University Musical Society - Ann Arbor District Library

18 Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
Bill T. Jones on We Set Out
Early... Visibility Was Poor
We Set Out Early... Visibility Was Poor uses
its aggressively narrative title to frame the
non-narrative, non-linear aspects of the
piece and to poke gentle fun at the audience's
expectations.
There are many stories told, however, in
this work. For me, the creator of the piece,
the most compelling story is how a personal,
eclectic vocabulary like my personal dance-
vocabulary is born out of a dialogue with
music or a series of "problems." It is then
captured through video, codified and
shaped by my rehearsal director, Janet
Wong, and myself and then shared through
arduous rehearsals with the company where
it undergoes more transformations.
The work is first and foremost an
opportunity for contemplation offered in
the spirit of love for movement and a trust
that many of our questions about diversity,
history and the place of art in society can
be answered eloquently through energetic,
accomplished performers. This material that
they have helped shape carries resonance
and meaning for them.
The decor's two elements are at once
a subtle commentary on the historical dis­
course on the nature of form. It is also a
demonstration of purely textural counter­
point between that which is hard, metallic
and gleaming and that which is soft, fuzzy
and glowing with warm light. In discussion
with scenic designer Bjorn Amelan, my con­
cern was that the decor not overwhelm the
dance, be transformed over time and exist
almost like a non-human protagonist.
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
exists to express several beliefs that I have.
First, that movement is a constant source of
wonder and a flexible, vital language that
changes as we do. Second, that although the
company has the intent to do more interdis­
ciplinary projects in the future (works that
are adaptations of theater classics, works
involving actors, singers and musicians and
works dealing with new media), movement
will remain central to what we do.
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
is committed to diversity within its ranks
and is in pursuit of an identity as a viable
artistic entity, able to discourse freely within
the world of dance and more generally the
global cultural environment.
—Bill T. Jones
We Set Out Early...
Visibility Was Poor
Known for his explicitly "issue" driven
choreography focusing frequently on race
and sexuality, Jones departs from any one
particular agenda in this piece. We Set Out
Early... Visibility Was Poor is an evocative,
symbolic journey through the twentieth-
century. Musical and narrative references
abound and the fragments play with the
viewer's sense of being transported through
the trajectory of the century. While most of
the movement is abstract, the choreography
is very tied to the music.
We Set Out Early... Visibility Was Poor is
the third Ann Arbor appearance by the Bill
T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. While
watching the piece, you will see a variety of
ethnicities, body-types and ages among the
company dancers. Bill T. Jones has said,
"The reason that the company is so varied is
because I think that is true of the world. If
you look at any gathering of people, proba­
bly, there are short, tall, skinny, fat, black,
white and Asian. There are a lot of combina­
tions in our society. I want that to become
the microcosm of my world." From this
conglomeration of individuals, Jones creates
a unified ensemble. You will notice how the
piece continues Jones' interest in the indi­
vidual's place within society, though in a less