BWW Previews: 92nd Street Y Presents Christine Dakin's LA VOZ DEL CUERPO/THE BODY SPEAKS, 5/16

A truly beautiful film, La Voz del Cuerpo/The Body Speaks will be screened at the 92nd Street Y on Friday, May 16th at 12:00 pm as part of the "Fridays at Noon" programs curated by Catherine Tharin. Live music and dance performances will follow the screening.

This film was both written and directed by Christine Dakin. Dakin is well known as a dancer, teacher, director and a foremost exponent of the Martha Graham repertory and technique. Dakin was chosen by Martha Graham for the company in 1976 where she became known worldwide for her performances of Graham's roles and for those created for her by Graham and such artists as Robert Wilson and Twyla Tharp. She became Associate Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Company in 1997 and was named Artistic Director with Terese Capucilli in 2002. Leading the company to its rebirth, they are credited with bringing its artistic excellence and repertory to a level not seen since Martha Graham's death and they were named Artistic Directors Laureate.

Having toured in Mexico with the Graham Company, Dakin fell in love with the country and the culture. She has developed relationships with artists from Mexico and the United States including musicians, dancers, friends and students with whom she shares the dancer's life; Dakin has worked with them to create La Voz del Cuerpo/The Body Speaks; the 27 minute film which shares her poetics of a Graham dancer in a life of practice, imagination, performance and teaching. The film has both a Spanish and English version.

The film has been selected for the New York City Independent Film Festival, The Golden Door International Film Festival and most recently was screened in Barcelona, Spain on April 29th at The International Day of Dance as one of the UNESCO Events.

As part of the program, Heidi Nicole Stoeckley will dance Lamentation, the 1930 Martha Graham solo. Stoeckley was a student of Dakin's at Juilliard and also danced for the Graham Company after her graduation. The score for Lamentation will be played by Louis Stewart, Martha Graham's music director and pianist that worked with the company in the 1970's. Alejandro Chavez, dancer and choreographer, was a student of Dakin's in Mexico in the 1990's that later came to New York to study. Chavez now has his own company, Ciudad Interior. He will dance his recent solo work, ¨Séptimo Fragmento.

"Fridays at Noon" with Christine Dakin promises to be an afternoon to be enjoyed by dance and film enthusiasts alike. The 92nd Street Y is located at 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue. The program will be held in Buttenwieser Hall. Tickets are $5 and should be purchased in advance online at http://www.92y.org or at the 92Y Box Office in the lobby.

Film Still: Courtesy of Christine Dakin

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