Choreographer Dianne McIntyre on the commission of a dance inspired by the music of Nina Simone for Dallas Black Dance:
“I’m influenced without necessarily mimicking the words. I’m semi-commenting on the words,” McIntyre explains. “She’s already commenting on something, maybe in society or in her background, and I’m putting a visual commentary on the music. Another person could have a completely different point of view.”
McIntyre doesn’t work with a set vocabulary, like a ballet choreographer. She doesn’t even like using ballet terms. “I’ll say, ‘That’s a slide, not a chasse,’ because I don’t see it as a chassé. If your leg is going up, there’s some reason for it. It’s not just because you do it, or it’s an athletic thing. The intention is first rather than the form.”
The Dallas Black Dance’s Spring Celebration Series kicks off tomorrow night. Look to FrontRow Thursday for a review.
