Danish Dance Theater | Love Songs: Working Rehearsal

PHOTO BY HENRIK STENBERG

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

WORKING REHEARSAL

Nordic Cool 2013 is presented in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers

Love Songs

and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Presenting Underwriter HRH Foundation

“For me dance is a translation of feelings. It’s

Festival Co-Chairs The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, and Barbro Osher

another way of communicating that starts where words stop.”

Nordic Cool 2013’s dance engagements are supported by the Nordic Culture Fund.

—Choreographer Tim Rushton

About Danish Dance Theatre

Major support is provided by the Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Mrs. Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Dr. Glen Nelson, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, David M. Rubenstein, and the State Plaza Hotel.

Danish Dance Theatre was founded in 1981 and is the largest modern dance company in Denmark, with members from all over the globe. British-born dancer and choreographer Tim Rushton became its Artistic Director in 2001 and has won several awards for his choreography. In 2011, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in honor of his contributions to dance. Rushton is particularly interested in combining classical dance traditions with modern influences.

Danish Dance Theater is presented in cooperation with Ice Hot Nordic Dance Platform and The Joyce Theater, New York.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

— as of December 31, 2012

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement from the Federal Government. © 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

Performance Guide

Michael M. Kaiser President

Cuesheet

DANISH DANCE THeatRE

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Love and All That Jazz Looking at Love LOVE SONGS BY TIM RUSHTON What’s this dance about? You guessed it—LOVE! In this working rehearsal, you’ll see Danish Dance Theatre explore a range of experiences and emotions connected to love. As in real life, searching for love doesn’t always come easy. There are moments of attraction, but also rejection. Dancers sometimes connect in meaningful and passionate ways, but at other moments, they seem distanced from one another, even lonely.

The dance is one work separated by an intermission in the middle. Throughout both sections of Love Songs, the whole company remains on stage even when they aren’t dancing. As the movement alternates from solos to duets to groups, you’ll hear jazz classics recorded by Danish singing artist Caroline Henderson.

WATCH FOR...

Making Music Matter

dancers showing different performance energy. The piece starts with a male dancer’s smooth, flowing movement which is later contrasted by another dancer’s sharp, jerky movement. Looking at the piece as a whole, you will notice sections that are high-energy with fast-paced dancing, and other sections that are more calm and quiet.

Music is an important part of this performance. You’ll hear popular singer Caroline Henderson provide a musical playlist of love songs made popular by American jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn. The lyrics of the songs evoke feelings associated with romantic relationships.

the way dancers interact during duets.

Sometimes the couples embrace tenderly, holding each other tight.

At other times, they hang on to one another only briefly, touching in passing, or have only one point of contact while their bodies stretch in opposite directions. What do you think the choreographer is trying to communicate with these different types of touch?

LISTEN FOR...

“Love’s full of waiting, and love’s bittersweet.”

“I’m gonna love you, come rain or come shine.”

“Listen to me! Why is everything so hazy? Isn’t that he, or am I going crazy?”

“Don’t change a hair for me, not if you care for me. Stay, little valentine, stay.”

The most intimate duet in Love Songs is performed to the song “My Funny Valentine.” The lyrics are about loving someone without wanting to change a single thing about them. In this duet, watch how the choreography demonstrates the feeling of letting go and trusting in one another.

Each of the dancers supports the weight of the other during the duet, and in one spectacular moment, the man catches his partner as she leaps toward him, arms and legs outstretched.

Watch how the duet ends with a surprisingly tender embrace.

The whole company dances in unison. Why do you think they are wearing everyday clothes?

During this passionate embrace, notice the proximity of their faces and the way the male dancer holds the woman tight to his chest while looking in her eyes. Watch for other more frustrated interactions, including those of a woman desperate for the attentions of the same man throughout the performance.

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

A Special Duet

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

Love and All That Jazz Looking at Love LOVE SONGS BY TIM RUSHTON What’s this dance about? You guessed it—LOVE! In this working rehearsal, you’ll see Danish Dance Theatre explore a range of experiences and emotions connected to love. As in real life, searching for love doesn’t always come easy. There are moments of attraction, but also rejection. Dancers sometimes connect in meaningful and passionate ways, but at other moments, they seem distanced from one another, even lonely.

The dance is one work separated by an intermission in the middle. Throughout both sections of Love Songs, the whole company remains on stage even when they aren’t dancing. As the movement alternates from solos to duets to groups, you’ll hear jazz classics recorded by Danish singing artist Caroline Henderson.

WATCH FOR...

Making Music Matter

dancers showing different performance energy. The piece starts with a male dancer’s smooth, flowing movement which is later contrasted by another dancer’s sharp, jerky movement. Looking at the piece as a whole, you will notice sections that are high-energy with fast-paced dancing, and other sections that are more calm and quiet.

Music is an important part of this performance. You’ll hear popular singer Caroline Henderson provide a musical playlist of love songs made popular by American jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn. The lyrics of the songs evoke feelings associated with romantic relationships.

the way dancers interact during duets.

Sometimes the couples embrace tenderly, holding each other tight.

At other times, they hang on to one another only briefly, touching in passing, or have only one point of contact while their bodies stretch in opposite directions. What do you think the choreographer is trying to communicate with these different types of touch?

LISTEN FOR...

“Love’s full of waiting, and love’s bittersweet.”

“I’m gonna love you, come rain or come shine.”

“Listen to me! Why is everything so hazy? Isn’t that he, or am I going crazy?”

“Don’t change a hair for me, not if you care for me. Stay, little valentine, stay.”

The most intimate duet in Love Songs is performed to the song “My Funny Valentine.” The lyrics are about loving someone without wanting to change a single thing about them. In this duet, watch how the choreography demonstrates the feeling of letting go and trusting in one another.

Each of the dancers supports the weight of the other during the duet, and in one spectacular moment, the man catches his partner as she leaps toward him, arms and legs outstretched.

Watch how the duet ends with a surprisingly tender embrace.

The whole company dances in unison. Why do you think they are wearing everyday clothes?

During this passionate embrace, notice the proximity of their faces and the way the male dancer holds the woman tight to his chest while looking in her eyes. Watch for other more frustrated interactions, including those of a woman desperate for the attentions of the same man throughout the performance.

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

A Special Duet

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

PHOTO BY HENRIK STENBERG

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

WORKING REHEARSAL

Nordic Cool 2013 is presented in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers

Love Songs

and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Presenting Underwriter HRH Foundation

“For me dance is a translation of feelings. It’s

Festival Co-Chairs The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, and Barbro Osher

another way of communicating that starts where words stop.”

Nordic Cool 2013’s dance engagements are supported by the Nordic Culture Fund.

—Choreographer Tim Rushton

About Danish Dance Theatre

Major support is provided by the Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Mrs. Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Dr. Glen Nelson, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, David M. Rubenstein, and the State Plaza Hotel.

Danish Dance Theatre was founded in 1981 and is the largest modern dance company in Denmark, with members from all over the globe. British-born dancer and choreographer Tim Rushton became its Artistic Director in 2001 and has won several awards for his choreography. In 2011, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in honor of his contributions to dance. Rushton is particularly interested in combining classical dance traditions with modern influences.

Danish Dance Theater is presented in cooperation with Ice Hot Nordic Dance Platform and The Joyce Theater, New York.

International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.

Major support for the Kennedy Center’s educational programs is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

— as of December 31, 2012

www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.Learn more about Education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement from the Federal Government. © 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy*s Foundation; The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.

PHOTO BY BJARKE ØRSTED

Performance Guide

Michael M. Kaiser President

Cuesheet

DANISH DANCE THeatRE

David M. Rubenstein Chairman