Music excerpts:
Senbazuru
Choreography: Jessica Lang
Composer: Pete M Wyer
words by Steve Dalachinsky
The Juilliard Orchestra
Conducted by: Andrea Quinn
Daisy Press: Soprano
Shelly Watson: Mezzo-Soprano
Daniel Neer: Tenor
Greg Purnhagen: Baritone
Performed by:
Julliard Dance Division
Design by Carol Bailey
Senbazuru was commissioned by Lawrence Rhodes of the Juilliard School, New York, as part of 'New Dance, New Music', to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Juilliard School. The Japanese title means 'a thousand cranes', from the traditional that, if you make a thousand paper cranes, you will have a wish or prayer granted.
It was performed at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Lincoln Center, New York. February 22 - 26 2006.
Photo: Daisy Press (in white) and Shelly Watson (in red) with a company dancers from the Juilliard Dance Department
The 'cranedelier' - a chandelier made from paper cranes designed by Carol Bailey, developed from Jessica Lang's 'Senbazuru' concept.
Daisy and Shelly appear like 'ministering spirits' to principle dancer Christopher Vo
The unsung heroes of a collaborative work like this. The demanding 26 minute score requires a pit crammed to the gills with musicians and singers.
Photographs by: (orchestra photo by PMW)