This is an old revision of this page, as edited by UVcD3 (talk | contribs) at 17:09, 16 September 2013. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 17:09, 16 September 2013 by UVcD3 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Laura Dean (born December 3, 1945) is an American dancer, choreographer and composer.
Dean is the recipient of awards including the 2008 Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance. She has also received a "Bessie" New York Dance and Performance Award for her work with composer Steve Reich(1986). Dean has been awarded two John Simon Guggenheim Fellowships for choreography (1976 and 1981), the Montgomery Fellowship from Dartmouth College(1986), the Dance Magazine Award (1982), the Smithsonian Institution Certificate of Appreciation (1975), Harvard University's Certificate of Appreciation (1991), New York City Commission of the Status of Women Special Recognition Award (1984), the ABSOLUT Award for Artistic Achievement (1993), the Staten Island Arts Council Award for Outstanding Achievement (1988), the Lester Horton Award for Music for Dance (1994), the Brandeis Creative Arts Award for Extraordinary Artistic Achievement in Dance (1986) and an Honorary Doctorate from Staten Island College/The City University of New York(2001).
Dean created her dance company in 1972. The following are the name changes for this company: Laura Dean and Dance Company (1972 to 1975); Laura Dean Dance Company (Jan. 1976 to Sept. 1976); Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians (Oct. 1976 to Sept. 1991); Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers (Oct. 1991 to Jan. 2000). The New York City based company (1972 to 1995) disbursed in 1995 when Laura Dean moved her organization to North Carolina. Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers based in Durham, North Carolina (1996 to 2000) was disbanded in 2000.
Laura Dean has composed thirty music scores and choreographed one hundred and nine dance works. This includes the choreography for her own dance and music company as well as for ballet companies, ice skating companies, other modern dance companies, student dance companies, The American Indian Dance Theatre and The Aman Folk Ensemble. She has choreographed nine works to the music of Steve Reich with the music played live by Steve Reich and Musicians to five of the works. Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians commissioned Steve Reich for the music SEXTET for Laura Dean's dance IMPACT. Steve Reich and Laura Dean were awarded a Bessie/New York Dance and Performance Award for IMPACT/SEXTET in 1986.
Laura Dean's company has performed in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia, India, Europe and Eastern Europe. Works for her company have been commissioned by Het Muziektheater, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The American Dance Festival, Walker Art Center, The Holland Festival, The Avignon Festival, Dartmouth College, The Styrian Autumn Festival, Graz, Austria and Rochester University.
Dean has created ballets including two works for The Royal Danish Ballet with the first work DELTA with a commissioned orchestral score from the composer Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, The SPACE with an orchestral score The Four Sections by Steve Reich, eight ballets for The Joffrey Ballet including CREATIVE FORCE with a commissioned score Ray One by John Zeretzke. CREATIVE FORCE was seen in the Robert Altman film The Company. CREATIVE FORCE, as part of the film, was nominated for an American Choreography Award.
Laura Dean was awarded The Millennium Grant from The National Endowment for the Arts for her work with The American Indian Dance Theatre. Ms. Dean has received The Repertory Dance Grant and The Meet the Composer Grant for her work with The Aman Folk Ensemble. Her company has received funding from The New York State Council on the Arts, The North Carolina State Arts Council, 37 grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, ATT Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, The Jerome Robbins, Foundation, The Sherman Foundation, The Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Fund, The Rockefeller Foundation and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation.
Dean stopped choreographing and writing music in 2001. As of 2009, Laura Dean, the choreographer/composer, is no longer arranging and allowing restaging/reconstruction projects of her dance and music works. Dean does not allow the teaching of her choreography or music in classes, lectures, panels or in anyway whatsoever.