Update from Movement Research
Movement Research has its roots in the Judson Church Movement of the 1960s. Which generated new and different kinds of dance in 1978 the artists who founded MR established it as an arts organization to support and develop the workshop process, providing the community with direct access to important new choreographers.
In 1991 we continue to act as a catalyst, challenging and pushing the forms of performance and dance. Through our activities we try to facilitate the sharing of work and ideas between generations, from teacher to student, between artists, and from dancers and performers to the public. Integrating performance with process, we are developing new forums for artists to articulate the context in which they are creating work, forming ideas and making choices.
This has been a year of change at movement research. Cathy Edwards and Guy Yarden have become co-directors of MR. Richard Elovich has left MR to do an advocacy project at Gay Men’s Health Crisis on substance abuse and HIV issues. He will move onto the board of directors, as chairperson. Board members Cee Scott Brown, Yoshiko Chuma, Eiko and Koma, Terry Fox, Bill T. Jones, Jennifer Monson, Nina Martin and Laurie Uprichard are still with us.
The workshop series will be expanded this season to include every-day classes in the mornings, from 10-12. You can drop by 179 Varick Street any weekday at 10AM and find a class. MR workshops are now also being developed to reach out beyond the artist community in attempts to open new channels of learning and information dissemination. Beginning in September 1991 MR will introduce a new program for people living with AIDs every Tuesday afternoon. Movement Research at The Judson Church will begin in September of 1991 every Monday night at The Judson Memorial Church. To combat rising ticket prices and simultaneous cuts in funding, MR will present a free-of-charge performance event over the next year this low-tech, barebones series will include over 65 choreographers and improvisors from all over New York City.
Writer and filmmaker Tom Kalin is the guest editor and designer of this issue (#3) of the Performance Journal. We invited him to create an issue that was organized around a theme and that cut across disciplines. We welcome Gender Disarray.
Finally, as we expand our programs, we are always looking for active and responsible participation from our community. The office phone number is (212) 691-5788, and our schedule of events is in the pull-out centerfold. Of course, we need money and volunteer time – please don’t hesitate to give either!
CATHY EDWARDS, RICHARD ELOVICH & GUY YARDEN
