Lori Belilove, the marvelous dancer and beloved teacher of Isadora Duncan dance technique, has finally released the long-awaited DVD of the world premiere of The Every Woman Series at Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York.
The Red Thread is Lori’s brainchild, a modern dance suite which explores the needs, feelings, and experiences of women at every age, from infancy through girlhood, from the young woman to the wife and mother to the mature woman to the wise woman. Lori choreographed it to be universal and also intimate. It celebrates all aspects of women’s lives, with dancers of all ages and body types.
There are 24 mesmerizing, ravishing, passionate dances, a range of styles from classical Duncan to hiphop to Middle Eastern to African, all tied together by the lyrical red thread of music. Specifically, the dances are set to Chopin’s 24 Preludes, as arranged by John Link for 5 voices, guitar, drums, and bass. (Prelude 16 features a violin as well.) John claims that Chopin was writing for his band The John Link Project, back in the early 19th century, but didn’t want to deal with the temperamental musicians. So Chopin did piano arrangements. All John Link did was change the tempo and ecco! Stunningly beautiful music, with heart-rending melodies! As Chopin really intended.
The entire project is stunningly beautiful. At the launch party tonight, they played highlights, and every dance moved me to laughter or tears or rapture. “Running Ragged” seemed taken from my life as a NYC mother of 4, trying to be too many things to too many people while pursuing my art and craft as a writer and taking a few yoga classes. There’s never a moment when twenty obligations aren’t grabbing at me. “Renewal” was unitive, uplifting. “Wild Child” made me giggle and think of my wild middle daughter….
Don’t take my word for it! Go to Youtube and watch the highlights!
And then visit The Isadora Duncan Foundation’s website, and order the DVD and CD!