Master Class with Terese Capucilli and Screening of The Sacrosanct Accompanist

The School of the Arts at the National Museum of Dance has a very special immersive event schedule for February 1st (snow day February 8th): *A Martha Graham Master Class with the incredible Terese Capucilli from 2:30- 4pm at the School of the Arts. (Click link for PDF flyer) *The screening of the movie the “The Sacrosanct Accompanist”, followed by a Q & A session at the Riggi Theater from 5- 8 pm. Terese Capucilli was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and is acclaimed for her work with Martha Graham Dance Company and her interpretation of the classic roles originally performed by Graham. She was a principal dancer with the Graham company from 1979 to 2005, associate artistic director from 2000 to 2002; and artistic director from 2002 to 05. She is now artistic director laureate. Roles created for her include The Chosen One in The Rite of Spring. She was instrumental in the research, reconstruction, and performance of early solos, including Salem Shore (with Claire Bloom), Deep Song, and Spectre-1914. Capucilli was partnered by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev in Graham works (Appalachian Spring in 1988 with both dancers). The Sacrosanct Accompanist This beautiful documentary offers a pristine journey through sound and movement, giving overdue credence to the essential contribution that accompanists make to the dance world. This film is a kind of valentine to Lawrence “Reed” Hansen, who for generations has been one of the most inspiring musicians in the field. Master of the art of improvisation for dance, Hansen makes this noblest of art forms an extraordinary pleasure to watch. At once, the documentary captures Reed’s delightful demeanor and evidences this stellar musician’s passion for and skill at accompanying dance classes. How he does this is at the core of this film as he accompanies specific exercises drawn from Martha Graham’s technique. Each exercise is articulated by Hansen at the keyboard and demonstrated exquisitely by students of The Juilliard School and the Graham studio where musician-accompanists are a critical part of the classroom experience. This cross-pollination of disciplined caring and devotion illuminates the kinetic genius of Graham’s movement invention: each segment becomes a sculpted masterpiece for the eyes and ears, doubly rewarding for the viewer.