I have created a series of social dances based on popular social dances- polka, tango, waltz and cha cha. Each dance explores an idea that is seemingly unrelated, e.g., polka to spirituality, cha cha to aging and waltz to social mores. in creating The I Depend On Tango, I dramatized the intricacies of dependence by playing the tough, held, hard-edged attitude of tango dancing against its polar opposite, a released weighted body. The text was created in a workshop from materials written by the participants and me exploring the term, to depend. The definitions of tango and depend come from Webster’s Dictionary.
Choreography: Jan Bartoszek
Music: Bryan Ferry, Kurt Weill
Costumes: Kris Cahill
Lighting Design: Margaret L. Nelson
Dolls: Jean Parisi
Voices: Bill Dietz and Shelley Wilson
1988
In the Absence of Restraint: dances of dependence and desire
April 6 & 7, 2001
Athenaeum Theater
Chicago
Special thanks
Don Haynes, Robert Morris College, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Janet Freidheim, Atalee Judy, Renee Wadleigh, Helen Cameron, Wampach, the Benefit Committee, lois Weisberg and the staff at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Hedwig Board of Directors, Jeff and Sophia Usow, Sheldon B. Smith, Eileen Ryan & Hugh Spector, Lisa McCarthy, Stamp Graphics, Pegasus Recording Studios, Brook Weiner LLC, Mary-Jo Salzburg, Member Insurance and Zach Brock.