Modern V

photo by Ian Douglas

An ensemble-oriented investigation of expansively off-balanced yet precise multi-focused movement. Class begins with sensation-based improvisations and global awareness practices to help encourage limitless mind/body response when tackling set movement material. After this initial warming up, a series of buoyant sequential patterns challenge and cultivate a “released” or non-habitual dancing body, free to move in parts or as a full unit with energy, rhythmic sharpness, and fluid range. The patterns build towards a precarious traveling phrase with ever re-directing spiraling pathways. Movement vocabulary is taught by breaking down in detail body-part initiations paying particular attention to safety while dancing fearlessly as if there is no future.

Paul Matteson recently completed his fourth year as a member of the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company. He is originally from Cumberland, Maine and as a beginning dancer attended the Bates Dance Festival, which inspired him to make dance his life. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Middlebury and Bennington Colleges, respectively. From 2000-2005, he was a member of David Dorfman Dance and Race Dance, receiving a BESSIE for performance in 2002. He has also performed with Jennifer Nugent, Terry Creach, Peter Schmitz, Kota Yamazaki, Chamecki/Lerner, Jamie Cunningham, Neta Pulvermacher, Susan Sgorbati, Helena Franzen and Keith Johnson. In addition to Bates, he teaches at The American Dance Festival and The Florida Dance Festival. He has choreographed and performed his own work in New York City since 1997 and has been a guest artist at numerous universities nationally and abroad.