BWW Reviews: THE DEBORAH ZALL PROJECT: IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN at Martha Graham Studio Theatre

Internationally renowned dancer and choreographer, Deborah Zall, restaged six of her dramatic female solos for the first time this past Thursday at the Martha Graham Studio Theater at Westbeth. This legendary choreography was taken down from the dance bookshelf, brushed off, and performed good as new by the dancers of the Deborah Zall Project: In The Company of Women.

Deborah Zall began her dance career in the Martha Graham fold, but soon left to pursue her own professional dance career focused on the portrayal of women through intense and expressive solos. After many years of international performing and teaching, Deborah Zall was approached by both past and present Martha Graham Dance Company members with the flattering request to restage her famous solos. The Deborah Zall Project: In the Company of Women is the direct result of this request.

Eight talented and seasoned female dancers took the studio stage to re-perform these masterpieces, including Deborah Zall herself. Female soloists included Nya Bowman, Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch, Kim Jones, Erica Dankmeyer and Blakely White-McGuire, as well as a duet performance by Lauren Newman and Dani Stinger. These alumni dancers hail from the most reputable dance schools and companies including but not limited to the Martha Graham Dance Company, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Anne Bogart's Siti Company.

The oldest of the pieces performed was choreographed in 1958, entitled Shadow of Her Sister. This piece was inspired by F. Garcia Lorca's La Casa de Bernarda Alba, and tells the tale of two sisters experiencing the clash of wills. This dramatic piece, performed by Lauren Newman and Dani Stinger, closed the night with a true appreciation of Zall's iconic and dramatic art form.

Once seen as an ancient art, Deborah Zall's works will indeed live on and continue to influence dancers everywhere. Deborah Zall both ensured and preserved these works through her closing remarks of gratitude to her dancers: "After these performances, the dancers can now go off and perform the solos in their own venues," she said. "These are my gifts to them."

Photo Credit:Tom Caravaglia