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2023

Jean Erdman Dance is pleased to present
Dance & Myth: The World of Jean Erdman

This three-part archival series produced by Foundation for The Open Eye, established by Erdman and her husband, the mythologist Joseph Campbell in 1972, contains 11 complete dances, choreographed and staged by Erdman. Footage of Erdman at work, archival photos and films of her and her illustrious collaborators, including dancers Merce Cunningham and Donald McKayle, composers John Cage, Henry Cowell, Lou Harrison and Louis Horst, and visual artist Carlus Dyer, along with Erdman’s own voice-over narration interspersed between the dance recreations, all serve to elucidate her creative process and unique artistic vision.

To stream, click on the links below:

Part 1: The Early Dances (1942-1948)
vimeo.com/manage/videos/812084336

Part 2: The Group Dances (1949-50)
vimeo.com/manage/videos/812093919

Part Three: The Later Solos (1954 – 1956)
vimeo.com/manage/videos/812119851

2021

The National Arts Club
presents
SENSATION AND LOCATION:
Site Specific Dance Film
March 29, 2021

Nancy Allison discusses her approach to the interdisciplinary genre of dance film, with an eye toward “how we perceive the world around us...and how these perceptions interact with our creative expression,” citing examples from her films “Hamadryad”, “Marmo,” “Water on Stone “and “BODY PLACE IMAGE”

2020

The Joseph Campbell Foundation
hosts
Remembering Jean Erdman:
A Conversation with Nancy Allison

To join this on-going interactive written dialogue CLICK HERE
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to advance to the succeeding pages of the conversation.

THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF MEDUSA (1942)
featuring
Christine Daikin
streaming as part of the
2020 American Dance Guild Performance Festival
"10 Years Over 10 Weeks"
November 23 - 29
To see the free on-line performance go to:
www.americandanceguild.org

Jean Erdman in The Transformations of Medusa
(Photo by Barbara Morgan)

HAMADRYAD
Streaming as part of 39th Battery Dance Festival
Tues. August 18 7:00PM-8:00PM (NYC time)
To see the free on-line performance celebrating the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in the U.S. Click here

To read a review, click here: http://www.seeingdance.com/battery-dance-festival-right-to-vote-20082020/ 

2020

2020 Jean Erdman Dance sadly announces the passing of Jean Erdman on May 4, 2020

Read the New York Times obituary here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/arts/dance/jean-erdman-dead.html

Read the Dance magazine tribute here: https://www.dancemagazine.com/jean-erdman-choreographer-and-theater-director-dies-at-104-2645934093.html

2019

JEAN ERDMAN
celebrated throughout India
in THE ASIAN AGE September 24, 2019

Merce Cunningham and Jean Erdman in Credo in Us
(Photo by Barbara Morgan)

Jean Erdman is a magical, pioneering legend whose name I would guess doesn’t ring a bell for many of you. Yet she touched, influenced and transformed 20th century consciousness of myth and culture in modern dance and theatre in lasting ways.

To see the full article click here.

2017

The Joseph Campbell Foundation and New World Library
announce the publication of
The Ecstasy of Being: Mythology and Dance
Joseph Campbell's collected writings on dance and art,
edited and introduced by Nancy Allison

In this new collection Campbell explores the rise of modern art and dance in the twentieth century; delves into the work and philosophy of Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and others; and, as always, probes the idea of art as "the funnel through which spirit is poured into life." This book offers the reader an accessible, yet profound and provocative, insight into Campbell's lifelong fascination with the relationship of myth to aesthetic form and human psychology.

“No one in our century — not Freud, not Thomas Mann, not Lévi-Strauss — has so brought the mythical sense of the world and its eternal figures back into our everyday consciousness.”

— James Hillman

“Campbell has become the rarest of intellectuals in American life: a serious thinker who has been embraced by the popular culture.”

— Newsweek

A must have for every dance and arts library. To order: click here

Hamadryad screening November 5 at Noon YoFi Fest Film Festival Yonkers, NY

For tickets and information: https://www.yofifest.com

2016

SPECIAL EVENTS HONOR JEAN ERDMAN at 100
The 92 St Y Harkness Dance Center, American Dance Guild, and Jean Erdman Dance
present:

4 events honoring Jean Erdman in her 100th year

Jean Erdman in The Transformations of Medusa
(Photo by Barbara Morgan)

Featuring performances with live music of Erdman's The Transformations of Medusa (1942) and Passage (1946), staged by Nancy Allison
performed by special guest artists
Christine Dakin and Miki Orihara
walk, breathe, dance
(a tribute to Jean Erdman)
choreographed and performed by Nancy Allison
with music by Lou Harrison
Hamadryad, a stage to screen adaptation of Erdman's solo directed by Nancy Allison and Paul Allman, a panel discussion with Erdman collaborators, as well as, new dances inspired by myth by a wide range of choreographers, from emerging voices to American masters.

MYTH AND MODERN DANCE
Fridays at Noon (Friday October 14 at 12:00PM)
For tickets and information: www.92Y.org/FridaysatNoon

Traditional Hula (Kaino Emberhate/choreographer-dancer, Lehuanani DeFranco, Kaina Quenga/dancers)
Archival Film of Jean Erdman
The Transformations of Medusa (Jean Erdman/choreographer, Christine Dakin/dancer, Amir Khosrowpour/pianist)
Passage (Jean Erdman/choreographer, Miki Orihara/dancer, Amir Khosrowpour/pianist, Laura Falzon/flutist)
Excerpt from Diagnosis of a Faun (Tamar Rogoff/choreographer, Emily Pope-Blackman, Gregg Mozgala/dancers)

Panel Discussion with Nancy Allison, (Artistic Director Jean Erdman Dance), Gladys Bailin, who assisted Erdman in establishing the original NYU School of the Arts Dance Program, Dr. Miriam Roskin Berger, Director, 92Y Harkness Dance Center Therapy Program, Diana Byer, Artistic Director New York Theater Ballet, Laurel Jenkins, 2015 Awardee Joseph Campbell and Jean Erdman Marriage of Mythology and Dance Scholarship, director and designer Ralph Lee, choreographer Tamar Rogoff, and Robert Walter, President of the Joseph Campbell Foundation.

The documentary Dancing with Jean Erdman screens in lobby at 11:30 AM.

DANCE and MYTH
Dig Dance: Weekend Series
3 different concerts featuring dance and films
For tickets and information: www.92Y.org/DigDance

Friday October 14 at 8:00PM
The Transformations of Medusa (Jean Erdman/choreographer, Christine Dakin/dancer, Amir Khosrowpour/pianist)
Hamadryad (Nancy Allison, Paul Allman/directors, Jean Erdman/choreographer, Miki Orihara/dancer)
walk, breathe, dance
(a tribute to Jean Erdman)
choreographed and performed by Nancy Allison
with music by Lou Harrison
Excerpt from Image, Action, Text (Laurel Jenkins/choreographer-dancer, Miguel Frasconci/composer-performer, Melissa Guerro, Alexx Schilling/dancers)
and others

Saturday October 15 at 8:00PM
The Transformations of Medusa (Jean Erdman/choreographer, Christine Dakin/dancer, Amir Khosrowpour/pianist)
Hamadryad (Nancy Allison, Paul Allman/directors, Jean Erdman/choreographer, Miki Orihara/dancer)
walk, breathe, dance
(a tribute to Jean Erdman)
choreographed and performed by Nancy Allison
with music by Lou Harrison
and others

Sunday October 16 at 3:00PM
The Transformations of Medusa (Jean Erdman/choreographer, Christine Dakin/dancer, Amir Khosrowpour/pianist)
Hamadryad (Nancy Allison, Paul Allman/directors, Jean Erdman/choreographer, Miki Orihara/dancer)
walk, breathe, dance
(a tribute to Jean Erdman)
choreographed and performed by Nancy Allison
with music by Lou Harrison
Excerpt from Image, Action, Text (Laurel Jenkins/choreographer-dancer, Miguel Frasconci/composer-performer, Melissa Guerro, Alexx Schilling/dancers)
Excerpt from Diagnosis of a Faun (Tamar Rogoff/choreographer, Emily Pope-Blackman, Gregg Mozgala/dancers)
and others

The documentary Dancing with Jean Erdman screens in lobby one half hour before Dig Dance performances.

The Open Eye Theater presents:
CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE
a performance festival
Sept. 23 - 25, 2016
Margaretville, NY
For tickets and information: www.theopeneyetheater.org
Nancy Allison rehearsing walk, breathe, dance
(Photo by Roger Rosen)

Featuring new work by Nancy Allison
walk, breathe, dance (Sunday Sept. 25 at 2:30PM)
In this performance project choreographer/dancer Nancy Allison mines the legacy of her more than 30-year association with choreographer/director Jean Erdman. Allison explores the connections between modernism and post-modernism inside a film environment by Paul Allman, incorporating archival imagery of Erdman dancing, text from her unpublished manuscript, The Dance as it Derives from the Simple Elements of Walking and music by long-time Erdman collaborator, Lou Harrison.

Hawaii State Library hosts:
JEAN ERDMAN: A CAREER RETROSPECTIVE
Sept. 8 - October 8, 2016
Hawaii State Library
478 King St.
Honolulu, HI
For information call: 808-586-3510 or Visit the Hawaii State Library site
Miki Orihara in Hamadryad
(Photo by Glen Mordeci)

This exhibit documents Erdman's career as a choreographer and dancer. Masks by designer Ralph Lee and costumes from her production of The Shining House: An opera of pagan Hawai'i are featured. Hamadryad, a re-envisioning of Erdman's 1948 solo by directors Nancy Allison and Paul Allman, featuring Bessie Award winning dancer, Miki Orihara will be screened.

Screenings:
* Dance on Camera Festival, October 2016
Jacob Burns Film Center presents Hamadrayd, October 24, 2016, Pleasantville, NY
Event and Ticket Information
* São Carlos Videodance Festival, August 2016
10th São Carlos Videodance Festival presents Hamadrayd, August 18 - 19, 2016
Information
* ColorTape International Film Festival Summer 2016
ColorTape International Film Festival presents Hamadrayd, June 4, 2016
Information
* International Festival of Films on Art, March 2016
34th International Festival of Films on Art presents Hamadrayd, March 12, 2016
Information
* Oklahoma Film Festival, February 2016
Oklahoma Dance Film Festival presents Hamadrayd, February 20, 2016, Tulsa, OK
Information
* Philadelphia Screendance Festival, February 2016
Philadelphia Screendance Festival presents Hamadrayd, February 20, 2016
Information

Awards for Hamadryad:
* Quarter Finalist Award Colortape International Film Festival (Brisbane, AUSTRALIA)
* Award of Excellence in Short Film Category, Depth of Field International Film Festival
* Award of Excellence for Cinematography, Depth of Field International Film Festival
* Award of Exceptional Merit for Editing, Depth of Field International Film Festival

Touring:
* Excerpts from Dance & Myth: The World of Jean Erdman included in Dance is a Weapon, touring exhibit organized by the Centre National de la Danse, (Paris, FRANCE) www.cnd.fr

2015
Screenings of Hamadryad:
* Katra Film Series, July 2015
Hamadrayd and 9 other short films at the Katra Film Series
* Mykonos Biennale, July 2015
* Cine Mando presents Hamadrayd, July 3 - 7, 2015, Mykonos Island
* World Premier Screening, January 2015
Dance Films Association, in partnership with the Film Society of Lincoln Center, presents the 43rd Edition of Dance On Camera.

Awards for Hamadryad:
* Award of Merit for Nature/Environment/Wildlife by the IndieFEST Film Awards
* Best Hawaii Film by Honolulu Film Awards, 2015

2014

Commission from the Emergency Fund for Student Dancers
JED artistic director, Nancy Allison was commissioned by the Emergency Fund for Student Dancers to create a new work for students from the five professional dance academies in NYC: Graham, Ailey, Limon, Dance Theater of Harlem and Peridance.

Click here to see an excerpt from the January showing:

To view full credits, click on title in video. 

Release of Chamber Dance Ensemble DVD Library and Archive
Volume 8 Jean Erdman: Creature on a Journey

Created during the NEA sponsored residency at University of Washington in 2012 this DVD includes:

• Extensive interview with JED artistic director Nancy Allison 
• Rehearsal and performance footage of UW students
• Interview and rehearsal footage of UW musicians

A must have for any dance library! To order your copy click here:
http://depts.washington.edu/uwdance/cdc/archive/
Or
Contact Hannah C. Wiley, Project Director @: hcw@uw.edu

To see excerpts from the DVD click here:

To view full credits, click on title in video. 

2013

The Dryad Project 
Creation of a film adaptation of Erdman’s 1948 solo, Hamadryad by JED artistic director, Nancy Allison and filmmaker, Paul Allman begun in late 2013 continues in 2014. The film follows Bessie Award winning dancer, Miki Orihara from the streets of Manhattan to the studio where she rehearses the dance, enchanting herself into the forest that inspired it.  Check back for broadcast and festival showing schedule.

Click here to see behind the scenes footage from the shoots:

To view full credits, click on title in video. 

Forever and Sunsmell
Edwin van der Wolf presents a re-envisioning of Erdman’s Forever and Sunsmell with it’s commissioned score by John Cage and titular poem by E.E. Cummings on June 3, 2013 at Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen, Holland.
For information and reservations visit: www.hanze.nl

2012

Leap Dance Festival
JED Artistic Director, Nancy Allison performed Solo, choreographed for her by BAX Award-winning choreographer, Barbara Mahler at the LEAP Dance Festival at LaGuardia College in NYC

To view full credits, click on title in video. 

Lou Harrison: A World of Music
Lou Harrison: A World of Music by filmmaker Eva Soltes screens at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., San Francisco, CA, May 1, 2012. This documentary includes footage from three Erdman/Harrison collaborations. For information and reservations call (800) 838-3006 or visit www.harrisondocumentary.com

2011

Collaged Codes: John Cage’s Credo In US
Collaged Codes: John Cage’s Credo In US by Paul Cox is now available. This fascinating book explores at the complex personal and artistic dynamics between the collaborators in Cage’s landmark 1942 work including Merce Cunningham, Jean Erdman, Joseph Campbell and Xenia Kashavarov. To download visit: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1301716791