Laura Dean - Dancer, Choreographer, Composer

Laura Dean Dance & Music

Most of Dean’s movement involves geometric patterns, spinning and cannon phrases—the same phrase of movement performed successively one dancer after another—and often is viewed as abstract and energetic. Dean’s dances have a strong connection in their movement to folkloric dance. In fact, published in an article for Dance Magazine in 1994, Marilyn Hunt stated, “the usual folklike quality of Dean's work is still present in the simple repeated steps, geometric floor patterns, and sense of community.”

Ecstasy and Infinity, the two pieces Hunt writes about in her article, are good examples of how Dean incorporated her classic motifs into more modern works with styles that differ from her earlier pieces. This might have something to do with the versatility of her motifs, which are easily adapted to different styles of dance. Although she has created many different works of individualistic choreography, it is easy to see some of her most famous motifs, such as spinning and cannons, continuously within her works. This connection remains, no matter which style of dance the movement was set for. Dean considers her work Tympani (1980) to be her signature work. Dean created the majority of the costume designs for most of her works. Although Dean has worked with many lighting designers, the three lighting designers that she worked with for most of her career were Craig Miller, Richard Nelson and Tom Skelton. There was only one time that a visual artist was involved with her work. This was the architect Michael Graves. He created the sets and costumes for her work Fire, which was commissioned by the Joffrey Ballet in 1982.

LAURA DEAN CHOREOGRAPHED 109 DANCE WORKS. This includes the choreography for her own company of dancers and musicians, ballet companies, ice skating companies, other modern dance companies, student dance companies, The Aman Folk Ensemble and The American Indian Dance Theatre. LAURA DEAN COMPOSED 32 MUSIC SCORES. This includes the scores for her own company of dancers and musicians, ballets and community/student works. The following is a list of the works which LAURA DEAN CREATED BOTH THE MUSIC AND THE CHOREOGRAPHY.
1. AT ALAN SARET'S LOFT- 1970. LAURA DEAN SOLO PERFORMANCE-DANCING AND SINGING. Alan Saret's Loft, Spring Street, New York, NY. Costume design by Laura Dean.
2. AN HOUR IN SILENCE- 1970. LAURA DEAN SOLO PERFORMANCE-DANCING AND SINGING. Wooster Street Theater, Soho, New York, NY. Costume design by Laura Dean.
3. STAMPING DANCE - 1972. LAURA DEAN AND DANCE COMPANY - SOUND OF THE DANCERS STAMPING IN RHYTHMIC PATTERNS WHILE DANCING. Premiere: May 7, 1972 - Pro Musica Nova, West Berlin, West German. The counts, for four dancers while stamping in one circle and changing directions after each count cycle, for this dance were 64,64,32,32,16,16,8,8,4,4,2,2,2,2,4,4,8,8,16,16,32,32,64,64 and then breaking off into four separate circles and stamping in individual stamping patterns while continuing to circle. Costume design by Laura Dean. STAMPING DANCE was incorporated into the opening section of Laura Dean's work DANCE in 1976. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
4. CIRCLE DANCE- 1972. LAURA DEAN AND DANCE COMPANY - SOUND OF THE DANCERS SHUFFLING FEET WHILE DANCING. Premiere: LoGuidice Gallery, Soho, New York, NY. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
5. JUMPING DANCE- 1973. LAURA DEAN AND DANCE COMPANY - SOUND OF THE DANCERS YELLING WHEN THEIR FEET HIT THE FLOOR. Premiere: Loeb Student Center, New York University, NY. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
6. RESPONSE DANCE - 1974. LAURA DEAN AND DANCE COMPANY - BACK AND FORTH YELLS BETWEEN THE THREE DANCERS AND THE STAMPING OF THE DANCERS FEET. Premiere: Loeb Student Center, New York University, NY. Performed by Laura Dean, Diane Johnson and Grethe Holby. Costume design by Laura Dean.

7. SOLO FOR PIANO. CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC BY LAURA DEAN. 1975. Premiere: The Kitchen, Soho, New York, NY. ( This work was the prototype piece for the larger music and dance work that Laura Dean premiered in 1976. SONG premiered at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, MN commissioned by Walker Art Center and The Brooklyn Academy of Music.) Choreography danced by Laura Dean and the music performed on piano by Laura Dean. Costume design by Laura Dean.
8. SONG - 1976. LAURA DEAN DANCE COMPANY - Laura Dean wrote a music score for two grand pianos and six singer/dancers. Music composed by Laura Dean. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. Choreography by Laura Dean. The name of the company changed to LAURA DEAN DANCE COMPANY. Premiere: Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN. The musicians for the premiere were Laura Dean and David White. New York Premiere: The Next Wave Festival, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Lepercq Space, Brooklyn, NY. The music and choreography were commissioned by Walker Art Center and The Brooklyn Academy of Music. Costume design by Laura Dean.
9. DANCE- 1976. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Laura Dean composed a music score for two autoharps and 6 singer/dancers. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. STAMPING DANCE (1972) is incorporated into the opening section of DANCE. Laura Dean changed the name of the company to LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Premiere: The Styrian Autumn Festival, Graz, Austria. The music and choreography were commissioned by Gerhard Brunner of The Styrian Autumn Festival in November of 1976. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
10. SPIRAL - 1977. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. This score of music and choreography is written for 8 singer/ dancers and four musicians. Premiere: The Next Wave Festival, The Howard Gilman Opera House, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY. Laura Dean wrote the music score for a soprano, 8 singer/dancers, cello, and two grand pianos. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. This work of music and choreography by Laura Dean was commissioned by The Brooklyn Academy of Music. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
11. PATTERNS - 1978. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. Composed for two grand pianos. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. Premiere: Rochester University, New York, NY. 1978. This work of music and choreography by Laura Dean was commissioned by Rochester University, New York, NY. The score is written for two grand pianos. The choreography by Laura Dean is for six dancers. Premiere: The University of Rochester, New York, NY. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
12. MUSIC - 1978. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. Composed for two grand pianos, violin and six singer/dancers. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography by Laura Dean is for six dancers. Premiere: The American Dance Festival, 1978. New York Premiere: The Next Wave Festival, The Howard Gilman Opera House, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY 1979. This work of music and choreography by Laura Dean was commissioned by The American Dance Festival and The Brooklyn Academy of Music. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a dancer in this work.
13. TYMPANI - 1980. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two grand pianos and tympani. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. Laura Dean considers this work her signature work. This work was created during a month long residency at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN. with a LONG-TERM RESIDENCY GRANT from The National Endowment for the Arts. Premiere: Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, MN. Commissioned by Walker Art Center, The American Dance Festival and The Brooklyn Academy of Music. Costume design by Laura Dean.
14. SOLO IN RED - 1982. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for accordion. Laura Dean composed this score especially for accordionist Guy Klucevsek. The music was performed live and on stage by Guy Klucevsek. Premiere: The Spoleto Festival, Charleston SC 1982. Music and choreography were commissioned by The Spoleto Festival. Costume design by Laura Dean.
15. SKY LIGHT - 1982. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The original music score was for one percussionist and a set of drums. Laura Dean expanded the score in 1985 to two percussionists and two sets of drums. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography by Laura Dean is for six dancers. The music score and choreography were commissioned by The Spoleto Festival 1982. Original set of costumes were by Michaele Vollbracht. Laura Dean re- designed the costumes in 1985. Premiere: The Spoleto Festival, Charleston SC 1982.
16. INNER CIRCLE - 1983. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music co- composed by Laura Dean, Don McGlashan and David Yoken. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two percussionists and two sets of drums and synthesizer. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography by Laura Dean is for six dancers. Premiere: Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, England 1983. Costume design by Laura Dean. Laura Dean was a musician in this work.
17. ENOCHIAN - 1983. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music co- composed by Laura Dean, Don McGlashan and David Yoken. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for orchestral chimes and synthesizer with an echoplex. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. Laura Dean designed this choreography as two back to back solos for herself and dancer Ching Gonzalez. Premiere: The Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, England 1983. ENOCHIAN was danced by Laura Dean and Ching Gonzalez in England; Sofia, Bulgaria; Ljubljana, Yugoslavia; Lucerne, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany as part of a United States International Information Agency Tour in Summer of 1983. The final performance of ENOCHIAN was in the Fall of 1983 at On The Boards in Seattle, Washington. Ms. Dean retired from dancing in 1983. Costume design by Laura Dean.
18. TRIO - 1984. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two synthesizers. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography is for three dancers. The two musicians for the premiere were Laura Dean and Pat Graf. Premiere: The American Dance Festival/Japan, Tokyo, Japan 1984. The music and choreography were commissioned by The American Dance Festival. Costume design by Laura Dean.
19. MAGNETIC - 1986. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two synthesizers. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography is for nine dancers. Premiere: The American Dance Festival, Durham NC 1986. The music and choreography were commissioned by The American Dance Festival. Costume design by Laura Dean.
20. SHAMAN - 1987. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two synthesizers and two sets of drums. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography is for eleven dancers. Premiere: The American Dance Festival, Durham NC 1987. The music and choreography were commissioned by The American Dance Festival. Costume design by Laura Dean.
21. EQUATOR - 1988. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two percussionists for two sets of drums. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography is for ten dancers. Premiere: Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. USA Premiere: Hansher Auditorium, Iowa City, IA. Music and choreography were commissioned by Het Muziektheater and Hansher Auditorium. Costume design by Laura Dean
22. INFINITY - 1990. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for synthesizer and two drummers on two sets of drums. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography is for ten dancers. Premiere: The American Dance Festival, Durham NC 1990. The music and choreography were commissioned by The American Dance Festival. Costume design by Laura Dean.
23. SACRED DANCES - 1991. LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two grand pianos and marimba. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The name of the company was changed from LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS to LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. The choreography is for eight dancers. Premiere: The Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH 1991. The music and choreography were commissioned by The Hopkins Center of Dartmouth College. Costume design by Laura Dean.
24. ECSTASY - 1993. LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The original title of this work was WAR. There was a note in the program that the word WAR was used for the title for "all the warriors who are on the front line in the fight against environmental disasters" but many people did not read this line and thought that Laura Dean had created a work about war. So she changed the title to ECSTASY when the work had its New York premiere at The Joyce Theater in 1994. The music score is for synthesizer and two percussionists on two sets of drums. The music was performed on stage with the dancers by Laura Dean Musicians. The choreography is for ten dancers. Premiere: The American Dance Festival, Durham NC 1993. New York Premiere: The Joyce Theater, New York, NY 1994. The music and choreography were commissioned by The American Dance Festival. Costume design by Laura Dean.
MUSIC SCORES COMPOSED BY THE CHOREOGRAPHER/COMPOSER LAURA DEAN FOR BALLET COMPANIES:
25. NIGHT - 1980. THE JOFFREY BALLET - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two grand pianos. The music was played live in the orchestra pit. Choreography is for eight dancers. The music and choreography were commissioned by THE JOFFREY BALLET. Premiere: The City Center Theatre, New York, NY 1980. Performed by The JOFFREY BALLET. Costume design by Mark Ginsburg realized by Sally Ann Parsons.
26. FIRE - 1982. THE JOFFREY BALLET - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for harmonium, hand drums, flute and two sets of drums. The choreography is for 10 dancers. The music and choreography were commissioned by THE JOFFREY BALLET. The sets and costumes are by the architect Michael Graves. The sets and costumes were commissioned by THE JOFFREY BALLET. Premiere: The City Center Theatre, New York, NY 1982. Performed by THE JOFFREY BALLET.
27. GRAVITY - 1987. THE OHIO BALLET - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for two sets of drums. The music and choreography were commissioned by THE OHIO BALLET. Premiere: Akron OH 1987. Performed by THE OHIO BALLET. Costume design by Laura Dean.
28. NI BTHASKA KE - 1995. BALLET OMAHA - Music composed by Laura Dean. Choreography by Laura Dean. Ni Bthaska ke is a Native American word meaning "water flowing through a plain." The music score is for two sets of drums. The choreography is for eight dancers. The music and choreography were commissioned by BALLET OMAHA. Premiere: Omaha NB 1995. Performed by BALLET OMAHA. Costume design by Laura Dean.
29. LIGHT - 1992. THE AMAN FOLK ENSEMBLE - Music co- composed by Laura Dean and John Zeretzke. Choreography by Laura Dean. The music score is for 6 musicians. The choreography is for 16 dancers. The music was performed live and on stage by the AMAN musicians. The music and choreography were commissioned by THE AMAN FOLK ENSEMBLE with a NATIONAL REPERTORY DANCE GRANT from THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS and MEET THE COMPOSER GRANT. Premiere: The Joyce Theatre, New York, NY 1993. Los Angeles Premiere: University of Southern California/Los Angeles/Royce Hall, June 1994. Performed by THE AMAN FOLK ENSEMBLE. John Zeretzke and Laura Dean received the Los Angeles Dance Resource Center/ Lester Horton Award for Music for Dance in 1994 for LIGHT. Costume design by Laura Dean.

30. OBERLIN PIECES - OBERLIN COLLEGE STUDENT WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE - Music and choreography by Laura Dean for 50 students. Oberlin College, Oberlin OH. Jan. 1979
31. LINE AND CIRCLE - WINDHAM COLLEGE STUDENT WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE - Music and choreography by Laura Dean for 30 students and community. Windham College, Putney VT. June 27, 1977
32. SONGDANCE - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE - Music and choreography by Laura Dean for 50 students. American University, Washington D.C. Aug. 12 1976.

BALLETS:
LAURA DEAN CREATED TWO BALLETS FOR THE ROYAL DANISH BALLET.
DELTA - Music - Gary Brooker/Delta. The Royal Danish Ballet commissioned an orchestral score with added percussion, from the composer Gary Brooker of Procol Harum that was played live at all performances by The Royal Danish Ballet Orchestra. The choreography is for sixteen ballet dancers. Premiere: Det Kongelige Teater/The Royal Danish Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark 1990. Costume design by Laura Dean.
CLOUD - Music - John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski/Cloud. The Royal Danish Ballet commissioned the score for orchestra co-composed by John Zeretzke and Richard Kosinski. The choreography is for twelve ballet dancers. Premiere: Det Kongelige Teater/The Royal Danish Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark 1994. Costume design by Laura Dean.

LAURA DEAN CREATED EIGHT BALLETS FOR THE JOFFREY BALLET.
NIGHT- Music by Laura Dean/Night - Premiere: The City Center Theatre, New York, NY. .1980. Choreography for eight ballet dancers. Costume design by Mark Ginsburg.
FIRE - Music by Laura Dean/Fire. Choreography for twelve ballet dancers. Costume and set design by the architect/designer Michael Graves were commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet. Premiere: The City Center Theatre, New York, NY 1982.
FORCE FIELD - Music by Steve Reich/Six Pianos. Choreography for twelve ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Hansher Auditorium, Iowa City, IA. 1986. A section of FORCE FIELD can be seen in the film Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance (2012).
SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL - Music by Prince/Sometimes It Snows In April, Trust, Baby I'm A Star - Choreography for twelve ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Hansher Auditorium, Iowa City, IA. 1993.
LIGHT FIELD - Music by Glenn Branca/Lightfield. Choreography for eight ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Northrup Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN. 1993.
STRUCTURE - Music by Glenn Branca - Choreography for two ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Northrup Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN. 1993.
YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS - Music by Neil Diamond, Marilyn and Alan Bergman. "LEGENDS ll". Choreography for ten ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Chicago IL.
CREATIVE FORCE - Music by John Zeretzke/Ray One - Choreography for ten ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Chicago IL. 1999. A section of the ballet CREATIVE FORCE can be seen in the Robert Altman film The Company (2003). CREATIVE FORCE, as part of the film, was nominated for an American Choreography Award (2004).

LAURA DEAN CREATED FOUR BALLETS FOR THE OHIO BALLET.
PATTERNS OF CHANGE - Music by Philip Glass/Music in Twelve Parts/Part 2 - Choreography for ten ballet dancers. Premiere: The Joyce Theatre, New York NY 1985.
GRAVITY - Music by Laura Dean/Gravity - Choreography for twelve ballet dancers. Premiere: EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH. 1987.
QUANTUM - Music by Mark Isham - Choreography for twelve ballet dancers. Premiere: EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH. 1990.
EARTH - Music co-composed by John Zeretzke and Richard Kosinski/Earth - Choreography for ten ballet dancers. Premiere: The Joyce Theatre, New York NY. 1993.

LAURA DEAN CREATED TWO BALLETS FOR THE ALBANY/BERKSHIRE BALLET.
ARROW OF TIME - Music by Totem - Choreography for four ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Palace Theater, Pittsfield MA. Sept. 23, 1989.
NIGHTWIND - Music co-composed by John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski - Choreography for four ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Palace Theater, Pittsfield MA. 1993.

BALLET FOR THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET. This ballet was commissioned from Laura Dean for The American Music Festival of 1988.
SPACE - Music by Steve Reich/The Four Sections - Choreography for thirty six ballet dancers. Premiere: New York State Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York NY. May 15, 1988.

BALLET FOR THE FRANKFURT BALLET. The ballet was a restaging of Laura Dean's ballet FIRE that was originally commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet in 1982. Originally done for The Joffrey Ballet with sets and costumes by Michael Graves, the restaging was done without the Graves sets and costumes.
FIRE - Music - Laura Dean/ Fire. Reconstructed and restaged with Labanotation by Leslie Rotman. Leslie Rotman labanotated FIRE when Laura Dean created the work for The Joffrey Ballet in 1982. Final rehearsals and performances were overseen by Laura Dean. Lighting by William Forsythe. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Frankfurt Opera House, Frankfurt, Germany 1987.

BALLET FOR THE ATLANTA BALLET. The ballet was commissioned from Laura Dean with an original orchestral score by Atlanta Ballet Music Director Robert Chumbley.
ASTRAL JOURNEY - Music/Robert Chumbley/Brahmsiana. Choreography for ten ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean. Premiere: Atlanta, GA. 2001.

The following is a list of the works that Laura Dean created the choreography with the music of Steve Reich. It is a total of nine works.
1. TRIO to Steve Reich's FOUR ORGANS - Premiere: May 7, 1972 - Pro Musica Nova, West Berlin, West Germany. Performed by Laura Dean and Dance Company with music performed live by Steve Reich and Musicians. Costume design by Laura Dean.
2. QUARTET SQUARED to Steve Reich's PHASE PATTERNS - Premiere: May 7, 1972 - Pro Musica Nova , West Berlin, West Germany. Performed by Laura Dean and Dance Company with music performed live by Steve Reich and Musicians. Costume design by Laura Dean.
3. WALKING DANCE to Steve Reich's CLAPPING MUSIC - Premiere: Loeb Student Center, New York University, New York 1973. Performed by Laura Dean and Dance Company with music performed live by Steve Reich and Musicians. Costume design by Laura Dean
4. SQUARE DANCE to Steve Reich's PHASE PATTERNS - Premiere: Loeb Student Center, New York University, New York 1973. Performed by Laura Dean and Dance Company with music performed live by Steve Reich and Musicians. Costume design by Laura Dean.
5. DRUMMING to Steve Reich's DRUMMING - Premiere: The Lepercq Space, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY 1975. Performed by Laura Dean and Dance Company with music performed live by Steve Reich and Musicians. Costume design by Laura Dean.
6. TEHILLIM to Steve Reich's TEHILLIM - Premiere: Tel Aviv, Israel 1984. Performed by The Bat- Dor Dance Company. Unbeknownst to Laura Dean, someone at The Bat- Dor Dance Company put the word PSALMS as the title of Laura Dean's dance work instead of TEHILLIM. The title of this dance work is TEHILLIM, not PSALMS. Choreography was commissioned by The Bat- Dor Dance Company. Costume design by Oded Gera.
7. FORCE FIELD to Steve Reich's SIX PIANOS - Premiere: The City Center Theatre, New York, NY. 1985. Performed by The Joffrey Ballet. The choreography was commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet. Costume design by Laura Dean realized by Sally Ann Parsons.
8. IMPACT to Steve Reich's SEXTET- Premiere: The Howard Gilman Opera House, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY. 1985. Performed by LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS with the music played live by LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS. SEXTET was commissioned from Steve Reich by LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Choreography was commissioned by The Brooklyn Academy of Music. Costume design by Laura Dean.
9. SPACE to Steve Reich's THE FOUR SECTIONS (1987) - Premiere: The New York State Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York, NY. May 15, 1988. Choreography is for 36 dancers. Principles: Lourdes Lopez, Heather Watts, Peter Frame and Jock Soto. Performed by The New York City Ballet. Choreography was commissioned by The New York City Ballet for The American Music Festival in honor of New York City Ballet's 40th Anniversary. Peter Martins, Artistic Director. Music played live by The New York City Ballet Orchestra. Costume design by Laura Dean.
Laura Dean has choreographed nine works with Steve Reich's music. Steve Reich and Laura Dean received a Bessie/New York Dance and Performance Award in 1986 for IMPACT/SEXTET.

Works

All Choreography by Laura Dean:LAURA DEAN SOLOS (performed by Dean): 1975 SOLO FOR PIANO-CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC LAURA DEAN;1971 A DANCE CONCERT; 1971 BACH PRELUDES with pianist Steve Chambers; 1970 IN SILENCE-SPINNING AND SINGING; 1970 AT ALAN SARET'S LOFT; 1968 UNTITLED; 1968 RED-WHITE-BLACK - SITTING AND SPINNING; 1968 FAREWELL; 1967 LIFE IS ALL AROUND YOU; 1966 3 MINUTES, 10 SECONDS; 1965 MEDIEVAL. LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS: 2000 VIEW OVER ATLANTIS music: Jon Scoville; 1999 CELESTIAL NAVIGATION music: John Zeretzke (Ray One);1998 SOLO: CELESTIAL NAVIGATION music: John Zeretzke. 1998 SOLAR WIND music: Traditional African; 1998 SPHERE music: Anugama; 1997 SEA music: Enya. 1993 ECSTASY music: Laura Dean. LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS: 1991 SACRED DANCES music: Laura Dean; 1990 INFINITY music: Laura Dean; 1989 MEMORY music: Egberto Gismonti (Natura); 1988 EQUATOR music: Laura Dean; 1987 SHAMAN music: Laura Dean; 1986 MAGNETIC music: Laura Dean; 1985 IMPACT music: Steve Reich (Sextet); 1985 TRANSFORMER music: Anthony Davis (Wayang); 1984 TRIO music: Laura Dean; 1983 ENCOCHIAN music: Laura Dean/Don McGlashan/David Yoken; 1983 INNER CIRCLE music: Laura Dean/Don McGlashan/David Yoken; 1982 SKY LIGHT music: Laura Dean; 1982 SOLO IN RED music: Laura Dean; 1980 TYMPANI music: Laura Dean; 1978 MUSIC music: Laura Dean; 1978 PATTERNS music: Laura Dean; 1977 SPIRAL music: Laura Dean. LAURA DEAN DANCE COMPANY: 1976 DANCE music: Laura Dean; 1976 SONG music: Laura Dean. LAURA DEAN AND DANCE COMPANY/STEVE REICH AND MUSICIANS: 1975 DRUMMING music: Steve Reich (Drumming); 1973 WALKING DANCE music: Steve Reich (Clapping Music); 1973 SQUARE DANCE music: Steve Reich (Phase Patterns); 1972 TRIO music: Steve Reich (Four Organs);1972 SQUARE DANCE FOR FOUR music Steve Reich (Phase Patterns).LAURA DEAN AND DANCE COMPANY: 1974 CHANGING music: John Smead; 1974 SPINNING DANCE sound design by Laura Dean; 1974 RESPONSE DANCE sound design by Laura Dean; 1973 CHANGING PATTERN STEADY PULSE sound design by Laura Dean; 1973 JUMPING DANCE sound design by Laura Dean; 1972 STAMPING DANCE sound design by Laura Dean; 1972 CIRCLE DANCE sound design by Laura Dean. BALLETS FOR THE JOFFREY BALLET: 1999 CREATIVE FORCE music: John Zeretzke (Ray One); 1996 YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS; 1993 SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL (Billboards Part I) music: Prince; 1992 LIGHT FIELD music: Glenn Branca (Lightfield); 1992 STRUCTURE music: Glenn Branca; 1985 FORCE FIELD music: Steve Reich (Six Pianos); 1982 FIRE music: Laura Dean, sets and costumes Michael Graves; 1980 NIGHT music: Laura Dean. BALLETS FOR THE OHIO BALLET: 1992 EARTH music co-composed John Zeretzke/ Richard Kosinski; 1990 QUANTUM music: Mark Isham; 1987 GRAVITY music: Laura Dean; 1987 FOR TWO music: Jean-Baptiste Breval; 1985 PATTERNS OF CHANGE music: Philip Glass (Music in Twelve Parts, Part Two). BALLETS FOR THE ROYAL DANISH BALLET: 1994 CLOUD music: co-composed John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski; 1990 DELTA music: Gary Brooker (Delta); BALLETS FOR THE ALBANY BERKSHIRE BALLET: 1992 NIGHT WIND music co-composed John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski; 1989 ARROW OF TIME music: Totem. BALLETS: ATLANTA BALLET, 2001 ASTRAL JOURNEY music: Robert Chumbley. RALEIGH DANCE THEATRE, 2001 TAO music: co-composed John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski. BALLET OMAHA, 1995 NI BTHASKA KE music: Laura Dean. NEW YORK CITY BALLET, 1988 SPACE music: Steve Reich (Four Sections); THE FRANKFURT BALLET, 1987 FIRE music: Laura Dean. Reconstructed with costumes by Laura Dean and lighting by William Forsythe. MODERN DANCE WORKS FOR OTHER COMPANIES: AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE THEATRE, 1998 NEW DANCE/THE GIFT music: Native American. PICK OF THE CROP DANCE COMPANY, 1995 NIAGARA music: co-composed John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski. RIRIE/WOODBURY DANCE COMPANY, 1994 TENMILE music: John Zeretzke. AMAN FOLK ENSEMBLE, 1993 LIGHT music: co-composed John Zeretzke/Laura Dean. CONCERT DANCE COMPANY OF BOSTON, 1988 DREAM COLLECTOR music: Terry Riley. THE BAT DOR DANCE COMPANY OF ISRAEL, 1984 TEHILLIM music: Steve Reich (Tehillim). WORKS FOR ICE SKATING COMPANIES: ICE THEATER OF NEW YORK, 1994 REFLECTIONS music: co-composed John Zeretzke/Richard Kosinski; 1991 SEDONA SUNRISE music: David Storrs. THE NEXT ICE AGE, 1989 OCEAN music: Tingstad and Rumbel. JOHN CURRY ICE SKATING COMPANY, 1983 BURN music: Jean Michel Jarre; 1983 SYNCHRONICITY music: The Police.

LAURA DEAN CREATED 26 MUSIC AND DANCE WORKS FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES. LAURA DEAN HAD THE PARTICIPANTS WEAR WHITE CLOTHING OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING FOR ALL OF THESE WORKS. There is one exception to this. In 1979, in the student work for 9 women at The American University, Laura had all the women in very pale pastel colors. Each dancer wore a different colored silk dress.
The following list is a combination of the music and dance works created in workshops, lectures and individual teaching that Laura Dean did over a 34 year period from 1968 to 2002:
York University, Ontario Canada; Centre for the Arts, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Vancouver Dance Centre, Vancouver, Canada; School of Visual Arts, New York, NY; New School for Social Research, New York, NY; Muse Machine, Dayton, Ohio - Summer Teaching Residency and the creation of a community work with 25 workshop participants; Temple University, Philadelphia PA; San Diego State University, San Diego CA; The Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY; University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill, NC; Guggenheim Museum- Works in Progress - IMPACT and TRANSFORMER- with Steve Reich and Anthony Davis; Appalachian State University, Boone, NC; Southhampton College, Long Island University, Southhampton, NY; Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Boston University, Boston, MA; Purchase College/The State University of New York, Purchase, NY; Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA; California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA; Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York (student work for 25 dancers); University of Rhode Island; University of Texas – Austin; University of Texas-San Antonio; Southern Methodist University, Texas (student work with 20 dancers and musicians with original music score by the musicians of SMU); California State University- Long Beach (student work for 8 dancers with original music score by John Zeretzke); University of California- Santa Cruz; California State University, Los Angeles; University of California- Santa Barbara; New York University, State University of New York- Brockport ( student work for 15 dancers); Avignon Festival, France (community work with 40 dancers);The American Dance Festival-spinning workshop (1978); The American Dance Festival (1996);The American Dance Festival (student work for 30 dancers –Laura Dean assisted by Amy Chavasse in 1997); Loyala Marymount University- Los Angeles (student work for 12 dancers with original music by John Zeretzke); Arizona State University-Tempe; Arcosanti Foundation, Arizona (community work with 100 dancers); St. Cloud State University, MN. (community work for 40 dancers and musicians with original music score by Paul Epstein); University of Minnesota- Twin Cities; Minnesota State University-Mankato, MN.; College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN.; York University, Canada; Dartmouth College, NH; University of Auckland, New Zealand; Limbs Dance Studio, New Zealand (community work with 40 dancers and musicians); India University, Lucknow; University of India, Madras; California State University- Humboldt (student work for 75 dancers and musicians with original music score by Jason Cirker); University of Washington; Oregon State University;American Society for Eastern Arts, San Francisco; San Francisco State University; University of California-Berkeley; University of Montana; University of Michigan; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; University of Wisconsin-Madison; University of Iowa; New Jersey State University; Princeton University; Harvard University; Radcliffe College; Colorado State University-Fort Collins (community work with 50 dancers and musicians with original music score by musicians from Fort Collins); University of Denver- Colorado; University of Colorado-Boulder;Walker Art Center (community work with 75 dancers and musicians with original music score by Laura Dean); Columbia College, South Carolina (student work for 8 dancers with original music score by John Zeretzke); Oberlin College (student work for 40 dancers and musicians with original music score by Laura Dean); MoMing Chicago (community work with 35 dancers and musicians); American University, Washington D.C. (student work with 9 dancers and one musician in 1979 with original music score by David Yoken);American University, Washington D.C. (student work with 30 dancers and musicians in 1976 with original music score by Laura Dean); University of New Hampshire; Duke University Ballet Lab, Duke University, North Carolina (student work for 8 ballet dancers); Fairmount Center for the Arts, Ohio (student work for 12 dancers); Detroit Museum; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Guggenheim Museum, New York; Whitney Museum, New York; Chicago Art Institute; New York Library at Lincoln Center; University of North Carolina-Charlotte; University of North Carolina- Greensboro;University of Utah (student work for 12 dancers and musicians with original music score by Jon Scoville played by University of Utah musicians); Virginia Commonwealth University; Wesleyan University; Meredith College; Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; The Boston Conservatory; Windham College, Putney, Vermont (community work for 30 dancers and musicians with original music by Laura Dean played by Laura Dean and Pat Graf); University of California-Riverside; University of California-Irvine; Goddard College, Vermont (community work for 20 dancers and musicians); California Institute of the Arts; University of Akron, Ohio; Kingsborough Community College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York; Adelphi University, Long Island, New York; Amherst College, MA; Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York; Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of California-San Diego; National Committee on United States-China Relations with Laura Dean, Charles Reinhart, Arthur Mitchell, Stuart Hodes, Michael Smuin, Bella Lewitzsky, Suzanne Shelton and translator Julie Reigenbaum- Beijing, Kunming, Chungdu and Shanghai in 1980; American Embassy/Japan in 1980; American Dance Festival/Tokyo,Japan in 1984; The College of Staten Island-The City University of New York, Staten Island, New York; Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Graz University, Graz, Austria; Berlin Kunstalle, Berlin, Germany; Maison de la Culture, Rennes, France; The Holland Festival, Amsterdam (community work for 18 dancers); Raleigh Dance Theatre, Raleigh, North Carolina (student work for 8 dancers); University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia (1983) and The University of Ljubljana, Yugoslavia (1983).