the Town,” I wanted something more dramatic and more abstract.
“Love Songs” is based around couples in relationships.
I wanted to express different aspects of love and age, Keigwin says. There’s a comparison of two relationships, the playful, young-at-heart couple, and the older, angsty couple. One couple is independent and one couple is co-dependent.
“Portraits” hearkens back to the 1980’s, and is expressed by the use of five solo dancers.
The 80’s were an era of the individual and individual expression, Keigwin says. I’m using something very snappy and poppy, similar to pop art.
I want people to leave the show feeling entertained, rejuvenated and inspired.
A lot of people think that dance is something highfalutin, Skybetter says. But Larry’s work is hopeful and accessible. anybody can find something to enjoy about it. He is a choreographic sponge, he could talk about anybody’s work or imitate other people’s work but he doesn’t – he knows how to move bodies in space and make it his own.
And throughout his life Keigwin has shown a true-to-himself attitude. In his Long Island, NY high school he once skipped classes for an entire week to be a part of the MTV program, Club MTV. He would take a train two hours each way just to be a part of the show. He went on to study dance at Hofstra University on Long Island, and he would spend many weekends dancing at bah mitzvahs for extra money.
And if anyone is open to the idea of what it’s like to be an actual performer Keigwan and the Zeiterion will be providing that opportunity.
The morning of the performance Keigwin will be accompanied by some of his dancers as they host a FREE community dance class, “Let’s Make a Dance,” on the stage of the Zeiterion. Running from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., participants will get an introduction to the world of dance, using their creativity and physicality to transform themselves into performers.
Open to dancers and non-dancers from the age of 12 and up, reservations can be made via an RSVP to acubellis@zeiterion.org.
