Jean Erdman Dance

upcoming events
highlights of past events

2016
100th anniversary of Jean Erdman’s birth
70th anniversary of premiere of Passage and Ophelia

2015
70th anniversary of premiere of Daughters of the Lonesome Isle

2013
70th anniversary of the premiere of Creature on a Journey

2012
70th anniversary of the premiere of The Transformations of Medusa

Staging of Creature on a Journey on members of Chamber Dance Company, the graduate dance company of University of Washington, Hannah C. Wiley, Artistic Director

2011
Labanotation score of Passage by Mary Corey completed and housed in Dance Notation Bureau Library www.dancenotation.org
Excerpts from Dance & Myth: The World of Jean Erdman featured in the film, Lou Harrison: A World of Music

2010
Residency at University of Idaho supported by a grant from the NEA American Masterpieces: Dance Program featuring student performances of Suite of Three: 3 Solos by Jean Erdman www.dance.uidaho.edu

Click here to see excerpts from the rehearsal process

“ Nancy — Thank you for bringing Jean Erdman's and your gift of dance to our university. I never know how older modern dance will go over with our audience, but the solos were a hit. People also loved the video introductions. Our Dean went Saturday night and was very impressed as were some donors."

Greg Halloran
Associate Professor of Dance
University of Idaho

Staging of Creature on a Journey on Christine Jowers/Moving Arts Projects for performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland www.movingartsprojects.org

Jean Erdman Dance: Chronology and Mythology presented by the 92nd St Y in New York City as part of its 75th anniversary season. Conceived and directed by Nancy Allison, the work was a journey into Erdman’s world of dance and myth as her celebrated dances emerged from and dissolved into a visual environment created by video artist Paul Allman. It featured Elizabeth Auclair and Miki Orihara, principal dancers of the Martha Graham Dance Company and Christine Jowers in five classic Erdman solos as well as the premiere of Daughters: An Etude for the Harkness Repertory Ensemble.
http://www.92y.org/Uptown/School-of-the-Arts/Harkness-Dance-Center/Celebrating-75-Years-of-Dance-at-92nd-Street-Y.aspx

Click here to see an excerpt from a performance

“I loved it! It was like dance anthropology. I’ve never seen anything like it!”

Irena Popiashvili
Co-founding Curator
Newman Popiashvili Gallery, NYC

“…the students were poignant and powerful… and there was wonderful dancing from the pros”

Laura Jacobs
Dance Critic
The New Criterion

“The stagings and performances were fastidious, the organization illuminated the work, and the costumes--all of them--were ravishing.”

Mindy Aloff
Editor
Dance Critics Association News

Staging of Passage on members of Dance Inc., Pasqualina Nöel, Artistic Director, a professional company based in Paris for performances throughout France for the 2010 - 11 season.

2008-09
Residency at Ohio University featuring student performances of Suite of Three: 3 Solos by Jean Erdman www.finearts.ohio.edu/dance/home.htm

Click here to see an excerpt from a performance

“On Friday I had several people comment on the way out how much they enjoyed the piece and how much they appreciated the video to context the work. On Saturday the audience was even larger, perhaps 1,500 – 1,700. They were exuberantly appreciative.”

Madeleine Scott
Director
Ohio University School of Dance

Residency at University of Oklahoma supported by a grant from the NEA American Masterpieces: Dance Program featuring student performances of Daughters of the Lonesome Isle www.ou.edu/finearts/dance/

Click here to see excerpts from the rehearsal process

"Both casts were challenged by the intricacy of this beautiful work and grew immeasurably from their experience in the choreography and style. I believe they will realize even more as time passes how fortunate they
are to have enjoyed this experience. We appreciate your expert guidance more than I can say and would welcome the opportunity to work with you again.”

Mary Margaret Holt
Director
University of Oklahoma School of Dance

2006
Residency at Hofstra University featuring student performances of Daughters of the Lonesome Isle, Creature on a Journey and Hamadryad http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/HCLAS/DD/

Click here to see excerpts from the rehearsal process

"Ms. Erdman’s works sophisticated, intriguing and sensitive by nature are no easy learn-one-day-and-perform-the-next experience. These works gave the student dancers a chance to live through a meaningful journey on stage that tested their concentration as performers and demanded that they put the image across with real grace, not mere gracefulness. Furthermore, it gave our audiences the opportunity to witness dance works that not only entertain but also inform the viewer about the human experience. Good work is good work. And these truly are good works.”

Lance Westergard
Director of Dance
Hofstra University

Jean Erdman inducted into Hall of Fame at National Museum of Dance, Saratoga Springs, NY with other members of New Dance Group

Celebration of Erdman’s 90th Birthday
Technique and repertory master class at University of Hawaii at Manoa

2005
Creature on a Journey performed as part of the American Dance Legacy Institute National Conference, Skidmore College

Jean Erdman Technique: Dance Training and the Creative Process master class at National Dance Education Organization National Conference, SUNY Buffalo