User:JASHM/Robert N. Wood

Robert Norman Wood (Born 1959)

New Zealand born dancer, choreographer and director. Artistic Director of Robert Wood Dance-New York Inc. a 501 (c) (3) United States Federally Endorsed Non-Profit Incorporated Movement Arts organization (RWDNY-Inc.)

A former member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (1987-92), Robert Wood also danced with David Gordon, Martha Clarke and Donald Byrd in New York City from 1982-87. He established RWDNY-Inc. in 1996 and has since produced a diverse repertoire of medium and full-length contemporary dance theatre works.

PERFORMANCE CHRONOLOGY

1994 – 	         Artistic Director, Robert Wood Dance-New York Inc.; 1987-92 	 Merce Cunningham Dance Company; 1986-87 	 Martha Clarke Theater, New York; 1984-86 	The David Gordon Pick/Up Company, NYC; 1983-85 	 Donald Byrd/The Group, NYC; 1982-83 	 Pearl Lang Dance Company, NYC; 1982     	         Minnesota Dance Theatre; 1980-82 	 Impulse Dance Theatre, New Zealand; 1975- 80	 Footnote Dance Company, New Zealand.

MAJOR CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKS

2008 	The Pearl Sea Project. An evening length work-in-development involving collaboration between Chinese, European and American artists. Commissioned by the International Conference Body Movement and Dance in Global Perspective, Hong Kong and Zhuhai, China. This 18 artist, inter-cultural dance work premiéred in Hong Kong, July, 2008.

2005	siLenCe. A full-length evening work commissioned by the Florence Dance Company. Performed by Florence Dance Company with members of RWDNY-Inc, Teatro Goldini, Florence, Italy.

2001 	The Parlour Collection. A retrospective Concert Dance Program, reviving virtuoso solo and duet dances for intimate spaces. Produced by RWDNY – Inc.

2000 	 Flowers: The Dreamscape. The Wisner Studio, Warwick, New York. RWDNY-Inc.

1998 	Coreografia. New York season of three repertory works at the Joyce Soho Theater. RWDNY-Inc with 20 invited guests from the Inland Pacific Ballet of California, and the Swan Children’s Project of Canada.

1996 	Behind the Window, Inside the Courtyard, Where There is a Fountain. Commissioned work for Margie Gillis Dance Foundation. Premiered at the Joyce Theater, NYC. Performed in Germany, France, Canada and North America.

1996 	Ascension –Where Angels Travel. Evening length work for RWDNY–Inc. Performed in USA and Canada.

1995 	The Unveiling. Evening-length presentation consisting of nine works. Premiéred, Wisner Studio, Warwick, New York, performed at several venues throughout USA.

1992   The Baby. Choreography and stage treatment for Off-Broadway production, produced by RAI National Television (Italy) and La Mama Theater.

DANCE VIDEO/DVD PRODUCTIONS

In-Progress. Talking from the Body in Contemporary Dance. An online inter-active program that will accompany a book of the same title. This collaborative research project, with anthropologist Dr. Brenda Farnell, is an ethnographically grounded exploration of Robert Wood's choreographic process, as it exemplifies the artistic process of dance-making and performance in the Western theatrical traditions of Post Modern and Contemporary dance. 2006 siLenCe. DVD. RWDNY-Inc. Documentation of a work built in stages in which dance artists from different cultures/ethnicities(Taiwan, France, Italy, USA) develop choreographic pro-cedure. 2005	Ascension. DVD. RWDNY-Inc. An interactive presentation, created with footage from 3 cameras, which allows the viewer to alternate between long, medium and close up views of the choreography as, and when, desired. Developed with the Beckman Institute for Com-puter Science as a model for efficient setting and rehearsing of a pre-existing repertory work.

2004   Maa Sha’Allah Palestine. DVD. RWDNY-Inc. and El-Funoun, Palestinian National Folkloric Dance Troupe. A documentary illustrating the complexities involved in assisting a Palestinian group to add choreographic methods from American contemporary dance to their communicative repertoire. The film involves studio and performance footage.

2003  The Unveiling. DVD. 2 disc set. RWDNY-Inc. Analog to digital transfer of a recorded dance work. Explores use of DVD format to divide longer works into chapters for easy access during reconstruction and rehearsal for the Company.

1991  Other Notions. A made-for-camera choreography. A site-specific, environmental dance, shot at Bear Mountain, NY with New York City Interiors.

1985 Portal to Portal. A made-for-camera work, performed “live” with projection installation in theatre, loft and prominent nightclub settings around NY City.

ROBERT WOOD DANCE-NEW YORK INC. MISSION STATEMENT

Robert Wood Dance New York Inc. (RWDNY) is a not-for-profit cultural organization [501(c)(3) #13-3861585] established in 1995 to support, sustain and advance understanding of the art of the dance through cultural exchange and in global perspective. RWDNY is dedicated to the development of the choreographic art and the creation of new works that illuminate our shared humanity and being-in-the-world; presenting live dance that can communicate across social and cultural boundaries, and initiating collaborations which enhance and encourage artistic exchange and cultural expression.

Activities:

•	Generate and support international cultural exchange through dance arts in partnership with institutions and individuals in Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, S. E. Asia, and Oceania.

•	Instigate and encourage collaboration between concert dance makers, musical composers and artists working in other mediums.

•	Organize symposia/conference events that promote dialogue and co-operation between dance educators and professional dancers/dance-makers in global perspective.

•	Utilize the creative environment within dance classes, tutorials in choreographic exploration, and the making and performance of choreographic works, as forums for the exchange of knowledge beneficial to emergent and professional artists.

REFERENCES:

Made in the USA. Dance in America My Folks, David Gordon, Channel 13 Changing Steps, Merce Cunningham, Sundance Film

Vaughan, David  merce Cunningham 50years

VAughan