Cal Performances Presents

Friday, January 30, 2009, 8pm Saturday, January 31, 2009, 8pm Zellerbach Hall

Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre

Black Diamond. Photo by Richard Termine.

Cal Performances’ 2008–2009 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank.

CAL PERFORMANCES 25 Program Program A

Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre Friday, January 30, 2009, 8pm Zellerbach Hall

Pascal Rioult PROGRAM Artistic Director & Choreographer Joyce Herring Views of the Fleeting World Executive Director (dedicated to the memory of Harriet and Gordon Greenfield)

Choreography Pascal Rioult Brian Flynn Penelope Gonzalez David Finley Music J. S. Bach, The Art of Fugue Rehearsal Director Rehearsal Director Lighting Design (arr. Graeser, 1927, for chamber orchestra) Set & Projections Harry Feiner Harry Feiner Pilar Limosner Russ Vogler Lighting David Finley Set & Projection Design Costume Design Costume Design Costumes Karen Young

Karen Young Anna Peterson Jim French Orchard Costume Design Production Manager Associate Lighting Design The Company

Gathering Storm The Company The Company Brian Flynn Penelope Gonzalez Charis Haines Patrick Leahy Michael Spencer Phillips Robert Robinson Jane Sato Wild Horses John Sorensen-Jolink Anastasia Soroczynski Marianna Tsartolia The Company Lindsey Parker (apprentice) Dusk Marianna Tsartolia and Michael Spencer Phillips Major supporters of Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre’s 2008–2009 season include Con Edison, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, The Grand Marnier Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Sudden Rain Harriet & Gordon Greenfield Foundation, Donald L. Holley, The Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation, Jane Sato Kenneth French Fund for New Works, The Lehman Brothers Foundation, The Lepercq Foundation, The Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund of the Community Trust, the National Night Ride Endowment for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, Anastasia Soroczynski and the Company Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund and The Shubert Foundation. Summer Wind Charis Haines and Patrick Leahy Rioult handles its North American booking in-house. For more information contact: Amy Harrison Moonlight Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre Penelope Gonzalez and Brian Flynn 246 West 38th Street, 8th Floor New York, New York 10018 Flowing River phone (212) 398-5901 The Company fax (212) 398-5902 www.prdance.org J. S. Bach’s The Art of Fugue is beautifully wrought with both purity and strength and provides a most [email protected] inspiring canvas on which to choreograph a work that celebrates beauty and humanity in art, as in life. This is the tribute I want to offer to the memory of two exceptional people in dedication to their belief in the transforming power of the performing arts.—Pascal Rioult, June 2008

26 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 27 Program A Program A

This piece has been commissioned by The Harriet and Gordon Greenfield Foundation. Symphony of Psalms The Art of Fugue was developed while in residence at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, (West Coast Premiere) which was supported in part with a New York State Residency grant from the New York State Council on the Arts and The Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation.

INTERMISSION

Black Diamond (West Coast Premiere) Steven Schreiber

Choreography Pascal Rioult Music Igor Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms Lighting David Finley

Richard Termine Richard Associate Lighting Designer Jim French Choreography Pascal Rioult Set & Costumes Pilar Limosner Music Igor Stravinsky, Duo Concertant Lighting David Finley Dancers Set & Costumes Pascal Rioult Brian Flynn, Charis Haines, Patrick Leahy, Michael Spencer Phillips, Robert Robinson, Jane Sato, John Sorensen-Jolink, Anastasia Soroczynski, Marianna Tsartolia Dancers Charis Haines, Jane Sato Support for the creation of this work was provided by the Kenneth French Fund for New Works.

First Performance The Joyce Theater, New York, April 17, 2003 Music used by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.

Black Diamond was commissioned by The Grand Marnier Foundation.

Music used by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner. 2

PAUSE

28 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 29 Program B Program B

Saturday, January 31, 2009, 8pm Zellerbach Hall

PROGRAM

Les Noces (The Wedding) (West Coast Premiere)

Choreography Pascal Rioult Music Igor Stravinsky, Les Noces Lighting David Finley Costumes Pilar Limosner Set Harry Feiner

Dancers Brian Flynn, Charis Haines, Patrick Leahy, Michael Spencer Phillips, Robert Robinson, Jane Sato, Anastasia Soroczynski, Marianna Tsartolia

First Performance The Joyce Theater, New York, June 14, 2005

Costume and lighting underwritten by Judy S. Gordon. Additional support from the Kenneth French Fund for New Works. Basil Childers Developed in residence at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, funded in part with a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. Faithful to Ravel’s intentions, Wien is a fantastic and fatal swirling of tragic dimensions. The Viennese waltz, the very image of social refinement, becomes the symbol of a disintegrating society taken into a whirlpool of violence and humiliation. The piece has the poisoned atmosphere of despair and fatalism. It INTERMISSION is the trail of failed humanity. It is a premonition of triumphant evil.

* Wien (“Vienna”) is the original title of the musical score. Wien*

Choreography Pascal Rioult Music Maurice Ravel, La Valse PAUSE Lighting David Finley Costumes Russ Vogler

Dancers Brian Flynn, Jane Sato, Michael Spencer Phillips, Robert Robinson, Anastasia Soroczynski, Marianna Tsartolia

First Performance Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, New York, January 13, 1995

30 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 31 Program B About the Artists

Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre (“Rioult”) was Former track and field Bolero founded in 1994 and fast became an established star in France, Pascal name in modern dance with a reputation for cre- Rioult (Artistic Director ating and presenting the sensual, articulate, and & Choreographer) came to exquisitely musical works of Pascal Rioult. Born the United States on a fel- into the American modern dance tradition, Rioult lowship from the French is creating its own legacy of theatrically produced, Ministry of Culture to contemporary dance that speaks to the mind as study modern dance in well as the heart of the global community. The 1981. After perform- company of 10 dancers is based in ing with the companies and presents an annual New York season, tours na- of May O’Donnell and tionally and internationally and reaches more than Paul Sanasardo he was invited to join the Martha 20,000 audience members each year. Graham Dance Company. As a principal dancer, Rioult has been invited to perform in the- he interpreted many of the most prestigious roles atres and festivals throughout North America: in the Graham repertory and in 1990 Ms. Graham New York City Center Fall for Dance, Lincoln created the central role (Death Figure) in her ballet Center Out-of-Doors, American Dance Festival in The Eye of the Goddess for Mr. Rioult. He performed Raleigh, North Carolina, the Tamaulipas Festival, opposite Mikhail Baryshnikov and Joyce Herring Mexico, the Annenberg Center in Philadelphia, Le in El Penitente and was featured in two television Grand Théâtre de Québec, the Raymond F. Kravis specials: in Japan and Five Dances

Basil Childers Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm by Martha Graham at the ParisOpera. Beach, Florida, and Cal Performances in Berkeley, Since starting his own company in 1994, Choreography Pascal Rioult to name a few. An extensive international touring Mr. Rioult has dedicated his energies to forging Music Maurice Ravel, Bolero schedule has brought the company to the Bermuda and perfecting a choreographic style of his own, Lighting David Finley Festival, Cannes International Festival, Danse à nurturing a robust ensemble of dancers, and grow- Costumes Russ Vogler Aix, Festival du Val du Marne, the Temps le Danse ing his company, Rioult. Several of his early works Set Harry Feiner Festival, the Paris Opera Bastille and La Maison have become classics and his new works are an- de la Danse in France, stages in Italy, Switzerland, ticipated yearly as those of a maturing master of Dancers Germany, Belgium and numerous other countries, his art. Brian Flynn, Charis Haines, Patrick Leahy, Michael Spencer Phillips cities and towns throughout the world. Mr. Rioult’s works have been commissioned by Robert Robinson, Jane Sato, Anastasia Soroczynski, Marianna Tsartolia Rioult prides itself on its commitment to its the American Dance Festival, Cal Performances, dancers. Among the primary goals of the organiza- the Ballet du Nord in Roubaix, France, the Geneva First Performance Cal Performances, February 15, 2002 tion is to provide steady employment and health- Ballet, Switzerland, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the care, and to foster the artistic development of its Harriet and Gordon Greenfield Foundation, the When Maurice Ravel was asked about his Bolero, he said, “My most famous piece; too bad there is no performers by offering training classes, teaching Grand Marnier Foundation, the Théâtre de Saint music in it.” Ravel challenged himself to repeat as little material possible as many times as he could opportunities, challenging repertory and extended Quentin en Yvelines, France, and Lehigh University without losing the audience’s interest. This is exactly what Rioult decided to do with his version, creating rehearsal and performance schedules. in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, among others. a machine-like dance that explores the duality of constant rhythm and sensuality of Bolero while bringing Education and community outreach have been Mr. Rioult has been awarded grants from the it to a riveting crescendo. Variations in this human assembly line of movement bring detail to the integral to Rioult since its inception. Rioult’s arts- New York State Council on the Arts, the Rockefeller choreography as the instrumentation adds detail to the music. in-education program, DanceREACH, offers an Brothers Foundation, National Endowment for This piece has been co-commissioned by Cal Performances and The Théâtre de Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France. interactive approach to introducing students to the the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Geoffrey C. world of modern dance. It has impacted thousands Hughes Foundation, the Harkness Foundation, Additional funding provided by The Florence Gould Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance and, of students and community members in New York the Florence Gould Foundation, the Department in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and with public funds from the City and around the world. Ongoing relationships of Cultural Affairs, Shana Alexander Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Challenge Program. with schools in New York City and the metropoli- Lila Acheson Wallace Foundation, and numerous tan area allow Rioult to inspire new generations of others. He is a two-time recipient of the Choo-San Set underwriting provided by The Grand Marnier Foundation. dancers and audiences. Goh Award for Choreography.

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32 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 33 About the Artists About the Artists

Joyce Herring (Executive Director) was born in Dancers Charis Haines (danc- Fellowship (2006). In 2005, she was hosted by the Grassy Point, New York. As a founding member er) is originally from the Tanaka Foundation in Japan as a cultural represen- of Rioult, she now serves as Executive Director. Brian Flynn (dancer, beautiful beach town of tative of the United States and SUNY Purchase. She held the positions of associate artistic direc- rehearsal director), orig- Carpinteria, California. In New York, she has worked with TAKÉ Dance tor, rehearsal director and regisseur since 1994. She inally from Walpole, Ms. Haines graduated (Takehiro Ueyama), CorbinDANCES (Patrick danced with the company until 2004. Until her Massachusetts, earned summa cum laude from Corbin) and the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. appointment as Executive Director in September his BFA from the UC Santa Barbara In Montréal, she has worked with Jose Navas/ 2008, she also staged the works of Mr. Rioult for Conservatory of Dance with a BFA in dance. Compagnie Flak. Ms. Parker is presently an ap- dance companies and universities in the United at Purchase College. He She was honored to receive the Alice Condodina prentice for Rioult; she premiered with the com- States and abroad. has performed in the Performance Award upon graduation. Since mov- pany this fall in Italy. Ms. Herring met Mr. Rioult while dancing works of such choreog- ing to New York, Ms. Haines has performed with with the Martha Graham Dance Company, with raphers as Paul Taylor, Wendy Osserman, Silver-Brown Dance, Jessica Michael Spencer Phillips (dancer) is a gradu- which she danced until 1999 as principal dancer. Merce Cunningham, Gaynor Dance, Katherine Howard and Lux ate of the University of They were married in 1988. During her career with Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, Eun Me Ahn and Dance. Ms. Haines was first introduced to Rioult Michigan, where he re- the Martha Graham Dance Company, she inter- the Kevin Wynn Collection, and also performed while working at the Joyce Theater as the Assistant ceived his BFA in dance. preted many leading roles, including Lamentation, with the Boston Ballet in Ben Stevenson’s produc- House Manager and joined Rioult in 2007. While at Michigan, Deep Song, Jocasta in Night Journey, the Bride tion Cleopatra. He has taught and set works for he was also a member in Appalachian Spring, the Virgin in Primitive Rioult, including Bolero and If by Chance, at Alvin Patrick Leahy (danc- of the Peter Sparling Mysteries, Heretic, Joan of Arc in Seraphic Dialogue, Ailey/Fordham University BFA Program and the er) grew up in Hot Dance Company. Upon Helen of Troy in Clytemnestra, the Conversation of Russian School of Ballet in Bermuda. Mr. Flynn Springs, Arkansas. graduation, he received Lovers in Acts of Light. joined Rioult in 1999. Mr. Leahy gradu- a scholarship to attend She performed opposite Pascal Rioult and ated summa cum t he Me r c e C u n n i n g h a m Mikhail Baryshnikov in Ms. Graham’s three- Penelope Gonzalez laude from Southern School, and performed character piece, El Penitente, and the follow- (dancer) was born in Methodist University in the Cunningham ing year was cast in the leading role of the rec- Mexico City where she in Dallas, Texas, Repertory Group. Other performance credits in- reation of American Document, again opposite began her dance stud- where he received de- clude New York City Opera, Battleworks Dance Mr. Baryshnikov. Ms. Herring made her debut ies on a scholarship at grees with distinction Company, Risa Jaraslow and Dancers, and an in the solo Lamentation at the White House for the Ballet Nacional in both dance perfor- apprenticeship with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane the PBS production Young Artists in Performance de Mexico. She came mance and English Dance Company. He is a teaching artist with at the White House. Her other TV credits include to New York on a pri- literature. Mr. Leahy Rioult’s DanceReach school program and has Celebrate! 100 Years at the Met, Martha Graham in vate grant and was has performed the works of Martha Graham, had the privilege to restage Mr. Rioult’s work. He Japan and Three Dances by Martha Graham, filmed subsequently awarded Agnes DeMille, George Balanchine, and Marius joined Rioult in 2002. at the Paris Opera. a scholarship by the Petipa and has worked with choreographers such Ms. Herring is a former director of the Martha Graham School. In the United States, as Danny Buraczeski, Max Stone, Arthur Aviles, Robert Robinson Martha Graham School and a régisseur of the she has danced with the Martha Graham Dance Amy Marshall, Alison Chase and Joost Antoine (dancer) trained at the Graham Trust. She has been on the faculties of Company and Gomez Dance Theater, among Vrouenraets. Mr. Leahy joined Rioult in 2008. Hartt School before the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, others. She has taught modern dance and staged and graduating from Marymount Manhattan College, guest teacher at Rioult repertory at universities throughout the Lindsey Parker (ap- The . the Juilliard School, Rudra Bejart in Lausanne, United States and Mexico including the Martha prentice) is a native of As a student he had the A lfredo Cor vino’s Dance Circle, the Neighborhood Graham School, the Alvin Ailey American Dance California. She graduated privilege of perform- Playhouse, Harvard Summer Dance Center, North Center and SUNY Purchase. Ms. Gonzalez has summa cum laude from ing works by choreog- Carolina School of the Arts, Ballet du Nord, the been with Rioult since 1998. SUNY Purchase, where raphers such as Nacho Lyon Opera Ballet, the Conservatoire Nationale she performed repertory Duato, Lar Lubovitch Superieure de Musique de Lyon, the Geneva by Jacqulyn Buglisi, Merce and Dwight Rhoden. Ballet, the Ballet de Lorraine and the Interlochen Cunningham, Mark In addition to dancing Academy of the Performing Arts, among others. Morris, Lauri Stallings with Rioult, he is the resident choreographer of and Paul Taylor. She is Ditch Productions: a multimedia performance art the recipient of the Thayer collective. Mr. Robinson joined Rioult in 2005. 34 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 35 About the Artists

Originally from San Francisco, Jane Sato (dancer) Anastasia Soroczynski (dancer) was born and has danced and raised in New Jersey. toured internation- In 2002, she gradu- ally with ODC/ ated with a BFA in SF, Buglisi Dance dance from SUNY Theater, Jeune Purchase and has Ballet de France, been privileged to San Francisco Ballet work with choreogra- and the Peridance phers such as Donald Ensemble before Byrd, Kevin Wynn, joining Rioult in Kazuko Hirabyashi, 2006. Ms. Sat0 Ayako Kurakako, g r a du a t e d f r om Th e Astrid Von Ussae and Juilliard School, Tracie Stanfield. Ms. Soroczynski joined Rioult in and her work has been performed at the 2002 and is proud to be actively involved in team Juilliard Theater, , BAX and the teaching for Rioult’s outreach program. Cunningham Studio Theater. Marianna Tsartolia John Sorensen-Jolink (dancer) trained at (dancer) was born Oregon’s Jefferson High School and New York in Athens, Greece, University’s Tisch where she received School (BFA). Prior her BFA in dance to joining Rioult, from the State he played “Tony” in School of Dance. the North American In 1997, she gradu- Broadway Tour ated from the Merce of Twyla Tharp’s Cunningham Studio Movin’ Out. He as a recipient of the has danced with Onassis Foundation American Repertory and Merce Cunningham Foundation scholarships. Ballet, Cherylyn Ms. Tsartolia has performed in the United States Lavagnino Ballet and Europe with various companies including and T. Lang Dance, and has performed works by Harry Mandafounis Modern Dance Company, Stephen Petronio, Zvi Gotheiner, Mark Godden Octana Dance Theatre, Connecticut Ballet and and Johannes Weiland. This is Mr. Sorensen- Analysis Dance Company. She joined Rioult in Jolink’s first year with Rioult. 1998. For the past six years, she has worked as a teaching artist for Rioult’s outreach program DanceREACH. She has taught technique and repertory workshops in the United States, France, Greece and Bermuda. Mrs. Tsartolia was thrilled to restage Bolero in 2004 and Wien in 2006 and 2007 for the State School of Dance.

36 CAL PERFORMANCES