Dynamic husband-wife Gottschild duo to offer workshop, provacative discussion and dance performance Oct. 1-3
MIDDLEBURY, Vt.?Brenda Dixon Gottschild is back at Middlebury College this fall with her wry, hands-on and eye-opening observations of the dance world. Accompanying her this time is her husband Hellmut Gottschild, choreographer and master teacher of dance. The pair plans several residency activities and a performance at Middlebury College, Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 1-3. The College’s Center for the Arts Dance Theatre is the venue for each of the events.
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Hellmut Gottschild will conduct a free master class for dancers, actors and any other interested individuals from 3-5 p.m. Observers are also welcome. Gottschild is the founder and director of Philadelphia’s Group Motion and ZeroMoving dance companies and an emeritus professor of dance at Temple University. Born in Berlin in 1936, Gottschild trained with German expressionist Mary Wigman for a decade, immigrating to the United States in 1968.
Cultural historian, actress and dancer, Dixon Gottschild visited Middlebury College last year and gave a provocative talk on tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. Her presentation during Black History Month moved the audience to literally stand up and dance. Dixon Gottschild is also an emerita professor of dance at Temple University, a critic for Dance magazine, and the author of several books and numerous articles.
This year she will give a lecture titled “Researching Performance: The Dancing Body as a Measure of Culture.” Dixon Gottschild views performance as a highly charged sociopolitical phenomenon. Her work examines how cultural realities are embodied and overlooked in performance. Following her free lecture at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 2, she will sign copies of her new book, “The Black Dancing Body: A Geography from Coon to Cool.”
The highlight of the couple’s visit will be a performance at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, of “Tongue Smell Color,” a work the Gottschilds describe as “movement theatre discourse.” Not neatly categorized as dance, theater or lecture, the work draws from Dixon Gottschild’s cultural research, her husband’s expertise with dance, mime and choreography, and their joint experience as an interracial couple. “Tongue Smell Color” centers on issues of race, gender, nationality, memory and guilt. The presentation promises to be provocative and humorous as it gives voice to familiar but often-ignored fantasies and biases in our culture.
“Tongue Smell Color” is remarkable for its mixture of autobiography with social critique,” said Art magazine’s executive editor Janet A. Kaplan. “Through a complex interweaving of narrative with dance, they have created a richly textured and deeply emotional theatrical performance.”
Immediately after the performance, the Gottschilds will conduct a discussion with the audience about the issues evoked by “Tongue Smell Color.”
The Gottschilds’ visit is co-sponsored by several Middlebury College organizations: the Performing Arts Series, the department of theatre and dance, the office of institutional diversity, Ross Commons and the women’s and gender studies program.
To pre-register for Hellmut Gottschild’s Oct. 1 master class, contact the Middlebury College Department of Dance at 802-443-5245. Tickets for the Oct. 3 performance are $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors. For tickets or information, call the Middlebury College Box Office at 802-443-6433, or visit online at www.middlebury.edu/cfa.
To follow are events calendar listings:
Helmut Gottschild and Brenda Dixon Gottschild
Oct. 1-3
Wednesday, Oct. 1
3-5 p.m.
Master dance class: Hellmut Gottschild will conduct a free master class for dancers, actors and any other interested individuals. Observers are also welcome. Gottschild is the founder and director of Philadelphia’s Group Motion and ZeroMoving dance companies and an emeritus professor of dance at Temple University. Born in Berlin in 1936, Gottschild trained with German expressionist Mary Wigman for a decade, immigrating to the United States in 1968.
Free
To register, contact the Middlebury College Department of Dance at 802-443-5245.
Middlebury College Center for the Arts Dance Theatre, South Main Street (Route 30)
Thursday, Oct. 2
4:30 p.m.
Lecture and book signing: “Researching Performance: The Dancing Body as a Measure of Culture” by Brenda Dixon Gottschild, dance critic, author and emerita professor of dance at Temple University. Her work examines how cultural realities are embodied and overlooked in performance. Following her lecture, she will sign copies of her new book, “The Black Dancing Body: A Geography from Coon to Cool.”
Free
Middlebury College Center for the Arts Dance Theatre, South Main Street (Route 30)
Friday, Oct. 3
8 p.m.
Dance performance and discussion with performers: “Tongue Smell Color” by Hellmut Gottschild and Brenda Dixon Gottschild, who describe the performance as “movement theatre discourse.” Not neatly categorized as dance, theater or lecture, the work draws from Dixon Gottschild’s cultural research, her husband’s expertise with dance, mime and choreography, and their joint experience as an interracial couple. Immediately after the performance, the Gottschilds will conduct a discussion with the audience about the issues evoked by “Tongue Smell Color.”
Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors. Contact the Middlebury College Box Office at 802-443-6433 or visit www.middlebury.edu/arts.
Middlebury College Center for the Arts Dance Theatre, South Main Street (Route 30)
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