Jennifer Muller The Works

- About
- Synopsis
- Artist
- Presenter
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About

Program A

Miserere Nobis (premiere: 2014)

Music: Samuel Barber: Allegeri: Miserere. (Agnus Dei Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi) Opus 11

Music Performed by: Richard Marlow & the Choir of Trinity College

Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Costume Design: Sachi Masuda and Stageworks

Cast: 9 dancers

Miserere Nobis is an entreaty for mercy and grace. In an age of unspeakable conflict and cruelty, loss and grief, each of us asks forgiveness for all of us.

Working Title (premiere: 2016)

Music: Yut and The Hot Four

Original Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Costume Design: Ornella Lukac

Cast: 8 dancers

Working Title contends that any significant relationship requires constant work to avoid conflict and misunderstanding. Relationships ranging from cursory and forgettable to deeply passionate are often difficult to define. The piece focuses on how intense emotion thwarts relationship, confounds hope of communication, affects levels of intimacy and confuses undefined attractions. Yut and the Hot Four' wildly passionate music creates a vibrant and urgent atmosphere which echoes the virtuosity of JMTW's dancers.

Alchemy(premiere: 2015)

Music Compilation: Kangding Ray, Andy Stott, John Talabot

Video Projection Design: Mark Bolotin

Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Costume Design: Belle McIntyre and Stageworks (recycled)

Cast: 9 dancers

Alchemy is a piece about the crucible of change. Originally a forerunner of chemistry, alchemy concerned itself with transformation. The physical transmutation of matter became an analogy for the internal alchemy of spiritual revelation. The piece mirrors the classically-delineated four elements of air, fire, earth and water. Just as new growth forests are created by controlled burning, personal evolution often needs a violent catalyst to create a glimmer of enlightenment.

Momentum (Premiere: 2005)

Music: Yello

Costume Design: Nick Putvinski

Original Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Cast: 9 dancers

Created a decade ago to celebrate the company’s 30^th anniversary, the piece investigates energy, impetus and forward motion—elements necessary to create action and is influenced by street style, competitive interaction, perseverance and the energy of NYC.

The creation of Momentum was made possible by The Works’ New Choreography Fund, with generous support from The Harkness Foundation for Dance.

Program B

Ricochet (premiere: 1997)

Music: Balanescu Quartet

Original Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Cast: seven dance

A showpiece for the extraordinary personality and technique of The Works dancers, this septet takes its impetus and momentum from the ricocheting action of bodies hurtling through space, underlining the effect of repulsion and attraction in human relationships.

Flowers (premiere: 2004)

Flowers was inspired by the photographs of Barbara Bordnick

Original Music: Lawrence Nachsin

Photographic Images: Barbara Bordnick

Original Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Costume Design: Karen Small, Nick Putvinski & Stageworks

Cast: 9 or 10 dancers

Flowers, is a collaboration with noted photographer Barbara Bordnick. Impressionistic in nature, the dance echoes the widely divergent moods of Ms. Bordnick’s extraordinary photographs that are projected on a scrim in front of the stage. The virtuostic movement of the dancers is seen through the flower images. The dance, constructed in five sections to reflect the Chinese calendar, captures the spirit of Ms. Bordnick’s work as the flowers represented become symbols of growth, delicacy, sensuality, and fleeting beauty. The dance has original music by Lawrence Nachsin.

Helix Rituals (premiere: 2015)

Music: Augusta Read Thomas, performed by The Verdehr Trio

Original Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter

Costume Design: Sachi Masuda

Cast: 6 dancers

Helix Rituals is a three-way collaboration joining Muller choreography with the contemporary /classical music of American Academy of Arts and Letters Member Augusta Read Thomas and the musical execution of the renowned contemporary/ classical ensemble The Verdehr Trio. The piece is propelled by the changeable nature of Thomas' quixotic musical composition. The action is overlaid with an almost mystical atmosphere and ritualistic context that arrives, for brief moments, at complete stillness, then abruptly erupts into propulsive and energized flurries of action. Overall, the piece moves from a fragmented reality towards unity in a struggle to find radiance.

The creation and performance of Helix Rituals is made possible, in part, by The Verdehr Trio and The O'Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.

Speeds (premiere: 1974)

Original Music: Burt Alcantara

Original Lighting Design: Richard Nelson

Costume Design: William Katz and Stageworks

Cast: 9 to 10 dancers

Speeds, premiered in 1974, is the signature piece of The Works' early years. The piece is danced to the original music of Burt Alcantara, a pioneer in computer-generated music. Based on contrasts of velocities and dynamics, Speeds is essentially an elaborate theme and variations. The single word change is voiced by the dancers on stage came to signify the essence of dance and even life itself. Speeds became to be known worldwide for its contrast of virtuostic dancing and casual movement, its generosity of spirit and its celebratory atmosphere.

Synopsis

Evolution: Darkness to Light
Miserere Nobis
Working Title
Alchemy
Momentum

Change and Celebration
Flowers
Working Title
Speed

Artist

Jennifer Muller Choreographer
Jennifer Muller, an influence in the dance world for over 45 years, is known for her visionary approach and innovations in dance/theatre, multi-discipline productions incorporating the spoken word, live and commissioned music, artist-inspired decor and unusual production elements. As Artistic Director of The Works, she founded the company in 1974. Over the last 40 years, her vision has led the company to become renowned for its dynamic dance/theatre productions, distinctive movement style and technical virtuosity. With the company, she has toured to 39 countries on four continents, performed in 30 states, and self-produced 24 seasons in New York City.

Muller has created over 110 pieces, including seven full evening productions. A playwright as well as a choreographer, Muller is recognized as a "seminal influence on dance/theatre." Known for her history of notable collaborations, Muller has worked with such artists as Keith Haring, Keith Jarrett, Tom Slaughter, Yoko Ono and, most recently, Julia Kent and has established long-standing collaborative relationships with Burt Alcantara, Jeff Croiter, Karen Small and Marty Beller. She has designed costumes, lights and decor under the designation Stageworks.

Muller is highly respected in her field. She was honored by being chosen as a founding member of the World Arts Council, one of 30 artists in six disciplines and the only American drawn from the dance field. In 2009, Muller was awarded a commissioning grant from The Joyce Theater’s 25@25 Initiative to create Bench. In 2010, she received the “Trophy of Cultural Responsibility: Award in recognition of her invaluable contributions to dance in South America and, in 2011, an American Masterpieces: 3 Centuries of Artistic Genius grant to set her 1974 work Speeds on the UCSB company, accompanied by a scholarly conference, exhibit and publication entitled Transformation & Continuance: Jennifer Muller and the Reshaping of American Modern Dance, 1959 to Present. An internationally-renowned teacher, Muller has developed a personalized technique and innovative programs in creative thinking. TanzPlan Berlin chose Muller Polarity Technique as one of 7 unique contemporary dance techniques for its publication/DVD Tanztechnik 2010.

Invited to create and re-stage pieces for 26 international repertory companies in 9 countries, her commissions include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ohio Ballet (USA), Tanz-Forum (Germany), Ballet du Nord and Lyon Opera Ballet (France), Aterballetto (Italy), Bat Dor (Israel); Ballet Jazz de Montreal (Canada), Ballet Contemporaneo (Argentina) and Nederlands Dans Theater, NDT3 and, most recently, Introdans (Nederlands) to name a few.

Crossing the boundary into theater and opera, Muller, an award-winning choreographer, has worked in theater productions including those for The Public Theater, 2nd Stage Theater, NY Stage & Film, Juilliard Opera Center and the New York City Opera, working with such directors as Des McAnuff, Ken Elliot, Mark Linn-Baker and Christopher Mataliano. She garnered her first directing credit with the Da Capo Players' production of Peter Maxwell Davies' Le Jongleur. In 2011, she choreographed the new musical The Spiral Show in China.

Internationally renowned as a consummate teacher and mentor of creative talent, Muller is one of the only choreographers of her generation to have developed a personalized technique, Muller Polarity Technique, informed by principles drawn from Eastern philosophy. In addition to teaching Muller Polarity Technique worldwide, she has headlined workshops in creativity, collaboration and choreography in France, England, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Argentina and the US. As well, she has developed unique programs in creative thinking and non-verbal communication entitled the Creative Mind Workshops that are offered to dancers and non-dancers alike.

Above all, dance has been Muller's passion and creative voice since she was a child. Creating pieces since age 7, she began dancing professionally at age 15 as a member of the Pearl Lang Dance Company. These formative years were followed by 9 years as Principal Dancer with the José‚ Limon Company [during which she graduated from the Juilliard School] and 7 years as Associate Artistic Director of the Louis Falco Dance Company. Now, as a result of years of productive creativity, her work has been seen on stage and television in 45 countries.

Presenter

Jennifer Muller The Works
The Works is celebrating its 40th year of presenting the unique spirit of its performances to world audiences, educating youth and serving the community with vital outreach. Muller creates exhilarating dances that are evocative, inspirational, passionate and engaging. The Works applies a multi-disciplinary technique that weaves dance, theatre and visual arts to create dances that celebrate and illuminate the human spirit.

The Works is proud to be “America’s Ambassadors of Contemporary Dance”, having presented its artistry in the world’s preeminent theatres and festivals in 39 countries on four continents. The Works has performed at major theatres and festivals worldwide, from Buenos Aires to Toronto and Hong Kong to Moscow with appearances in Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Montreal, Rome and Amsterdam, to name a few. The Works recently performed to rave reviews at Brazil’s FENDAFOR 10 (Festival Internacional de Dança de Fortaleza), The Sixth Beijing International Theatre & Dance Festival, Bangkok’s 8th International Festival of Dance and Music and Festival Internacional de Teatro Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.

The Works has performed in 30 states in the US, and self-produced 24 New York City Seasons at such venues as New York City Centre, The Joyce, Cedar Lake, New Victory Theaters and New York Live Arts. In the US, The Works has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Jacob's Pillow and American Dance Festival. The company’s recent engagements and performances in New York City and environs have included David H. Koch Theater, Central Park Summerstage, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Bryant Park Festival, Jacob Javits Center and the United Nations.

The dancers of The Works are renowned both for their technical virtuosity and expressive capability. Ms. Muller draws energy, athleticism, passion and grace out of her company members in a process that reveals each performer as a distinct individual without compromising the integrity of a coherent ensemble.

The Works is devoted to mentoring creativity in all its forms, through teaching professionally-oriented students, mentoring choreographers and conducting arts-in-education programs for all ages, cultures and backgrounds.

The company's arts-in-education programs, “Faces of Wonder” and “Imagine That!!”, bring The Works’ artistry to deserving students in the New York City public schools, offering workshops in creativity and the use of the imagination in daily life. Lecture-demonstrations provide an introduction to professional concert dance - a first exposure for the majority of these students. As a capstone, participating students attend a culminating performance at Hostos Center for the Performing Arts. These programs are offered free of charge.

The “Scholarship/Apprentice” Program provides valued professional training in Muller Technique for aspiring dancers. “HATCH Presenting Series” has presented over 775 new works by emerging choreographers and theatre artists. “Area Performances Project” provides a platform for raising awareness of contemporary dance and introduces The Works’ unique artistry to audiences in unconventional environments. Annually, the company works with over 4,000 students and over 50 new choreographers.

Company alumni that have founded and/or lead dance companies include Ronald K. Brown, Young Soon Kim, Pascal Rekoert, Michael Jahoda, Maria Naidu, Leda Meredith and Christopher Pilafian. Company alumni also bring Muller Polarity Technique to new generations of dancers, establishing accredited dance programs in the US, Europe, South America and Japan.
Note

Box officeNorth Gate of NCPA, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, China

Tickets collection hours9:30-19:30 (CST) on performance day
9:30-18:00 (CST) for days without performance

Booking line+86 10 6655 0000

Booking hours9:30-18:00 (CST) Monday to Friday

Seating Chart

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小剧场

歌剧院

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We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information, however the hours, prices, and program details may vary due to last minute changes.
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CALENDARFull CalendarFull Calendar

GENRE OperaConcertDance & BalletTheatre Chinese Traditional Opera

Festivals & Series* NCPA Dance Festival 2024* NCPA Pure Classical 2024* NCPA International Theatre Festival 2024* NCPA Piano Virtuosos 2024* Charm of China—Maestros of Chinese Traditional Music

Box Office HoursPerformance Days 9:30 AM -19:30 PMGap Days 9:30 AM -18:00 PM Tickets Info8610-66550000

Productions Repertoire Films Videos Podcast

Resident Companies China NCPA Orchestra China NCPA Chorus NCPA Resident Singers NCPA Drama Ensemble

Explore NCPA Buildings Exhibitions

Visit Info Opening Hours Guided Tours Services Getting Here

Dine&Shop Western Cuisine NCPA Café Arts Gifts

THE NCPATHE NCPA

CALENDAR
Full Calendar
Full Calendar

GENRE
Opera Concert Dance & Ballet Theatre
Chinese Traditional Opera

Festivals & Series* NCPA Dance Festival 2024 * NCPA Pure Classical 2024 * NCPA International Theatre Festival 2024 * NCPA Piano Virtuosos 2024 * Charm of China—Maestros of Chinese Traditional Music

Box Office Hours
Performance Days 9:30 AM -19:30 PM
Gap Days 9:30 AM -18:00 PM
Tickets Info
8610-66550000

Productions
Repertoire Films Videos Podcast

Resident Companies
China NCPA Orchestra China NCPA Chorus
NCPA Resident Singers NCPA Drama Ensemble

THE NCPA THE NCPA