Sandra Kaufmann Guests with Kanopy Dance, Performing 'La Bonne Dame' by Deborah Zall
By: Julie Musbach Jan. 26, 2018
Sandra Kaufmann, former soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company will guest with Kanopy Dance in their concert entitled "Dark Tales", a program of thought-provoking dance that ranges in styles from classical modern to physical theater, February 9-18 in Madison Wisconsin. Ms. Kaufmann will appear in her original solo "A People's Cry", a modern response to violence again women; and modern dance choreographer Deborah Zall's "La Bonne Dame: Remembering George Sand", (the novelist who adopted a male persona to ply her craft more freely). Ms. Kaufmann will also teach a master class at the Kanopy Studio on Thursday February 8.
Robert E Cleary, former soloist Minnesota Dance Theater and principal dancer Ballet Minnesota, danced for Bebe Miller, Bill T. Jones, and others. Cleary has performed, choreographed, and taught throughout the U.S. and Denmark. Critics have called Cleary's performances "fire-y and riveting." As a choreographer his work has been labeled "quirky, oozing nonlinear narrative," "gut-centered, twentieth century modern dance." Cleary received his BA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BA in History of 19th Century Europe from the University of Minnesota. He trained intensively at American Ballet Theatre and with Susan Klein in Klein Release Technique in New York City. Some of his mentors include David Voss, Mary Hinkson, Frank Bourman, Loyce Houlton, Bonnie Mathis, Susan McGuire, Maria Cheng, and Tisha Von Burpee. Lisa Thurrell trained and performed with the Martha Graham Company in the late '80s and early '90s. She was honored to be involved in the reconstruction of some of Martha's early works. Thurrell has performed, choreographed, and taught throughout the U.S. and Denmark. Nominated for the Bonnie Bird International Choreography Award, her choreography has been described by critics "...like a Hieronymus Bosch painting, spilling onto the floor of the theater," "the work stresses the fragility of the human body and self-reflection." As a performer critics have called her dancing "...pure power and pure vulnerability at once." Ms. Thurrell holds a certificate from the Professional Trainee Program at the Martha Graham Center in New York City. She holds an MFA in Dance Performance, Choreography, and Asian Theater from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Some of her mentors include Yuriko, Carol Fried, Ethel Winter, Pearl Lang, M.P. Sankaran Namboodiri, Phillip Zarrilli, Nancy Hauser, and Hanya Holm.
Photo: Sandra Kaufmann in Deborah Zall's "La Bonne Dame" photo by Umi Akiyoshi
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