“A work of rare beauty, presenting piercing insights with calculated subtlety.”—Trespass Magazine (UK)
Minneapolis, September 22, 2011—Testing gravity and flirting with disaster, Lucy Guerin and her company make their Midwest debut constructing a precarious world teetering on collapse on Thursday–Saturday, October 6–8, at 8 pm in the William and Nadine McGuire Theater. An Australian choreographer renowned for her distinctive and rigorous vision, Guerin translates engineering principles—compression, suspension, torsion, failure—into an arresting movement vocabulary. With an elaborate set assembled throughout the show by the dancers to form a life-size house of cards, the piece explores humanity’s universal trust in the built environment, and the fallout when that trust is betrayed. This “quietly devastating and potent work” (New York Press) will have a particular resonance in the Twin Cities as it’s based on the 1970 collapse of a bridge in Melbourne that killed 35 workers.
Founded in 2002, Lucy Guerin Inc. is committed to the exploration of everyday events and the redefinition of the formal concerns of dance. New productions are generated through an experimental approach to creative process and may involve voice, video, sound, text and industrial design as well as Guerin’s lucid physical structures. Crucially, this is always a choreographic exploration, striving for visual, emotional and physical revelations that could not be generated or communicated in any other art form.
Lucy Guerin Inc.’s influence on the growing identity of Australian dance stems from the company’s programmatic research into choreographic practice supported through several initiatives. Pieces for Small Spaces is its annual curated program for new dance works by emerging choreographers in Melbourne. First Run provides an opportunity for artists to share their current practice through studio showings of first-draft works. The company also offers workshops with local and international artists, presents one-off special events, and maintains an artist-in-residence program.
Lucy Guerin Inc has been supported by The Australia Council, Arts Victoria, City of Melbourne, the Besen Family Foundation, The Myer Foundation and the Harold Mitchell Foundation.
Tickets to Structures and Sadness are: Thursday, $18 ($15 Walker members); Friday–Saturday, $25 ($21) and are available at walkerart.org/tickets or by calling 612.375.7600.
Related Event
Choreographic Workshop with Lucy Guerin
Saturday, October 8, 11am – 1pm, $10 ($8)
William and Nadine McGuire Theater
Following a short physical warm-up, participants will explore some of the ideas and practices that have contributed to recent Lucy Guerin Inc. dance works. At present Guerin is working on “cycling choreography” which involves the development of a short sequence of choreographed movement that repeats and gains new information each time it returns to its starting point. This physical workshop may also incorporate voice and props. Professional/advanced level dancer/choreographers preferred. Limited to 20 participants.
Balcony Bar
The upper balcony of the McGuire Theater is the place to meet the artist, talk about the show and enjoy a drink and snacks. Open prior to and after the performances of
Structures and Sadness
.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria.
Performing Arts Supporters
The Walker Art Center’s performing arts programs are made possible by generous support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation through the Doris Duke Performing Arts Fund, the William and Nadine McGuire Commissioning Fund, The McKnight Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Producers’ Council
Performing Arts programs and commissions at the Walker are generously supported by members of the Producers’ Council: Russell Cowles; Sage and John Cowles; Robert and Katherine Goodale; Nor Hall and Roger Hale; King’s Fountain/Barbara Watson Pillsbury and Henry Pillsbury; Emily Maltz; Dr. William W. and Nadine M. McGuire; Leni and David Moore, Jr.; Josine Peters; Mike and Elizabeth Sweeney; and Frances and Frank Wilkinson.