The New York Chapter is pleased to announce the creation of an Artist-in-Residence Program beginning in January 2023. The purpose of the program is:
to foster the creation of new works of music and/or movement
to provide a forum in which to present the work as it develops and in its final form
to strengthen the association between artistic creation and the practice of Dalcroze
Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, in addition to being a restless and relentless creator in pedagogy, was also once in the forefront of the European artistic avant garde. Artists such as Stravinsky, Nijinsky, Mary Wigman, Milhaud and Rilke cross-pollinated with M. Jaques in the experimental garden-city of the arts created in Hellerau. After he settled back in Geneva, he continued creating, leaving behind hundreds of original works of music. With this program, the NY Chapter is hoping to strengthen the connection between the creation of new works of art and the practice of Dalcroze.
In this pilot year, we are featuring my own group, Loco Motors, an improvisation collective for music and movement, now featuring myself and Dalcroze practitioner and dancer/choreographer Dawn Pratson. The plans for this year’s residency are evolving, but so far they include a series of workshops offered for the general public and an evenin- length concert performance. The group has received a generous grant from the Diller-Quaile School of Music to fund the addition of master jazz improviser Marty Erlich, who will perform with and serve as mentor to the group during this residency.
On Saturday, January 21st, Dawn and I will present our first workshop. (Details and registration.) This workshop will focus on the nature of collaboration in open improvisation. We hope to see members of the Dalcroze community as well as anyone interested in improvisation in music and movement at these events.
Michael Joviala