A Woman by a Man (2008)
This week we look at the fourth and final piece created by acclaimed choreographer James Kudelka in the repertoire of Peggy Baker Dance Projects. Captured by photographer Nicholas Minns whilst on tour in Montreal, the work featured outstanding Canadian dancer, Michael Sean Marye as Peggy’s duet partner.
Peggy writes: One of the deep pleasures of my dance life has been working with the formidably gifted and accomplished choreographer James Kudelka. James holds fast to the ambition that each of his dances be a strong, unique, and complete creative statement relevant to and significant within his body of work, and also that each work moves forward the artistry of the dancers as they rise to the unique and considerable technical and expressive challenges. He is ambitious for himself, for those with whom he collaborates, and for the art form itself.
James has confidence in the hard-won wisdom of older dancers (who he approaches without a shred of nostalgia) and after he had accepted my invitation for a duet commission, he also agreed to take on music suggested Andrew Burashko, a fascinating episodic score by Dimitri Shostakovich, his Piano Trio no. 2. The creation of the 30-minute work took place with Larry Hahn as my duet partner, but when a worsening injury proved an insurmountable barrier, Toronto Dance Theatre veteran Michael Sean Marye stepped in to tackle the hugely complex and demanding role. It was privilege and a joy to dance with him – a new performance partner late in my dance life.
A Woman by a Man portrays an older couple whose imbalance of power is so deeply assumed and embedded that it is in no way a source of struggle. When they are together, they are literally attached with the woman slightly behind and to the right of her husband. (If the situation is dire, he pushes her in front of him.) When they are alone, they are each in some way off balance and disoriented. The woman looks as though being on her own is an inconsequential, but delightful, act of subversion. The choreography portrays the rhythm of their daily life and even a little day-in-the-country holiday. But this couple is on the brink on some catastrophe – dreaded but unknown – and whether it takes them both at once, it will surely be a shared demise.
“the audience was won over by the wit and dynamism of the piece.” Penelope Ford, The Dance Current
For more background on Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 visit ClassicalMusic.com.
