Do I Dare?

a dance theater work inspired by
T. S. Eliot's poem

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

May 14 - 16, 2004
Friday May 14 at 8 pm,
Saturday May 15 at 3 pm and 8 pm, and
Sunday May 16 at 3 pm

At Abrons Arts Center
Harry DeJur Playhouse
466 Grand Street
(between Pitt and Willett),
New York, NY

Ariane Anthony & Company's fifth New York season featured the premiere of Do I Dare? a dance-theater work inspired by T. S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Conceived and choreographed by Ariane Anthony, Do I Dare? employed an original score by John Stone, Magritte-like costumes by Agata Oleksiak, slides of cityscapes by Peter Wahlberg, masks by Diane Bromberg, lighting by Sarah Sidman, and a set comprised of off-kilter windows, doors, staircases, and chimneys designed by Roger Predmore. With Anthony as Prufrock, Andrea Thome as Prufrock's mirror image, and a chorus of five who embody Prufrock's perceptions and thoughts, the piece took the viewer on a surreal journey through the world of the self-conscious, middle-aged antihero and his tragicomically conflicting desires. Seven powerhouse dancer-actors (Kiyoko Kashiwagi, Lisa Grecco, Vincent McCloskey, Cedric Neugebauer, Monica Olsson, Anthony, and Thome) ventured to the extremes of both awkwardness and lyricism in this haunting work. The program opened with La Nuit, a solo choreographed and performed by guest artist Jody Sperling inspired by the dances of Loie Fuller.

The creation of Do I Dare? was supported by generous individual contributions through sponsorship of The Field and Construction Company Theater/Dance Associates, which is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, Meet The Composer, Con Edison and the American Composers Forum.