We’ve been taking advantage of the “pause” in our state’s cultural programming to take stock — both of our supply of toiletries and our past coverage of the arts scene (i.e. we’ve been working on our archives). We wanted to bring this video from 2015 — about a collaboration between Ririe-Woodbury Dance and the Salt Lake Electric Ensemble — to the front of our site, as an example both of a beautiful collaboration and of the wonderful performing arts groups we are missing at the moment.
Terry Riley’s minimalist composition “In C” is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Salt Lake Electric Ensemble has performed this piece at the Utah Arts Festival, on KUER’s Radio West, and at BYU. This weekend, they revisit the piece in a collaboration with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. In a new work, choreographed by Daniel Charon, these two organizations have created a challenging, yet satisfying performance called 53 Rooms in which the musicians and the performers must play off each other as this particular piece of music, with its variety and improvisation, is unique with each performance.
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and Salt Lake Electric Ensemble
53 Rooms
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
April 9, 10, 11, 2015
tickets available at arttix.org
Laura Durham works for KUED Channel-7 in the Creative Services Department, curating community engagement projects for both PBS and KUED productions that foster trust and value to the communities in Utah. She also produces Contact with Mary Dickson and Contact in the Community — a digital series featuring arts and culture groups in Utah. Prior to her work at KUED, Laura spent 15 years at the Utah Division of Arts & Museums in the visual arts program and later managing communications, branding, marketing, and public value projects for all arts and museums programming. She has served the Utah community in various capacities with her role as Vice President of the Salt Lake Gallery Association and Program Director for the Salt Lake Gallery Stroll. She lives in Salt Lake City, sings with Utah Chamber Artists, and loves to contribute to 15 Bytes as often as time allows.
This looks like it will be a marvelous performance. Having written scores for Ririe Woodbury (and always anxious for further collaborative opportunities), I’m always impressed with their fresh approach to new performance ideas, and their ongoing tradition of exploring new artistic realms. Thanks for this insight into the project. Very nicely done!