2011

Department of Theatre and Dance

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Residency

The University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance is thrilled to welcome the celebrated Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company as the 2011-2012 Eminent Artists-in-Residence.

The company will begin its program at UW with a 12-week residency of three BTJ/AZ teaching artists. These artists will teach classes and lead workshops, and help to set several BTJ/AZ repertory pieces on our students for a concert later in the season.

On October 5, the BTJ/AZ company will present the acclaimed dance work Serenade/The Proposition at 7:30 p.m. in the UW Arts & Sciences Auditorium

Bill T. Jones Residency

Bill T. Jones himself will be in residency at UW October 26 - 29, 2011.  Events are to include:

• Eminent-Artist-in-Residence Keynote Speech, October 28 at 4:10 p.m., FA Concert Hall
• Screening of A Good Man, a new PBS documentary about the making of the BTJ/AZ company's new dance-theatre piece, "Fondly Do We Hope.Fervently Do We Pray."
• Master classes
• Q&A sessions

The company's residency will culminate with Continuous Momentum: The Works of Bill T. Jones, a concert of several pieces from the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane repertory: "D-man in the Waters," "Continuous Replay," "Duet," and "Power/Full." 

The repertory concert will run November 15-19 at 7:30 p.m. and November 20 at 2:00 p.m. on the UW Fine Arts Main Stage.

A tour of the repertory concert is scheduled for December 9 - 13.  Possible tour locations include Torrington, Gillette, Sheridan, Lander, Riverton, Powell, and Rock Springs. 

What critics have to say about BTJ/AZ:

"[Jones's] gifts: pungent, purposeful character development, compelling storytelling and pure-dance interludes of slippery and often deeply romantic choreography."
             - Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post, 03.26.09

"The river of choreography by Jones, Wong, and the dancers features Jones' characteristically bold, juicy, unapologetically eclectic style."
            - Deborah Jowitt, The Village Voice, 11.18.09, on Serenade/The Proposition

"Bill T. Jones is one dancesmith who understands the power of the spoken word."
            - Susan Walker, Toronto Star, 04.17.08

".the work of a mature artist at the peak of his powers. [Bill T. Jones] has created a thing of immense beauty and consequence."
             - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times, 9.16.09, on Fondly Do We Hope.
            Fervently Do We Pray

"Jones is not a choreographer in the sense that he just makes dances. He likes to tackle unlikely theatrical themes in unconventional ways."
             - Hilarly Ostlere, The Financial Times, 10.06.08

".a talented creative team, and expressive, powerful dancers ."
             - Ayelet Dekel, Midnight East (Israel), 6.02.10

".his incredible company packed with dancers who can sing and act as well; the fearless way Jones cuts to the heart of his subject matter, evoking sentiments that are rarely stirred in our everyday lives."
             - Susan Yung, SundayArts, 06.12.09

"Bill T. Jones, choreographer, philosopher, and political commentator, makes works of art that reflect the turmoil at the center of our society."
             - Iris Fanger, The Patriot Ledger, 02.14.08

".With Jones, it's the dance that makes the story."
             - Rebecca Milzoff, New York Magazine, 09.7.08 on Fela!

"The supremely distinguished choreography of Bill T. Jones leaves you with indelible, graceful images of young people scarcely bound by gravity."
             - Paul Levy, Wall Street Journal, 3.9.09 on Spring Awakening

"[Jones] certainly will leave a high-water mark in modern dance."
             - Susan Broili, The Herald-Sun, 7.16.05