In our ongoing efforts to establish collaborations with major arts organizations we contacted our friend Jodee Nimerichter, the co-director of the American Dance Festival to inquire about hosting our first choreographer in residence. She enthusiastically recommended Seattle based Mark Haim (rhymes with time) who incredibly would be spending his 18th!! summer in Durham with the ADF.
From student to master instructor he has become a festival institution. Mark was a delight from day one and we discovered we had many friends in common. We had a dinner party one night and dessert was the opening of a piece of art we just purchased from one of our previous artists in residence, Aldwyth, called Cigar Box Encyclopedia (stay tuned for an exhibition sometime this fall.)
(Mark is at far right)
Mark celebrates with fellow ADF instructor Raphael Lopez-Barrantes
Mark gave a fantastic artist talk while he was here (so much so that his scheduled QiGong demonstration never happened) and talked about his dance career and inspirations and spoke in depth about a major work in process that will premier in March 2012 at On the Boards in Seattle that explores two very different approaches to the perception of the passage of time.
After having primarily visual artists in residence it was particularly fascinating to talk with Mark about his process and how much text and image were important in creating his movements.
Mark has a devilish sense of humor. Not to be missed is his reinterpretation of Beyonce's Single Ladies video performed live at the festival in 2009.
We have a renewed appreciation for the incredible amount of time and effort that go into making a successful piece of choreography. Thanks for everything Mark. We will really miss having you around here.
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