A very simple book that uses words and photographs of bill t. Jonesarnie zane dance company perform as jones reads his oneminute works at the premiere of storytime. The transcendent artistry of a legendary dancer, four decades. Apr 04, 2011 in this interview for project humanities, bill t jones talks about how ideas and knowledge can open your world and help us understand what it means to be human. Jones is an innovative dancer and choreographer whose most famous works have been based on a loving partnership and the pain of loss. Jonesarnie zane dance company, and executive artistic director of new york live arts. Jones celebrates the 30th anniversary of the bill t. Founded as a multicultural ensemble in 1982, the company was born of an elevenyear artistic collaboration between bill t. Jones 7 is one of americas premiere choreographers and dancers. Jones arnie zane dance company, and executive artistic director of new york live arts. With little words and a lot of body movement, bill t. The company has performed worldwide in over 200 cities in.
Jones is proud to have contributed to continuous replay. Jones is very tall and his late partner arnie zane was not. During this time, they redefined the duet form and. Jones in dance poses to create a poem in picture book form. The martha graham dance company was performing upstairs, bill t. Jones arnie zane dance company is an american dance company based out of harlem in new york city. Dance premieres from boris charmatz, bill t jones, and more. Elizabeth kaye, new york times 1994 all this time, people have been complaining about bill t jones, or praising. Jones, right, and bjorn amelan found a second chapter in love after both losing their longterm partners. Filled with photographs, this book shows dancer bill t. Bill jones started his working life as a journalist with various northern provincial newspapers. Jones is recognized for his contributions as a dancer and choreographer. Jones, born february 15, 1952 is an american choreographer, director, author and dancer.
He was educated at the royal latin school, a state grammar school in buckingham, before. Jonesarnie zane dance company, leads this indepth exploration of the movement material and creative structures used to create this seasons a rite. Jonesarnie zane dance company was born out of an 11year collaboration between bill t. Jonesarnie zane dance companys storytime, performed last weekend at berkeleys zellerbach hall, is a dancetheater roller. Jones revolutionized modern dance through the company he founded in 1982 with his partner arnie zane, who later died of aidsrelated lymphoma. For experienced and professional dancers with an interest in collaboration janet wong, the associate artistic director of the bill t. Jones is a beauty shop guy is the eleven book in the junie b. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Jones was born in reading, england, in 1981 to welsh parents.
The company has also spent creative time at the pillow, developing part of last supper at uncle toms cabin during a 1990 residency. His parents moved from rural florida when he was three years old, and he grew up in wayland, new york, just south of rochester. Schuberts winterreise paints bleak landscape for bill t. Use for picturebook hours, programs introducing dance, and any opportunity to share a beautiful book with children.
Bill t jones is a contradiction, and you get the feeling he likes it like that. Each part reveals jones ongoing exploration of how text, storytelling, and movement pull and push against each other as the performers move seamlessly between dancing, speaking, and singing. The transcendent artistry of a legendary dancer, four. Dance celebrates the exhilaration, joy and magic of movement. An improvised piece they call the red circle and the blue curtain, so extraordinary it had to be shared. Joness memoir, last night on earth, was published by pantheon books in 1995. He uses his own body to show different movements as the pictures. Jones had always had a strong interest in dance and has shared it with the world through his performances. Although a t jones is not considered an sda pioneer nevertheless his work is import enough to give it a place here. Jones and arnie zane can be found in body against body. Looking ahead to the future of modern dance with bill t. Jonesarnie zane company, founded in 1982, was born out of an 11year collaboration between bill t.
Jones is artistic director of new york live arts, the companys home in manhattan, whose activities encompass an annual presenting season together with allied education programming and services for artists. Jones and arnie zane, published by station hill press in 1989. Jones is most identified with arnie zane, with whom he cofounded bill t. Jonesarnie zane dance company, is a multitalented artist, choreographer, dancer, theater director and writer who has received major honors ranging from the 20 national medal of arts to a 1994 macarthur genius award and kennedy center honors in 2010. Daniel jones born 27 july 1981 is a british historian, tv presenter and journalist. Jones, artistic director of new york live arts and artistic directorcofounder of the bill t. Jones arnie zane dance company story time founded as a multicultural ensemble in 1982, the company was born of an elevenyear artistic collaboration between bill t. Images courtesy of publishers, organizations, and sometimes their twitter handles. Jonesarnie zane company was born in 1982 out of an 11year collaboration between bill t. Interesting book that introduces kids to the world of dance, through a dancers eyes. After a brief warmup, dancers dive into generating movement, working collaboratively, and familiarizing. Jones was the 10th of 12 children of migrant farmworkers. The renowned company returns to the joyce to perform two pieces from the bill t. Jones and arnie zane, the company made its debut performance at the brooklyn academy of music with the world premiere of intuitive momentum with lauded drummer max roach.
Jones discusses philosophy and his art esther zuckerman 12. They just knew they wanted to offer the audience an opportunity to witness creative collaboration in action. Joness words and susan kuklins photographs are simple but they are stunning. Jones s nephew, lance briggs, is the subject of two works performed by the bill t. Jones the muchlaureled 64yearold choreographer, director, dancer and writer discusses his lifes work and performs poses from his 1983 solo work, 21.
He was educated at pembroke college, cambridge where he was taught by david starkey. In it jones states that america is the king of the north. Over the years, jones has created more than 140 works for the. Oct 26, 2011 the following essay on the life and achievements of bill t. Jones arnie zane dance companys storytime, performed last weekend at berkeleys zellerbach hall, is a dance theater roller. Joness piece stillhere, and the trend towards victim art in the nineties.
To the extent that any words can convey the experience of dance, jones does so here, eloquently and with disarming honesty. Jones and the late arnie zane 19481988, appearing multiple times at the pillow since its debut engagement in 1989. Jones, written by john rockwell, was presented in 2010 when jones was bestowed with the kennedy center honors. During this time, they redefined the duet form and foreshadowed issues of identity, form and social commentary that would change the face of american dance. Jones and ted fellows joshua roman and somi didnt know exactly what was going to happen when they took the stage at ted2015.
Jones creates works that challenge us to confront tough subjects and inspire us to greater heights. The reader is cautioned about the book the eastern question below. Jones series by barbara park, and illustrated by denise brunkus. Hyperion books published dance, a childrens book written by bill t. Each work is its own problem, and thats another way of saying one must find different ways into the work, and different ways to actually do what i call negotiate the distance from the inner world. Like the dance work, storytime the book is filled with telling vignettesabout joness childhood as part of a large, poor. Jones, byname of william tass jones, born february 15, 1952, bunnell, florida, u. Jones before the senate committee on education and labor in behalf of the rights of american citizens, and in opposition to the blair sunday bill. Jonesarnie zane dance company jones was the 10th of 12 children of migrant farmworkers. In the early 80s he joined granada television in manchester where he worked on literally hundreds of documentaries for the bbc, itv, channel 4 and many others including an awardwinning film about the contents of frank sinatras coffin before embarking on a writing career after almost three. Jonesarnie zane dance company is an american dance company based out of harlem in new york city. Dance premieres from boris charmatz, bill t jones, and.
Jun, 1982 the martha graham dance company was performing upstairs, bill t. The argument is enlarged to what it would have been without senator blairs interruptions, objections, and counterarguments, and is accompanied with. The company they founded in 1982, the bill t jonesarnie zane company, still bears his late partners name. Both explore the trajectory of briggss life, which descended from promise as a dancer, model and songwriter to involvement with drugs and prostitution, an aids diagnosis and. Jun 11, 2004 bill t the initial t, he says, is his real middle name jones was born in bunnell, florida on february 15 1952, one of 12 children born to gus jones and estella nee edwards, both rural.
Jonesarnie zane dance company was formed as a multicultural dance company in 1982 and if you were fortunate enough to see their work at that time, you witnessed a company that was not only multicultural, but one which broke all the stereotype rules about dancer body types. Linda davidsonthe washington post by sarah kaufman august. Renowned for provocative performances that blend an eclectic mix of modern and traditional dance, mr. See which new books our editors chose as this months favorites for kids of all ages. May 30, 20 this season, dancer and choreographer bill t. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Through his choreography, there were always dances produced by him that contained strong themes to which a lot can be related towards society. African american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is for everyone african american literature book club.
As the companys artistic director and choreographer, jones has created more than 140 works, and in 2011, merged his company with new yorks historical dance theater workshop to create new york live arts. The company has since drawn international acclaim, performing in more than 200 cities in. Jonesarnie zane dance company with his partner arnie zane. Jones s words and susan kuklins photographs are simple but they are stunning. Modern yet wry, gorgeously danced and at times discordant, bill t. In doing this, the work appeals more to the viewer as it is a dance created with intent. His company premieres its latest work, storytime, next month. They love the photos and together we create a dance with small and whole body moves, stretches, lines and curves, jumping while making shapes in the air, ensemble and solo, etc. In this interview for project humanities, bill t jones talks about how ideas and knowledge can open your world and help us understand what it means. The photography of arnie zane, published by mit press in 1999. Jones 1 1952 dancer, choreographer fell in love with dance 2 created heartening dances 3 blended life with art 4 selected works 5 sources 6 bill t.
480 1287 1539 688 622 1256 1528 1302 935 56 92 334 163 483 1239 687 1209 109 536 118 661 628 179 865 1297 1184 1235 1584 170 1260 604 950 1369 1465 1064 645 729 1070 1338