A World-Renowned Choreographer/Dancer Will Come to CSULB Nov. 18

Photo credit: Gregory Crosby

Cal State Long Beach will present “Requiem and Other Dances” with a well-known choreographer, repped by the Julliard School, as their guest artist this week, with a mission to unite different cultures together.

Working alongside with one of the Dance Department's professors, Susan McLain, again to present “Requiem and Other Dances,” Jacqulyn Buglisi will present her 2001 choreographic work in ballet. McLain will present her work “Mirror U” during the performance too. Buglisi and McLain worked together with the Martha Graham Company touring around the world, according to Buglisi. In hope to inspire young students to reach their highest potential and to believe that their spirit is indomitable, Buglisi will bring her wisdom and inspiration at the Martha Knoebel Dance Theater starting on Nov. 18. Dance Faculty Keith Johnson, Andrew Vaca and Lorin Johnson will also present their work during the performance. “We Make Way;” “Smash, Clash, and Thrash!” and “Shade” are their respective works to be presented.
“I am very honored to be here on this beautiful campus (CSULB) with these talented young students and my dream is to have inspired them and given them more tools to achieve their full potential,” Buglisi said. “These students have been very committed and dedicated to the work and I am very appreciative to have had been here on campus at this time.”

Choreographing “Requiem” came from Buglisi's experience of witnessing the former World Trade Center Buildings collapse on Sept. 11, 2001, when she was working on another project at that time. The main themes in “Requiem” are man's vulnerabilities and peace, according to Buglisi.

The movement style in “Requiem” grew out of the breath and pulse of the Martha Graham Technique, which Buglisi shaped according to her own styles that is deeply expressive of the individual vulnerabilities, Buglisi said over a phone interview. Buglisi's style is unique because of the way she uses the music rhythm and phasing. Buglisi also uses a style of overlapping the movement dialogs together.

Additionally, the costumes that will be presented in “Requiem” are exquiste. The dancers' costumes are made of 10 ft. of layered silk, derived from images seen in the Baroque Period of paintings, such as seen in paintings of Artemesia Gentileski, according to Buglisi. “I use many images from the realm where angels court graces to realism,” Buglisi said. “I use some images of artist William Blake and Caravaggio which show Jungian symbolism and religion.”

To experience and understand the meaning of “Requiem,” a person should not be looking for something, but be open to experiencing the dance. “I hope they will recognize themselves, and be moved with images continuing to resonate long after the curtain falls,” Buglisi said.
Buglisi has a mission to help bringing different cultures and people closer together by using the universal language of dance, and allow them experience the common songs of humanity. “It can be said that dance has been a reflection of man's inner landscape,” Buglisi said.

“Requiem and Other Dances” 2009 will run on Nov. 18 to Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. And Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $16 for students, seniors, CSULB faculty and staff and DRC members. For ticket information, call 562 985-7000.