Falling into the Sky probes the archetypal relationship between a grandmother and her young granddaughter. Enhanced by mask, banraku-like puppetry, poetry, costume, set, and lighting, the dance creates a fantastical environment that contrasts the aspirations of youth with reflections of age. The centerpiece of the dance is a duet supported by a chorus of three dancers.
Choreographer: Jan Bartoszek
Costumes/Slides: Ann Boyd
Masks/Puppets: Lynda White
Sound/Original Music: Matt Kozlowski & John Ridenour
Text: Alive George
Voices: Amy Heath & Lindsay Porter
Lighting Design: Ken Bowen
Amy Alt, Ann Boyd, Christine Bornarth, Suet May Ho, Julie Hopkins, Todd Michael Kiech
Dances for the Deep Field
June 13-15, 1996
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
The world of Jan Bartoszek’s choreography is a gracious, orderly one; movements unfold gently, birth comes as surely as death…. Falling Into the Sky, part of the “Dances for the Deep Field” program, explores the archetypal relationship between a grandmother and her young granddaughter. Innocent and playful in the beginning, they share the wonders of stars above and rocks below. Each seems to learn something magical from the other. Transitions are inevitable, however, in life and in Bartoszek’s choreography. The poignancy with which she depicts the transition–using masks, puppets, and the motions of angels–brings us closer to the knowledge we carry within us but seldom voice.”
– Maura Troester, Chicago Reader
Dances for the Deep Field is funded, in part, by a grant from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and the Louis R. Lurie Foundation. Hedwig Dances is funded in part by grants from The Joyce Foundation, the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Sara Lee Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the City of Chicago/Department of Cultural Affairs, the Arie and Ida Crown Memorial, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund, the Channel 50 Foundation, the Lifton Family Foundation, and from many generous individuals. Hedwig Dances gratefully acknowledges assistance received from The Arts and Business Council of Chicago.
Special thanks to:
Ken Bowen, Hedwig Dances’ devoted Board of Directors, Jane Siarny, Santiago Lopez, Jennifer Savarirayan, Lois Weisberg and the Chicago Cultural Center staff, Eileen Ryan, Hema Rajagopalan, Krithika Rajagopalan, John Greiner, Sheldon B. Smith, my husband Jeff Usow and my daughter Sophia.