Conversing on Choreography

Comments (0) By Chris Trenchard Wednesday, Feb 23 2011

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Choreographer Stephen Petronio has amassed a contact list of musicians for which any rock 'n' roll journalist would trade his or her Scotch. The Guggenheim fellow has worked with Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, Michael Nyman, James Lavelle, and an ever-growing list of composers and songwriters pushing the boundaries of experimental music. His latest co-conspirator is Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, the real genius behind the group’s arrangements and just the type of musical mind Petronio finds most complementary. The result of their collaboration is “Ghostown,” a meditation on things that no longer seem to exist but are indeed still a part of the world. After 25 years of forging his own dance style, Petronio has said this latest work marks the beginning of a new type of expressive exploration. Margaret Jenkins has invited Petronio to discuss his new dance narrative and a career arc tonight. Said arc includes pieces such as “#3” (1986), “MiddleSexGorge” (1990), and “Love Me Tender” (1993), which have explored a wide variety of themes and ideas, and secured Petronio’s place in the upper echelon of modern dance choreographers. The talk comes after the March 4 and 5 performances at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts by the Stephen Petronio Company.
Mon., March 7, 8 p.m., 2011