Taylor’s Zikr Presents an Exciting Dance Discovery
By Marc Shulgold
A dancer performing “Vesica Piscis”. Choreography: David Taylor. Dancer: Jacqueline Bertault.
David Taylor has always been a man of the world. A fixture on the Front Range scene for decades, the choreographer had guided David Taylor Dance Theatre through its ups and downs since 1979. The repertory was contemporary with balletic roots (Nutcracker each season, but with delicious twists). The quality remained high, audiences were loyal and national tours of his Rainforest brought rave reviews. But the outside world continued to beckon. Finally, it was time to go international.
It’s been 16 years since Taylor created Zikr, his 10-member company that thinks globally, but dances locally. The new name suggests something wondrously exotic. It comes from Sufi worship ceremonies that feature whirling dervishes. The change also hinted at the possibility of works from other dance-makers. “I’m 77 now,” he admitted. “I don’t know if any choreography is left in me.” Oh, there are still pieces by him on company programs. Now, he’s expanded. “I’m always looking for others,” he noted. “I know the most well-known.” But then there’s the excitement of discovery. Specifically the new name on Zikr’s tour next month, which begins on October 3 at Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center. This is a big deal for dance lovers.
It’s a pas de deux by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. There was a sense of awe in Taylor’s voice as he discussed this work and its creator – a man hardly known in this country. Ask him about Sidi and his reply is quick. “I’ve never met him,” he said. “I knew of him – his name, not his work. He has a strong reputation in Europe.” Sidi was born in Antwerp to a Moroccan father and Flemish mother, and has directed the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève since 2004. Taylor “stumbled” onto a video of the full piece, In Memoriam, on the internet. “I didn’t like most of it,” he said of the larger piece, created in 2004 for a Monte Carlo company. But the duet left him stunned.
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
“It reminded me of some of my stuff,” Taylor continued. “It’s barely five minutes, but it’s just incredible. The music was sung by a Corsican chorus onstage. It’s an ambient prayer. The whole thing is an homage.”
He knew that Zikr had to perform the excerpt. Then came the hard part: how to bring this amazing work to Colorado. A saga began.
Left side: a dancer performing “Arcturian”. Choreography: David Taylor. Dancer: Anaka Weiss-Jones Photo: Colton West.
Right side: two dancers perform “In Memoriam”. Choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Photo: Alice Blangero.
“I had no luck reaching Sidi,” Taylor said. “Finally I got hold of Stephan Laks, an artistic associate of his in Belgium.” Then came a tale of tracking down one of the original dancers of In Memoriam, who agreed to meet Taylor and his two dancers, Brandon Penn and Anaka Weiss-Jones, at the Princess Grace Academy in Monte Carlo. The week-long gathering, held in early September, would be enough time for Marsala, one of Sidi’s original dancers, to teach the work to the visiting couple. There were other important elements. Costuming, for starters. “Both dancers wear heavy black pleated skirts – they are an integral part of the dance,” Taylor stressed. Details of building those garments were given to the departing contingent. The intense music came from a recording of those Corsican singers, À Filetta. Lighting is another important element – detailed instructions were also included as Taylor and company returned to Denver. All of this time and effort for a five-minute duet may seem excessive. Yet, Taylor insisted that it will all be worth it for audiences – and the company, since the ambitious October tour, featuring In Memoriam, is scheduled at seven Colorado cities plus Taos, New Mexico (schedule below).
Naturally, there will be other works on the program, titled “Ritual,” including two new works by Taylor – belying his statement about running out of ideas. Vesica Piscis is danced to music by Icelandic composer Johann Johanson. “It focuses on creation as an abstract, involving two overlapping circles,” Taylor said. Arcturian, with music by Garth Stevenson, is danced by the full company. It’s about alien beings, he hinted, declining to add details. ‘Nuff said.
Zikr Dance Ensemble will perform “Ritual.”
Information: https://www.zikrdance.com/performancestickets
Here is the schedule of locales:
- October 3: Dairy Arts Center, Boulder (7:30 p.m.)
- October 4: Stewart Auditorium, Longmont (7:30 p.m.)
- October 10: Ute Theater, Rifle (7:30 p.m.)
- October 11: Montrose Pavilion, Montrose (7:30 p.m.)
- October 18: Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood (7:30 p.m.)
- October 19: Kim Robards Dance, Denver (7:30 p.m.)
- October 26: Rialto Theater, Loveland (6 p.m.)
Learn more about David Taylor’s Zikr Dance Ensemble at www.zikrdance.com or check out their Denver Art Scene 3 page here.
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