'People Dancing' brings risk, innovation to the form

'People Dancing' brings risk, innovation to the form

By VICKI ENGEL
NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

The premiere of “People Dancing: Whitley Setrakian and Dancers” may prove as refreshing as the title implies. From next Friday through March 4, Ann Arbor audiences will have the opportunity to experience three innovative evenings of modern dance at the intimate Performance Network.

“People Dancing” is “human beings that have different moving styles,” says Setrakian, teacher, dancer, choreographer and founder of what may be termed a new dance “collective.”

“I’m not interested in people who are overtrained,” says Setrakian. “People have established identities and bring themselves to the movement. You can structure this into a certain framework such that the individuality will come through.”

In keeping with her feelings about style and movement, Setrakian has preserved certain aspects of her own diverse background. Although she was raised in New York City, her connection to American folklore is nonetheless real, as her parents hail from Mississippi and West Virginia.

One of her pieces to be performed in the concert, “Aunt Polly’s Song,” features a montage of bluegrass and folk music, which progresses from more tightly arranged compositions to simpler musics in the same vein. Another striking example is “fond du lac,” a piece that is loosely based on some rather morbid tum-of-the-century Wisconsin photographs.

A moody yet coherent composition, “fond du lac” features the talents of five local dancers: Jeannette Duane, Leigh Evans, Susan Cowling, Lisa Dershin and David L. Genson.

Also dancing with “People” are guest artists Loi Kail, of New York City, and Susan Creitz, currently teaching improvisation to graduate students in the University of Michigan Department of Theater. Creitz will be dancing a duet with Setrakian called “Scape.”

A study based on repetition, “Scape” stresses movement originating in the body as opposed to the intellect. The dancers will develop the movement organically, taking their inspirations from each other. “The important thing is the kinesthetic sense, getting your body and emotions involved,” Creitz says.

Of the future of the company, Setrakian says she hopes “to include more non-dancers and more interesting ways of moving. Dance is a performance art. You have an audience and a responsibility to them. I’m not interested in dance as an analytical or intellectual exercise.”

'People Dancing: Whitley Setrakian and Dancers' will be presented at the Performance Network, 408 W. Washington St., next Friday and March 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5, $4 for senior citizens and students, and are available at Performance Network. For more information, call 996-5968.

DANCING PEOPLE — Some of the members of 'People Dancing' are, from left, Leigh Evans, Lisa Dershin, Susan Cowling, David Genson and Jeannette Duane.

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