PROGRAM

Tony Silva Dance and Music’s Into the Blue - A journey into the unexpected

	Anxiety Dream (1995) was created under the watchful eye of the late Bessie Schönberg, master choreography teacher. This highly surreal solo visits the underworld of disturbed sleep.
	Together (1997) is a physical exploration of the interface between the human and animal aspects of people. Set in a dreamlike soundscape, the characters metamorphosize from creatures into people, from a single being into two in a relationship, from lovers into fighters. (Listen)
	Duets for Small Spaces (2000) is a series of four short dances that can barely be contained in their 12’ x 12’ box of rope. These deeply personal dances range from romantic to adversarial, from calm to high-flying.
	The Shortest Distance Between Nine Points is an improvisational collaboration between Tony Silva Dance & Music and De Facto Dance. Using the technique of improvisational choreography developed by the late Richard Bull, the two companies will merge to create an ensemble work that will equal more than the sum of its parts. (Listen)
	Into the Blue (world premiere) is an adventure which takes four dancers on a journey fraught with uncertain risk. They are dependent on each other to overcome obstacles and danger as they are compelled forward into the unknown. (Listen)

Tony Silva composed all the music for the concert using a wide variety of instruments and voice. For more about Tony's music click here.

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RESPONSE TO THE CONCERT

From: Allyson Spellacy
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 11:08 AM
To: Silva, Tony
Subject: Into the Blue

September 21, 2001

Dear Mr. Silva:

I am writing to thank you for inviting me, and my colleague here at DCA, to the performance of Into the Blue on September 16, 2001.

Naturally we were all reeling from the past week's tragic events and on Sunday evening I found it difficult to motivate myself to attend the performance, while feeling duty-bound to support our mayor's urge to try and carry on with life's routines. Let me begin by saying that there was nothing routine about your presentation that night.

The program repertoire was wonderful. Every piece was loaded with energy and emotion, each narrative physically and psychically stirring. From the significantly apt, "Anxiety Dream" solo to the rousing finale of "Into the Blue," I was swept away by the expressive beauty of narrative, movement and music. The works resonated with such poignancy - I had to remind myself that the pieces were written before the events of last Tuesday.

Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. The recovery process has begun and I will always remember where it started for me; on the 11th floor of the Cunningham Dance Studio, where you and your indefatigable group of dancers entertained - and healed - a spellbound audience.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to help, and please make sure you keep me updated on all your upcoming activities.

Sincerely,
Allyson Spellacy
Arts Program Specialist
New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs

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9/18/01

Tony,
at no time in my life has art been so relevant. Seeing your performance flipped a switch in me so that I was able to breathe for the first time since Tuesday. I had my first normal conversation during intermission. As a painter, I should have known the power of art to hold the hand and lift the soul. The literal and figurative leap of body and spirit declares human ascendancy, pulling us up as we list toward weakness and darkness. You and your dancers combine remarkable strength, daring coupling and emotive and tender grace. You explore the range of visual and tactile richness as your bodies bind and unbind with each other, as you hurl across the floor or lay splayed, done. The colors of the costumes, the shimmer of light, the heart beat of the music so rooted in how bodies pulse and move affirmed for me the concrete goodness and wonder that the human urge toward expression can achieve. I guess I owe you a beer.
-Margot

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FROM TONY SILVA

9/18/01

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the many letters of support we received applauding our decision to continue with our concert last weekend. For those of you who did attend, I hope you would agree that it was very special. There was an almost ritualistic feel in the air. The intensity of the performances seemed to generate a much-needed catharsis and stirring of emotions.

I want to extend my deepest thanks to the cast and crew of "Into the Blue" for the bravery they demonstrated in continuing to produce this concert in the face of the worst catastrophe of our lives. From crossing police blockades to working tirelessly while under the stress of trauma, these committed people are heroes and have done more than I could ever have asked from them. On Tuesday, when I was ready to cancel the concert, they were the ones who decided we had to go on.

These brave and committed dancers are:
Geraldine Cardiel
Kelly Hayes
Danica Holoviak
Wen-Shuan Yang

and De Facto Dance's
Kelly Donovan
Meg Fry
Aggie Postman
Lee Shapley

Others whose work was essential to the success of these shows were:
Chris Hudacs - lighting designer
Mark Hohlstein - Sound Tech
Michelle Marroquín - Stage Manager
Rondi Silva - House Manager
Marie-Louise Stegall - Reception Coordinator
Peter Richards - Videographer
Julie Limberger - Photographer
Pedro Silva - Transportation
and the Volunteer Ushers

We were not digging through rubble, but I do feel that we were doing something significant for the health and welfare of our beloved New York City. I have enclosed below the dedication from our program, which also includes a statement for peace.

Thank you all again for your support.
Love and Peace,
Tony Silva

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DEDICATION AND STATEMENT

9/15/01

We would like to dedicate this concert to all the innocent people who lost their lives this week, and to the people who loved them, to the survivors and to the rescue workers that selflessly struggled to save people's lives, sometimes even at the expense of their own. We also dedicate these performances to New York City, our home, that suffered a great wound, the scar of which will never completely disappear.

Our performances are a statement that just as hate and fear will never be as powerful as love and compassion, it is also true that creativity will always overpower destruction. That is why we believe that this is an important time for artists of all disciplines to continue working. Creativity has many healing properties and we are all in great need of healing.

We, as New Yorkers who love our home, as true patriots of the United States, and as citizens of the world, also wish to state that we do not support any acts of revenge or retaliation either locally or globally. Although feelings of anger are real and understandable, the world can not afford the loss of any more innocent lives. It is our hope that people channel their feelings into constructive efforts to attain peace in the world and in our own neighborhoods. We can not afford to think of our world as "Us" and "Them." We are all brothers and sisters and all war is wrong and will only cause more death and destruction. If you agree with us, please make your voices heard.

Tony Silva Dance & Music