This short demo reel shows exerpts from three works by Sarah Irwin in the late 1980s as she moves toward the work she came to call "Physcial Theatre" -- before it came into more popular usage. The last duet was created shortly before Stephan Bradley, who became an AIDS actavist, died of the disease. 1st wk: Diane McBrayer (Furry),James Martin. 2nd: F. Dyde, Irwin, Sandy Marcello.
Ashley thought this piece "too literal" but audiences like it. Kind of a new version of Death of A Salesman or Portrait of the Artist Killing Himself. Dyde performs in 1985
Lighting by Kris Phelps. FD in his first solo performance in 8 years in Subterranean from the three part Persona Non Gratis - a work exploring immigrants, homelessness, terorism and age -- all arrived at unconsciously in a 1997 improvisation.
Some considered this FD work a "breakthrough" in that it did "what everyone is trying to do" i.e. combine a new dance vocabulary with narrative. Here, a family falls apart then together to Bryars famous Jesus Blood, before it became over used. Beverly Shurley, mother, gives a remarkable perf. with FD, father, Lisa Nicks (tomboy), Brenda Marshall and Norma Cullick.
In summer '87, Farrell Dyde & Gary Chason produced a workshop Dance For the Camera. Lynne Taylor-Corbett was consultant/guest teacer. Participants are credited on screen. Diane McBrayer (Furry) & John Truax are the performers.
Brenda Marshall, Beverly Shurley & Tami Corley perform a trio from "Christian Zeal", a suite of dances set music by Michael Nyman. The "Christian" here is not specifically in reference to any formal religion, just to what it means to be a true one.
This simple quartet choreographed by FD to the Shake Russell classic is from Jumpstart Your Heart which was presented a Miller Outdoor Theatre in 1986 to record breaking crowds. Russell donated the fee for the band to FDDT.
Part Two. A woman (Beverly Shurley) finds herself again amidst nightime visitations featuring: Lisa Nicks (the sensuous self), Tami Corley (adolescent), Norma Cullick (little girl). Music by Bartok, Ron Geesin and Barbara Kolb (Solitaire). (less)
FD created & performs this solo to a collage of old radio cuts and traditional jazz also titled Sparky's Aorta -- after the old radio program Big John & Sparky that his mother listened to so fondly on the radio.
Segment from hour long piece on the Roosevelt years, choreographed by FD, starting with the Great Depression and leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In this clip: A wartime "canteen" and a metaphorical summertime.
Three mature, compelling women in this trio from Jumpstart Your Heart (1986): Sarah Irwin (co-choreographer of JSYH), Priscilla Nathan-Murphy and Christine Lidval
In 1991 Global Enterprises sent FD to Tokyo to work with SKD, a 90 year old all female performance company. This is a group of younger women dancing very precisely to new wave German music in a kind of punk street scene.
FD created & performed this excerpt set to Ferrai's score that uses ambient environmental sounds to suggest a dramatic narrative. Previous to this clip, the protaganist (a kind of explorer) enters in a white suit & pith helmet moving slowly through an imaginary tropical landscape. A ritual cleansing leads to the inevitable.
From Jumpstart Your Heart this choreographed by FD: Since You Went Away perf. by Christine Lidval & Stephen Bradley/Silver Hearts by Steve Walker and Priscilla Nathan-Murphey. Both Walker & Bradley died of AIDS.
FD & the wonderful Brenda Marshall in a dress rehearsal performance of this duet from the larger suite. A rather indifferent performance by the choreographer who apparently was thinking more about the lighting and the backdrop -- which were eventually changed. This version selected because it is easier to see.
In summer '87, Farrell Dyde & Gary Chason produced a workshop Dance For the Camera. Lynne Taylor-Corbett was consultant/guest teacer. Participants are credited on screen.
![Farrell Dyde/Shake Russell: You\](http://img.youtube.com/vi/Wx4t3A_EfXs/2.jpg "Farrell Dyde/Shake Russell: You\")
![Farrell Dyde/Kolb: Les Reves D\](http://img.youtube.com/vi/BKBV9hbMoSQ/2.jpg "Farrell Dyde/Kolb: Les Reves D\")
![Farrell Dyde: Last Year\](http://img.youtube.com/vi/dEMbA3LRmww/2.jpg "Farrell Dyde: Last Year\")
