Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker/Rosas
As a dance major at the University of Minnesota and an intern at Northrop, I am gifted with the opportunity to see all types of dance — even performances that I may not normally choose to see. One of my favorite parts about my marketing internship here at Northrop is finding unique “ins” for those who normally wouldn’t experience dance. Or… maybe you’re only really interested in ballet. That’s cool, too, but I’m here to share with you the value of exposing yourself to dance that you typically wouldn’t choose to see.
Recently, the Northrop student group, U-CAN, rolled out an initiative called Dudes on Dance to encourage those who had not experienced a Northrop dance performance to step foot into the theater for a new experience. To their surprise, many of these “dudes” LOVED IT! Some didn’t, but they all had the same takeaway: it’s good to experience something new. Socrates once said, “The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.” Dance is an art form that not many know. And even those who do know dance, there is infinite space for knowledge and discovery. The ‘U’ is a public research university that is “Driven to Discover” — and that we are.
Given the 14-15 Northrop season includes performances by world-class ballet troupes and dance companies who are known for shaping the practice of dance, it was difficult to choose which performance I am looking forward to most, but I decided that I am most intrigued to experience the work of Anne Teresa De Keesmaeker/Rosas.
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker is one of the most influential choreographers in contemporary dance. Her work is known for its minimalism, repetition, and rhythmic complexity. These are elements I myself have recently been exploring in my dance composition courses here at the ‘U.’ Fase, one of the most frequently performed works by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker/Rosas, features simple gestures and rather plain costumery, bringing painstaking detail to the women performing and our own thoughts and feelings. It is truly amazing to witness the flawless execution of this meticulously structured work. I am fascinated with Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s ability to manipulate her minimalist work in a way that has such a dramatic effect on audiences.
October 15-17, I recommend that you expose yourself to something new, and see Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker/Rosas perform Rosas Danst Rosas, the first work created by the company, on the Walker Art Center stage. I am looking forward to seeing you there!
