A Choreographic Journey
with Susanne Linke.

If you've been reading your e-newsletters, you already know about Suanne Linke, the renowned German choreographer comissioned to create a new work for the women of the Limón Dance Company.  Susanne recently completed the piece entitled Extreme Beauty.  This new work allows the women to shine in the way the men have in the José Limón work The Unsung.  Limón Dancer, Kathryn Alter, kept record of their journey and the choreographic process: 

The piece has different sections of unison where the only guide we have to keep us together is our concentration on staying aware of being with the group.  To reach this kind of awareness and togetherness was a lesson reaching a level of personal responsibility with the music an remaining flexible enough to go with the flow of the group...

Our month in Fredonia made made think a lot about process.  These days, at least in America, I often feel that speed is emphsized over depth. For choreographers in the creation process, time is money and this factor always pushes people to work as fast as they can to put something together.  People tend to forget that taking more time can allow a whole different plant to blossom.  Taking time can allow a certain quality and authority to be cultivated.  I had completely lost touch with what it is like to spend extended periods of time with one task. That kind of concentration opens up the focus.  Details that could be passed by at a faster speed come into the forefront.  When you have time to push through the point you believe that you cannot pass beyond, wonderful things happen.

The culmination fo these efforts was a special "sneak preview" performance at the John Jay Theater on January 20th for Limón's extended family, friends, and supporters.  The evening was also an oocasion to remember and honor the life of an important member of the Limón family, Director Emeritus, Malcolm Pennington.  Attendess were overwhelmed with Linke's highly stylized and intricate movements which were accentuated by costume designer Marion Williams and lighting designer Ted Sullivan.  Those who were not able to attend will get a chance to see the World Premiere of Extreme Beauty during our Joyce Season in the early fall.