Creative Dialogue: Dance Responds to War November 3, 2008

David Dorfman, choreographer
Victoria Marks, choreographer
Moderated by Andrea Snyder, executive director, Dance/USA

Contemporary choreographers Dorfman and Marks discuss the how and why of dance in the context of war. David Dorfman’s underground, presented at the Center on November 6 and 7, uses the 1960s as a starting point to explore the principles of political activism, in particular the activities of the Weather Underground to ask some questions: When can activism become terrorism or vice versa? Can you fight for peace?

Dorfman is joined by Victoria Marks, whose work considers the politics of citizenship and the representation of both virtuosity and disability. Marks is committed to dance-making within the sphere of political meaning. Her recent work, Not About Iraq, was seen at D.C.'s Dance Place in March 2008, and her latest piece, action conversations, was created with and included four U.S. military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Guest moderator Andrea Snyder is Executive Director of the national service organization Dance/USA , and has served as a leader to the dance field as a funder, administrator, dancer and educator.

Official Website: http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/2007/c/performances/performance?rowid=7881