Nikolais dance legacy helps Dance Program celebrate 80 years

The late choreographer Alwin Nikolais devised a simple formula that revolutionized 20th-century dance: obstacles in dancers’ paths.

The obstructions served to focus the dancers’ attention. The pieces, now recognized as classics, often positioned his dancers in constrictive spaces or costumes, perhaps hemmed in by complicated sets. The result more often than not was a total shakeup of the concept of dance.

Nikolais’ influence on choreography and the basic fundamentals of prescribed movement filtered through the entire dance world, including UW–Madison’s legendary Dance Program, the first such academic program established 80 years ago this year.

To help commemorate that anniversary, the Dance Program will devote two of its Friday Forums to the impact that Nikolais had on the program here. The first, Friday, Nov. 3, will screen videos of Nikolais’ work with commentary by former Nikolais Company dancer Claudia Melrose, now chair of the UW–Madison program.

The second, Friday, Nov. 10, will present artist-in-residence Alberto del Saz, director of the Nikolais/Lewis Foundation for 30 years. Del Saz will discuss Nikolais’ legacy, which he learned firsthand as a student of Nikolais and his partner Murray Lewis. Del Saz, who first studied ice-skating and has choreographed routines for Olympic medalists, will recreate Nikolais’ signature piece, “Tensile Involvement” (1953). The piece will be performed as part of the program’s faculty concert series Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 16-18, at 8 p.m. in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space of Lathrop Hall.

For ticket information, call 262-1691.

The Friday Forums, free and open to all, begin at 3:30 p.m., also in the H’Doubler Performance Space.