Laura Dean - Dancer, Choreographer, Composer

Laura Dean History

Late 1960s and 1970s
Dean created her first solo in 1965. During a two-year stay in San Francisco (1968 and 1969), Dean discovered her signature move, which is non-spotted spinning. At various times in her career, she called this move spinning, whirling and/or turning. She discovered this for herself when she was walking in circles letting her body lean in toward the center. This created a spiral pattern into the center of the circle and Dean started spinning in this center. Spinning, whirling and turning has been used by Dean in the majority of her works. She created solos for herself at this time. She returned to New York City in 1969. Dean continued to create solos. In 1972, Dean created The Dean Dance and Music Foundation. In 1972 she created her first dance company Laura Dean and Dance Company. Dean created five works that premiered between 1972 and 1975 to the music of Steve Reich. All of these performances had the music played live by Steve Reich and Musicians, and the dance was performed by Laura Dean and Dance Company. During this period, she also created seven works for Laura Dean and Dance Company that were without music but had the sound of the dancers' feet stamping, hands clapping and in three of the works, dancers' voices. Dean's work Song (1976) is the first full company work for which Dean composed both the music and the choreography. The score was composed by Dean for two pianos. Dean was one of the musicians. This is a work for six dancers and two musicians. The dancers also sang.

Christopher Reardon, a writer from The New York Times, stated Dean had “made her mark in the 1970's by stripping dance to a set of elemental gestures and patterns, [she] regards movement as an end in itself.”. It was not uncommon during the 1970s for a postmodern minimalist choreographer to strip the stage of costumes, lighting, music or scenery in an attempt to make the movement seem more important. Dean’s works embodied the ideals of minimalism which dominated this era and influenced the postmodern choreographers of the 1970s. By the late 1970s, Dean had become renowned for her spinning and rhythmic stamping patterns which would become her legacy.

1980’s
During the 1970’s, the company performed at such prestigious festivals, such as the Graz Festival, Graz, Austria (1976), The Holland Festival (1979), and an extensive European Tour with Steve Reich and Musicians (1972) that included the countries of France, Spain, Italy and Germany. The 1980’s was a time of increased touring and commissions for Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians. The company participated in two United States Information Agency Tours in 1982 and 1983. The first tour took Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians to New Zealand, Indonesia and India which included the cities of Lucknow, New Delhi, Madras and Calcutta. The second tour was of Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Great Britain and Germany. Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians received a number of Dance Residency Program Grants through the National Endowment for the Arts. One of the grants was for a five week residency in Minnesota in the cities of St. Joseph, St. Cloud, Mankato and Minneapolis. It was during this residency that Ms. Dean choreographed and composed the music for her signature work TYMPANI. This work premiered at The Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis in 1980. In 1982, at the invitation of The French Government, the company did a five week residency and performances at The Avignon Festival. 1984 the company taught workshops and performed in Japan through The American Dance Festival/Japan Program. Some of the commissioned works for her company during the 1980’s include: TYMPANI with music and choreography by Laura Dean (co-commissioned by Walker Art Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music and The American Dance Festival); SKY LIGHT with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by The Spoleto Festival); IMPACT with an original score written for Laura Dean by Steve Reich, Sextet,(commissioned by The Brooklyn Academy of Music); EQUATOR with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam and Hansher Auditorium) and MAGNETIC with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by The American Dance Festival). Ms. Dean’s commissioned ballets during the 1980’s include NIGHT with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet); FIRE with music and choreography by Laura Dean. Sets and costumes by architect Michael Graves (commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet). SPACE with choreography by Laura Dean and an original score by Steve Reich, Four Sections (commissioned by The New York City Ballet). Ms. Dean created two skating works for John Curry Ice Skating Company during the 1980’s, BURN and SYNCHRONICITY. BURN premiered at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York City in 1983. It was the first time that ice was created and laid down on the Metropolitan Opera House stage.

1990’s
Some of the major commissions during the 1990’s include the following: for Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians (named changed to Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers in October 1991) INFINITY with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by The American Dance Festival); SACRED DANCES with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by The Hopkins Center/Dartmouth College); ECSTASY with music and choreography by Laura Dean (commissioned by The American Dance Festival); TRILOGY-Sphere, Solar Wind, Celestial Navigation with music by Anugama and John Zeretzke (commissioned by Duke University Presentations). The final work that Laura Dean choreographed for Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers was VIEW OVER ATLANTIS with music by Jon Scoville created with a North Carolina Arts Council Grant in 2000. Dance Residencies during the 1990’s for the company included a four week New Hampshire Dance Residency awarded through the Dance Residency Program of The National Endowment for the Arts and the New Hampshire Arts Council. Touring included teaching and performing in Spain and Portugal. Laura Dean created two works for The Royal Danish Ballet in the 1990’s. The first ballet was DELTA with a commissioned score by Gary Brooker. The second ballet was CLOUD with a commissioned score co-composed by John Zeretzke and Richard Kosinski. Ballets for The Joffrey Ballet during the 1990’s include CREATIVE FORCE with music by John Zeretzke; LIGHT FIELD with music by Glenn Branca; STRUCTURE with music by Glenn Branca and SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL with music by Prince. Ms. Dean was awarded The Millenium Grant/The National Endowment for the Arts. This award helped to create her work NEW DANCE/THE GIFT for The American Indian Dance Theatre in 1998. Ms. Dean works for ice skaters during the 1990’s include REFLECTIONS and SEDONA SUNRISE for Ice Theater of New York. And OCEAN for The Next Ice Age Skating Company. Ms. Dean moved from New York City to North Carolina in 1996.

The following are new works and activities of Laura Dean and the activities that involved the works of Laura Dean from 1996-2012

Laura Dean stopped choreographing and creating music scores in 2001. She stopped arranging reconstruction/restaging projects of her works in 2009 with the last performances of these projects taking place in 2012.
1996 - January - Laura Dean establishes The Dean Dance and Music Foundation, Inc. in North Carolina. The Dean Dance and Music Foundation, Inc. is , at this point, registered in both New York State (1972) and North Carolina (1996).
1996 - July - Laura Dean teaches a three week Choreography Composition Class at The American Dance Festival, Durham NC.
1997 - SEA - Amy Chavasse (Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians 1983 to 1989) commissions a solo from Laura Dean. This solo is performed in concerts by Amy Chavasse in 1997.
1997 - YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS - New ballet for The Joffrey Ballet. At the request of Artistic Director, Gerald Arpino, Laura Dean travels to Chicago to create her seventh ballet for The Joffrey Ballet. Music written by Neil Diamond, Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Sung by Barbra Streisand. This ballet was part of LEGENDS II. In the words of Sid Smith, the Chicago Tribune Arts Critic on June 16, 1997 " LEGENDS II, an expanded version of last year's pop diva collection, now has a workable finish: Laura Dean's lush finale to Barbra Streisand's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Laura Dean was not a part of LEGENDS. In the words of Lewis Segal, The Los Angeles Times Dance Critic on June 28, 1997 "The only real class act is Laura Dean's elegant ensemble to Streisand's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" in which sweet meetings and partings of young lovers enhance through contrast the death-of-love described in the lyrics." Laura Dean's name is not listed as a choreographer for Legends. She is listed as a choreographer for Legends II, if there is a list, for Legends II. Laura Dean created the choreography for ten ballet dancers. Costume design by Laura Dean.
1997 - July - Laura Dean teaches a three week Choreography Composition Class at The American Dance Festival, Durham NC.
1998 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for the Swedish modern dance company, Moderna Dansteatern. Performances in May 1998 in Stockholm, Sweden. Sky Light was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Spoleto Festival in 1982.
1998 - June - SPHERE - Laura Dean creates a new work for LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. This new work is made possible with grants from The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, a Durham Arts Council Facility Grant, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and The National Endowment for the Arts. SPHERE is for 12 performers. The work is performed at the PSI Theatre, The Durham Arts Council, Durham NC.
1998 - July and August - THE AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE THEATRE/NEW DANCE/THE GIFT - Laura Dean is the first non-native that has been honored to be asked to create a dance work for The American Indian Dance Theatre. This dance was created with a Millennium Grant/The National Endowment for the Arts awarded to Laura Dean and produced by The Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival. Laura Dean traveled for one week to Ottawa, Canada to work with the dancers. She was with the dancers in Cherokee, North Carolina for a week. She then traveled to The Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival for the final rehearsals and performances. The work premiered as part of Hanay Geiogamah's evening length work KOTUWOKAN at Jacob's Pillow on Tuesday, August 2, 1998. Laura Dean's work, which she titled NEW DANCE/THE GIFT was a part of THE AMERICAN INDIAN DANCE THEATRE's repertory until 2006. This work was for four dancers and four traditional musicians. From the Los Angeles Times, Nov. 20, 2001 article written by Chris Pasles, Geiogamah said "She helped us to focus on an adaptable stepping-off point in our vocabulary. If we took this from our rhythm and our steps and tried it in a sort of modern context, the combination could work and still preserve and Indian feel to it."
1998 - November - SOLAR WIND - Laura Dean creates a new work for LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. This new work is made possible with grants from The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, a Durham Arts Council Facility Grant, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and The North Carolina Arts Council. SOLAR WIND is for 9 performers. The work is performed at the PSI Theatre, The Durham Arts Council, Durham NC.
1998 - EARTH - Reconstructed and restaged by THE ATLANTA BALLET. Atlanta Ballet dancer, Joe Roesner, restages EARTH. Laura Dean travels to Atlanta GA. for the final rehearsals and performances. EARTH was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Ohio Ballet in 1992.
1999 - CREATIVE FORCE - Laura Dean travels to Chicago to create her eighth ballet for The Joffrey Ballet. She asks the composer John Zeretzke, who has composed scores for her ballets EARTH for The Ohio Ballet and CLOUD for The Royal Danish Ballet, to compose an original score for this new ballet. The Joffrey Ballet commissions a new score from John Zeretzke which he names Ray One. Laura Dean creates the commissioned choreography for 12 ballet dancers. The work premieres March 18, 1999, The Auditorium Theatre, Chicago IL. Sid Smith of the Chicago Tribune describes CREATIVE FORCE as a "smashing new work and instant classic" that "celebrates the joy of being alive as only dance can."
1999 - CELESTIAL NAVIGATION - Laura Dean creates a new work for LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. This work is made possible with a North Carolina Arts Council Artists Fellowship, a Durham Arts Council Facility Grant, A Durham Arts Council Season Grant, The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and The Duke Institute for the Arts. CELESTIAL NAVIGATION is for twenty one performers. This work was performed at The Reynolds Theatre, Duke University, Durham NC on April 30, May 1 and 2, 1999.
1999 - EARTH - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ohio Ballet. Performances at the EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH. EARTH was commissioned by The Ohio Ballet from Laura Dean in 1992.
1999 - SOLO: CELESTIAL NAVIGATION - Liz Maxwell (Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians 1982 to 1988) premieres a solo commissioned from Laura Dean at The University Theatre, CalPoly, Pomona CA.
2000 - Feb. - CREATIVE FORCE - Reconstructed and restaged by The Joffrey Ballet for performances in South Florida.
2000 - ULTIMATE JOURNEY - Laura Dean creates new dance work for The Modern Dance Department, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City UT. In Feb., Laura Dean travels to Salt Lake City for a Choreographic Residency to create a work for the students of the Modern Dance Department with an original music score by University of Utah Professor of Music, Jon Scoville. Dean named the work ULTIMATE JOURNEY. The music was played live by eight musicians from the music department. The choreography is for 12 dancers. Performed by the Performing Dance Company at The University of Utah's Marriott Center of Dance, Salt Lake City, UT.
2000 - EARTH - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ohio Ballet. Performances at Summer in the Park Series. Cain Park, Evans Amphitheater, Cleveland OH.
2000 - VIEW OVER ATLANTIS - Laura Dean creates a new work for LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. This work was created with a North Carolina Arts Council Grant, a Durham Arts Council Facility Grant and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. The work premieres at Meredith College, Raleigh NC, as part of the North Carolina Dance Festival. VIEW OVER ATLANTIS is for seven dancers and has an original music score by Jon Scoville. This is the last work that Laura Dean choreographed for LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS disbanded after this concert.
2000 - TENMILE - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. TENMILE was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company with an original music score by John Zeretzke in 1994. In 1993, Laura Dean had taken two river trips. The first was a one week private raft trip on the San Juan River and the second trip was a two week trip, in a wooden dory, with the Grand Canyon Expeditions Company. This trip was down the Colorado River of the Grand Canyon. Tenmile is the name of one of the canyon areas near Moab UT. The work TENMILE was inspired by these river trips.
2001 - ASTRAL JOURNEY - Laura Dean creates a new ballet for The Atlanta Ballet. Laura Dean travels to Atlanta GA. and creates a new ballet with a commissioned orchestral score by Robert Chumbley. The choreography is for 10 dancers. The work premieres March 15, 2001. This is the 2nd work in The Atlanta Ballet repertory.
2001 - April 13 and 14 - CREATIVE FORCE - Reconstructed and restaged by The Joffrey Ballet for performances at Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, IA. CREATIVE FORCE was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Joffrey Ballet in 1999.
2001 - June 7 - Laura Dean travels to Staten Island, NY to receive an Honorary Doctorate from The College of Staten Island/The City University of New York.
2001 - TAO - Laura Dean creates a new ballet. Laura Dean is invited by The Raleigh Dance Theatre to create a new ballet. She creates a new ballet for eight ballet dancers to a score by John Zeretzke. It is performed by The Raleigh Dance Theatre in the Spring of 2002.
2001 - EARTH - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ohio Ballet. Performances at the EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH.
2001 - ASTRAL FLIGHT - Laura Dean creates a new ballet. Laura Dean is invited by The Ballet Department of Duke University to create a new ballet for The Duke University Ballet Repertory Ensemble. Co-directors Tyler and Julie Walters. The choreography is for eight ballet dancers. The work premieres at the DECEMBER DANCES at Reynolds Theatre, Duke University, Durham NC.
2002 - GRAVITY - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ohio Ballet. Performances at the EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH. The choreography and music for GRAVITY were commissioned from Laura Dean by The Ohio Ballet in 1987.
2002 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The Pomona College Dance Ensemble with the music performed live by Pomona College musicians. The music and choreography for SKY LIGHT were commissioned from Laura Dean by The Spoleto Festival in 1982. Pomona College, Pomona CA.
2003 - CREATIVE FORCE - The Robert Altman Film "The Company". An excerpt of CREATIVE FORCE is used in the film. It is the Neve Campbell flashback scene. The choreography, as it is seen in the film, is nominated for an American Choreography Award in 2004.
2004 - May - CREATIVE FORCE - Reconstructed and restaged by The Joffrey Ballet for performances at The Auditorium Theatre, Chicago IL. CREATIVE FORCE was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Joffrey Ballet in 1999.
2004 - EARTH - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ohio Ballet. Performances at the EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH. and Summer in the Park Series, Cain Park Amphitheatre, Cleveland OH.
2004 - TENMILE - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. For performances in Salt Lake City and on tour. TENMILE was commissioned from Laura Dean by the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in 1994.
2005 - LAURA DEAN REPERTORY CLASS - Laura Dean's choreography is taught for a semester at Scripps College, Claremont CA.
2005 - BREATH OF FIRE - Reconstructed and restaged for The California State University, Long Beach Department of Dance. BREATH OF FIRE was created for The Cal State Long Beach Department of Dance by Laura Dean in 1995. Music score created for BREATH OF FIRE by John Zeretzke.
2005 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The Dartmouth Dance Ensemble for performances at The Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH and performances in Vermont.
2005 - QUANTUM - Reconstructed and restaged by The Ohio Ballet. Performances and the EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall, Akron OH and The Ohio Playhouse, Cleveland OH. QUANTUM was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Ohio Ballet in 1990. Music is by Mark Isham.
2006 - January - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for the East Carolina University Dance Company, East Carolina University Dance Department with the music performed live by East Carolina University musicians. East Carolina University, Greenville NC.
2006 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged by REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE for their Touring Program "Time Capsule: A Century of Dance". Repertory Dance Theatre, Salt Lake City UT. This was part of the Time Capsule Program until the Spring of 2010.
2006 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The Dartmouth Dance Ensemble for performances at The Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH and performances in Vermont.
2006 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The Denison Dance Ensemble with the music performed live by Denison University musicians. This reconstruction was part of the "ReMoving History: Dissonance and Harmony in 20th Century Concert Dance" Forum that was funded by the MacGregor Initiatives Fund. Denison University Dance Department, Denison University, Granville OH.
2006 - March 31 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The George Mason University Dance Company with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. George Mason University, Fairfax VA.
2006 - April 8 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for performances at Hunter College, New York, NY in the "Sharing the Legacy/Dance Masterworks of the 20th Century" program. Excerpt from SKY LIGHT with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS.
2006 - Fall - TAO - Reconstructed and restaged by The Raleigh Dance Theatre for performances in the Fall of 2006.
2007 - April - The Dean Dance & Music Foundation Inc. (aka The Dean Dance and Music Foundation Inc.) is dissolved in New York State and North Carolina.
2007 - April thru June - MINIMALISM AND ITS LEGACY - Reconstruction and restaging of SKY LIGHT. The discussion and presentation of Laura Dean's work was part of a major symposium at The University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee. This included the reconstruction and restaging of her work SKY LIGHT made possible by an American Masterpieces: Dance - College Component (AMDCC) Grant which "enables institutions of higher learning across the country to reconstruct dances by notable choreographers." AMDCC is funded by The National Endowment for the Arts. The SKY LIGHT performances took place on June 15, 16 and 17 performed by dancers from The University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Department of Dance with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS.
2007 - July 24, 25 and 26 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged at The American Dance Festival for the Past/Forward Program. Performed by the students of The American Dance Festival with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS.
2007 - SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL - Reconstructed and restaged by The Joffrey Ballet for performances at Zellerbach Auditorium, University of California/Berkeley CA. Music by Prince.
2007 - October - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged by The Chamber Dance Ensemble with the music performed live by the University of Washington musicians. Meany Theater, University of Washington, Seattle WA. This was the second restaging of SKY LIGHT for The Chamber Dance Ensemble. The first restaging was in 1994 with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS.
2007/2008 Dec./Jan. The American Dance Festival Winter Intensive in New York City. Laura Dean dance vocabulary was taught during the Winter Intensive.
2008 - ARROW OF TIME - Reconstructed and restaged for The Albany Berkshire Ballet. ARROW OF TIME was commissioned from Laura Dean by The Albany Berkshire Ballet in 1989.
2008 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The Pomona College Dance Ensemble with the music performed live by Pomona College musicians. Pomona College, Pomona CA.
2008 - June 29 - Laura Dean is honored with The Samuel H. Scripps Award/The American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement.
2008 - July 24, 25 and 26 - TYMPANI - Reconstructed and restaged for The American Dance Festival's Past/Forward Program. TYMPANI is performed by the students of The American Dance Festival with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. The music and choreography for TYMPANI were commissioned from Laura Dean by Walker Art Center, The Brooklyn Academy of Music and The American Dance Festival in 1980. Laura Dean considers TYMPANI to be her signature work.
2008 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for The Dartmouth Dance Ensemble for performances at The Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, Vermont and the North and South Islands, New Zealand.
2008 - SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL - Reconstructed and restaged by The Joffrey Ballet for the "Good Vibrations" Tour. Music by Prince.
2008 - September 11 and 12 - VIEW OVER ATLANTIS - Reconstructed and restaged by The Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company for performances at the White Recital Hall Performing Arts Center, Kansas City MO. VIEW OVER ATLANTIS was the last work that Laura Dean created for LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS in 2000.
2008 - October 24 - THE LEGACY LECTURES: Arcs in Time American Postmodern Dance Protagonists. A lecture presented on the dance works of Laura Dean. Presented at the Palmer Commons Forum Hall, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI.
2008 - November 7 - SOLO: CELESTIAL NAVIGATION - Solo commissioned from Laura Dean by Liz Maxwell in 1999 reconstructed and restaged for part of "Liz Maxwell in Concert". Scripps College, Claremont CA.
2008 - November 21 and 22 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for performances by students of The Long Island University Dance Department with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Long Island University, Long Island NY.
2008/2009 - Dec./Jan. - The American Dance Festival Winter Intensive in New York City. Laura Dean dance vocabulary taught during the Winter Intensive.
2009 - January - Laura Dean informs, in writing, her reconstructors/restagers, universities, professional companies that have a work of hers in their repertory, that she will not be renewing licenses or doing anymore restaging projects or arranging any activities with her choreography and/or music. Activity continues through 2012 with what has already been contracted. Laura Dean is no longer issuing licenses or the rights to her choreography and/or music.
2009 - January 25 - Lecture "Restaging Laura Dean's Dances" as part of the Arcs in Time Program and the reconstruction IMPACT at the University of Michigan.
2009 - January 29 - Lecture: Restaging Laura Dean Dances in Ann Arbor. A panel discussion in connection with the reconstruction of IMPACT at The University of Michigan.
2009 - January 29 - February 1 - IMPACT - Reconstructed and restaged for the students of The University of Michigan Dance Department with the music performed live by The University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble. Laura Dean created the choreography and Steve Reich wrote the music, SEXTET, for LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS in 1985. This restaging of IMPACT was made possible by an American Masterpieces: Dance - College Component (AMDCC) "which enables institutions of higher learning across the country to reconstruct dances by notable choreographers." AMDCC is funded by The National Endowment for the Arts. IMPACT was performed at Michigan's Power Center for the Performing Arts, Ann Arbor, MI. Jan. 29, 30 and Feb 1, 2009 by the University Dance Company and The University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble.
2009 - April 24, 25 and 26 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for the students of the Long Island University Dance Department with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Long Island University, Long Island NY.
2009 - May 7 and 8 - BREATH OF FIRE - Reconstructed and restaged for The Elon Dance Company, Elon University Dance Department, Elon University, Burlington NC. BREATH OF FIRE was originally created for The California State University, Long Beach Department of Dance in 1995.
2009 - Laura Dean's drawing is used for the Playbill cover for The American Dance Festival 2009 Season. Laura Dean's drawing is the image for the T-shirt for The American Dance Festival 2009 Season.
2009 - June 25 - Panel: Where Ballet Meets Modern: The Choreographers View - Moderated by The American Dance Festival Director, Charles Reinhart. The American Dance Festival, Durham NC. Laura Dean is a participant.
2009 - July 2, 3 and 4 - NIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged by The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Produced by The American Dance Festival. Performed by The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet at The Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham NC. The music and choreography for NIGHT were commissioned from Laura Dean by The Joffrey Ballet in 1980.
2009 - July 8 - North Carolina Governors School for the Arts. Laura Dean's spinning/whirling technique is taught.
2009 - July 20, 21 and 22 - INFINITY - Reconstructed and restaged for The American Dance Festival Past/Forward Program. INFINITY was performed by the students of The American Dance Festival with the music performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS. Laura Dean created the music and choreography for LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS with a commission from The American Dance Festival in 1990.
2009 - November 22 - SKY LIGHT Workshop at Connecticut College.
2010 - April - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged at Barnard College with The Barnard College Dance Company. The music was performed live by the original musicians of LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS.
2010 - April - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for the Connecticut College Dance Company with the music performed live by musicians from Connecticut College. This reconstruction was made possible by an American Masterpieces: Dance: College Component (AMDCC) Grant which is funded by The National Endowment for the Arts.
2012 - JOFFREY/MAVERICKS OF AMERICAN DANCE/The Movie. Two short excerpts of Laura Dean's works, Force Field and Sometimes It Snows in April, are in the film.
2012 - April 19, 20 and 21 - SKY LIGHT - Reconstructed and restaged for the Connecticut College Dance Company with the music performed live by musicians from Connecticut College. This reconstruction was made possible by an American Masterpieces: Dance: College Component (AMDCC) Grant which is funded by The National Endowment for the Arts.
2012 - December 12 - RoseLee Goldberg Lecture at the Jewish Museum in New York. The Languages of Dance/Performance: The Art of Notation. This included the work of Laura Dean.

The name of Laura Dean’s work SKY LIGHT is two words. Not one. Skylight is a type of window in a ceiling. This is not the name of Laura Dean’s work. Laura Dean got the name Sky Light while reading a dictionary of architectural terms. Sky light are architectural terms used when architects are talking about the quality of the light coming off of the sky. This is very different than skylight.

In an otherwise well researched and written article on Laura Dean that is published in the book “Fifty Contemporary Choreographers” is the misinformation that Laura Dean attended Boston College for two months. “After two months at Boston College, it was clear that her life was not to take an academic direction." Laura Dean never attended Boston College. She attended Boston University School of Theatre Arts. And she attended Boston University for five weeks. The reason she left is she had taken an audition for The Paul Taylor Dance Company a month before her 18th birthday which was on December 3, 1963 and she was accepted into The Paul Taylor Dance Company. She returned to New York City to begin rehearsals with The Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1964. She danced with Paul Taylor for two years in 1964 and 1965. She met the love of her life, Bernard Mathieu (Paris, France July 21, 1942 – New York City October 18, 1968) who was enrolled in the Boston University Film School in 1963. Although he passed away quite young from Hodgkins disease, Bernard was a major influence on her life.
There is a wonderful video of Laura Dean’s work Tympani (1980) that was created by the Twin Cities Public Television station KTCA. This video won an American Film Institute award in 1980. The color of the costumes in this video are not the correct colors for the costumes for Tympani. One week before Laura Dean’s company was to travel to Minneapolis to begin the taping she got a call from the producer that they won’t be able to use the correct color for the costumes which is black, because they were going to be shooting against black. Laura Dean scrambled to come up with something which is the rose colored pants and blue shirts that are in the video. Had it been her choice she would not have done this and the costumes would have been black.
Laura Dean lived in an empty storefront that had an apartment in the back on Hayes Street, not Haight Street, in San Francisco as has been reported in some articles. Laura Dean used the empty storefront for studio space for herself to experiment with choreography. She did not give dance classes to dance students. This was in San Francisco in 1968. She returned to New York City in the summer of 1969. She did not “have a dance studio that failed in California” which is incorrect information on a website. Laura Dean has never had a dance school. Laura Dean has never had a dance studio that was for the purpose of having dance students and teaching dance classes. The dance studios that Laura Dean has had were for the purpose of rehearsing her professional dancers and musicians for her professional dance company.
It has been incorrectly stated in a number of places (it seems that once there is a mistake on the web, that mistake quickly turns up in 100 other places) that Laura Dean worked for or with the theater director Robert Wilson. Laura Dean never worked for or with the theater director Robert Wilson. The one connection that Laura Dean has with Robert Wilson is the following: Robert Wilson came and saw a solo work Laura Dean created and performed that was titled AN HOUR IN SILENCE (1970) in which she did non-spotted spinning. Robert Wilson asked her to teach a Spinning Workshop at The Byrd Hoffman School for Byrds at 147 Spring Street, New York City. Laura Dean taught this workshop soon after he asked her to teach it. This is the only connection that she has with Robert Wilson.
On October 5, 1987 Laura Dean’s company, LAURA DEAN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS was involved in the “Dancing for Life Aids Benefit” that took place at The New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, New York City. Soon after this, the actress Elizabeth Taylor wrote Laura Dean a personal letter thanking Laura Dean for her company’s participation in the fundraiser. This letter disappeared from Laura Dean’s office file sometime during 1990-1992. Laura Dean did not “gift” this letter to anyone. If anyone knows the whereabouts of this letter, please contact her through this website.

More misinformation from the Fifty Contemporary Choreographers book: “But dance is also human . And while Einstein is one of her heros, so is Jung.” Laura Dean says “I have no idea where the Jung information came from as I know next to nothing about Jung. I know a great deal more about Einstein. One of the most important things that Einstein taught me is “to think without words”. Also from this book “An Hour in Silence (1970) consisted of an hour of solo spinning”. This is not true. The work consisted of three parts. The first part was stamping in a large square around the stage. The 2nd part was a long extended non-spotted spin of about 20 minutes and the 3rd part was singing for about 15 minutes. Spinning Dance (1974) was an hour of spinning. 30 minutes to the right and 30 minutes to the left. This work was for 3 dancers. Also from this book “She performed briefly with…..Kenneth King, Meredith Monk and Robert Wilson.” Laura Dean says “I did one performance with Kenneth King of his duet Blow Out at Judson Church in 1966 and one performance with Meredith Monk of her piece Time Stop in 1966. I never performed or worked with Robert Wilson. I did, at the request of Robert Wilson after he saw my work An Hour in Silence, teach a spinning workshop at his Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds in 1970.” Also from this book “Changing Pattern Steady Pulse-mus. Tim Ferchen” This is incorrect. Laura Dean’s work Changing Pattern Steady Pulse has a music concept of Laura Dean’s played by musician Tim Ferchen. Also from this book “danced with Paul Taylor in 1965 and 1966”. This is incorrect. Laura Dean danced with The Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1964 and 1965.
The painter Alex Katz has painted two paintings of Laura Dean and her dance company. The first painting was done in 1976 of Laura Dean for The American Dance Festival poster for 1976. The 2nd painting is of six of her dancers performing a section of her work SONG (1976). It is called SONG/Laura Dean Dance Company 1977 and is in the Milwaukee Art Museum.
In a lapse of judgement, Laura Dean included the “Pearls and Tears” music video for Andreas Vollenweider’s album Dancing with the Lion, as part of her Archive that she gifted to The American Dance Festival in 2008. Unlike the work that she did with David Bowie and Peter Gabriel where she had an active part in the creation of the work, Laura Dean had zero input with the “Pearls and Tears” music video. Andreas Vollenweider contacted Laura Dean for some of her dancers to do some straight line spinning in his video.
Although Laura Dean designed all the costumes for her dance company, in the early years she made up names for the costume designer. One of the names was Jane Sheely. Jane Sheely doesn’t exist. It is a name that Laura Dean made up. Laura Dean only did this for about two years in 1975 and 1976. After that Laura Dean put her name in the programs as the costume designer.

The graph drawings that Laura Dean creates have nothing to do with the choreography that Laura Dean creates. They are separate creations. The only connection is that they are done by the same person. They are not "floor drawings of the choreography" or "notations of the choreography"or anything like that for Laura Dean's dances.

MISINFORMATION: From: The International Encyclopedia of Dance: "Solo in Red (1982) later incorporated into Enochian (1983)." There is not one step in Solo in Red that was incorporated or used in Enochian. The structures of these dances have nothing in common. Enochian is a work of two back to back solos choreographed by Laura Dean for herself and dancer Ching Gonzalez. The music for Enochian was co-composed by Laura Dean, Don McGlashan and David Yoken. The score is for orchestral chimes and synthesizer with an echoplex. It was performed extensively on a European Tour with the final performance of Enochian being performed in 1983 at On the Boards in Seattle WA. Laura Dean retired from dancing in 1983. She continued to perform as a musician until 1986. Solo in Red was choreographed by Laura Dean for one of her dancers. Laura Dean wrote a music score for the accordionist Guy Klucevsek. The music was performed on stage by Guy Klucevsek with the dancer. Solo in Red was commissioned by The Spoleto Festival in 1982.
The International Encyclopedia of Dance: "Following her New York season at the Joyce Theater in 1994, Dean disbanded her company and relocated to North Carolina." This is incorrect. Laura Dean disbursed the New York City based dancers and musicians of LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS in 1995. Laura Dean moved to North Carolina in 1996. She registered her 501-C3 organization, The Dean Dance and Music Foundation, Inc. in North Carolina in 1996. The first performances of the North Carolina based LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS took place at The Durham Arts Center, Durham, North Carolina in 1998. LAURA DEAN MUSICIANS AND DANCERS was disbanded in 2000. Not in 1994. "and taught in 1995 and 1996 at The American Dance Festival." This is incorrect. Laura Dean taught a 3 week Choreograpy Composition Workshop at The American Dance Festival in 1996 and 1997. "Dean was among several choreographers hosted in an extended residency with performances and community outreach by the ADF in 1997 with a grant from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund." This is incorrect. This never happened.
The International Encyclopedia of Dance: "In 1975 the Dean Dance and Music Foundation was formed to support the creation of music and dance work by Laura Dean." This is incorrect. The Dean Dance Foundation, Inc. was incorporated in 1972. The name was changed to The Dean Dance and Music Foundation, Inc. in 1977 (aka The Dean Dance & Music Foundation, Inc.). The corporation was dissolved in April 2007.
MISINFORMATION: International Dictionary of Modern Dance:"Fire(mus.Steve Reich),Joffrey Ballet" This is incorrect. Laura Dean is the composer and the choreographer for the ballet FIRE for The Joffrey Ballet. "Despite her short tenure with Taylor, he, along with Merce Cunningham and Alwin Nikolais, is often cited as one of her major influences". Laura Dean never said this. "Night Wind (1994), a reworking of her Arrow of Time (1993), for the Albany Berkshire Ballet". This is incorrect. This is not the writers fault. This is fall out from a bad review from a dance writer who has never liked Laura Dean's work. Night Wind is not a reworking of Arrow of Time. The correct date for Night Wind is 1993. The correct date for Arrow of Time is 1989.

MISINFORMATION: The Oxford Dictionary of Dance - "danced with Robert Wilson." Laura Dean never danced with Robert Wilson. She did teach spinning , at Robert Wilson's request, to his The Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds. That is the only contact she had with Robert Wilson. "She began choreographing in 1967" This is incorrect. MEDIEVAL, Laura Dean's first solo, was reviewed by Clive Barnes at Louise Roberts, Clark Center Series in November 1965. "formed the Laura Dean Dance Company in 1971." This is incorrect. The first company of dancers was called Laura Dean and Dance Company. Laura Dean, Dana Reitz, Cathy Kerr and Suzanne Wasserman. The year was 1972. "She frequently collaborated with Steve Reich notably in Drumming (1975) and Song (1976)". This is incorrect. Laura Dean created both the music and the choreography for SONG. "in which the performers vocalized as they danced" in SONG. This is true. Laura Dean wrote the music score for SONG for two grand pianos and six singer/dancers. She was one of the musicians. "In 1976 she changed the name of her company to Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers". This is incorrect. In 1976 Laura Dean changed the name of her company from Laura Dean Dance Company to Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians. In October 1991 she changed the name of the company from Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians to Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers. The work FIRE which is attributed to her own company in this article is not for her own company but a ballet Ms. Dean created for The Joffrey Ballet in 1982.
FILM - BILLBOARDS - Director Derek Bailey. 1993. The Joffrey Ballet with music by Prince. SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL/Part One of Billboards by Laura Dean. The first part of Laura Dean's ballet called Sometime It Snows in April is cut out of this film. The other two sections of her ballet, Trust and Baby I'm a Star are in the film.