Life is the dancer
And you are the dance.
— Eckhart Tolle
I met Jess Curtis in the early days of the West Coast contact dance scene. Jess, a founding member of Contraband, a groundbreaking SF Bay Area dance and performance art troupe for the 1980s and ‘90s, and pioneering artist and activist, passed away last week.
When I heard the news, I immediately flashed back to one of the best dance performances I’d ever seen. It was the summer of 1997; the occasion was the final program of the second annual San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Dance Festival. Created by choreographer Keith Hennessy, the second piece of the evening, Ice/Car/Cage, featured Keith, Jess, and their collaborator Jules Beckman performing outside the Brady Street Dance Center.
There was an incredibly sensual (you might even say chilling) nude duet with a block of ice and a suggestive interlude with a cage. However, I’ll never forget the third component in the composition: a car. Not satisfied with using it as a static piece of scenery, they tied the steering wheel in place, put a brick on the gas pedal, and, long before self-driving cars, created an autonomous, animated partner for the piece.
With the audience standing around the perimeter, those three fluid, fearless gents moved around, through, and over the car as it slowly circled the parking lot. Transporting the skills and techniques of contact improvisation to a context I would never have imagined, they did Aikido with a moving automobile to Chopin’s piano music. As if that wasn’t enough, they placed a ladder on top of the car at one point and continued their daring, lyrical antics.
I invite you to click on this link and take a few minutes to marvel at these agile, adventuresome dancers as they jump, roll, fly, and fall on and off the car and each other.
I took a snapshot from the dance video and adjusted the lighting to create the image at the top of today’s post.
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Responses:
Lucy DuBose -March 21, 2024
Larry, thank you very much! So interesting. Lucy in Austin
Larry Goldfarb -March 22, 2024
Hello Olga - Thanks for letting me know you appreciated the performance!
greta-seed -March 26, 2024
Yes, thank you so much. What wonderful artists. Very very moving
Larry Goldfarb -March 22, 2024
So glad you enjoyed the dancing! Larry in Santa Cruz ;-)
marta iucci -March 21, 2024
Larry, thank you SO MUCH!! I am Feldenkrais pratictioner from Italy, and also a Contact Improv dancer and facilitator, and I now the three of them, I've heard the passing of Jess recently. I didn't know this piece of them, and WOW, it is more than amazing. I wish to meet you in June in Florence, in the post training. Gratefully, Marta
Larry Goldfarb -March 22, 2024
Glad you enjooyed it, Moira - Car/ice/cage certainly is a stunning, daring performance. Thakns for sharing the video.
leslie wilder Wilder -March 22, 2024
i think i sent this to you--it is 5 years old but.. Well now I am 72—I actually stopped Aikido—well—(ahem) because my knees starting feeling it and I didn’t want them to get worse. Also—I wanted to devote more time to my Feldenkrais practice- But still want to tell 2 old Aikido stories—and how habit can benefit you. But to go even further back—in 1969 I was riding my bike down a hill in Central park—I hit a rock and went flying forward—landing on my elbows and skidding on my face. I broke one elbow— had 2 slings --and couldn’t even flush my very stiff old fashioned toilet handle for a few weeks! Time passes. I am an Aikidoist not yet an FP Again riding my bike to get on the Brooklyn Bridge—from Manhattan—lots of traffic—and a truck swipes my bike—it crashes toward the ground—throws me off and I do an Aikido roll –get up pick up my bike and go across the bridge. The other adventure was in Prospect Park –walking my dog—a dog on a loooong leash cut across my ankles—and sent me flying into the air—I landed with an Aikido break fall—on my back—arms spread—then got up –as everybody came running toward me—assuming I was injured.=-but no---thanks to habit!
linda-rulli -March 23, 2024
OMG....Aikido-Feldenkrais dance! What athletic smooth gorgeous movement!!!!! Will pass on!
Larry Goldfarb -March 21, 2024
It's really awesome, isn't it, Linda?! I only wish that they'd captured the entire performance - there was more with the ladder on the car and the entire "cage" section is missing. Thanks for passing it on.
Olga Amirova -March 23, 2024
Hi Larry, thank you for sharing this powerful performance of the three beautiful artists.
Moira Bayne -March 25, 2024
What a remarkable and daring performance. So many stunning moments! Will definitely share! Thank you for introducing me to their work!
Larry Goldfarb -March 21, 2024
Hello Leslie - Great to hear from you! Yes, I remember you sending me this a while back, but I'm glad to reread the stories about how the abilities you learned doing Aikido became a part of your movement repertoire. As your reports make clear, it is a sign that you have truly learned a skill is that it becomes automated and uncounscious. It is, of course, a "good - bad news" kind of situation because once any behavior becomes second nature, it is now the default options, meaning that it is also difficult to update consciously.
Larry Goldfarb -March 21, 2024
You're welcome, Greta! Their performance is definitely a moving experience!
Larry Goldfarb -March 22, 2024
Thank you so much, Josiah! I'm happy that you're going to pass it on. Gratefully, Larry
josiah-olson Olson -March 22, 2024
Pegasus! Thanks for sharing, really an exceptional piece. Gonna pass it on. With Love, Josiah.
Larry Goldfarb -March 23, 2024
Hello Marta - I met Jess & Keith Hennesey during the early days of Contact Improvisation. I started by studying with Mangrove at Project Artaud in the late 70s. That experience is at the base of my embodied understanding of movement. To this day it influences how I approach giving giving an FI. I look forward to working together in Florence in June for the "Connecting the Arms to the Center" advanced course. Ciao, Larry
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