The Marie-Christine Giordano Dance company celebrates a 10th anniversary and the premiere of “In andOut,” performed to a composition by rock based musician Al Comet and featuring sets by Italian architect Walter Rossi.

Before her opening night, Ms. Giordano answered questions about her influences and new work.

Marie-Christine Giordano
My years as a Merit Student at the Martha Graham Dance Center taught me to focus on my core. I loved the involvement of the back and the idea that the torso – instead of the feet and legs—served as the core. Going into the depths of the body, and pulling energy from the center was very compelling as was the floor work. This background colors my work, but around ten years ago I stopped taking classes with other people and focused on my own movement sensibilities. These days, moving slow is important to me. I like moving fast too, but moving slowly really intrigues me.

Now, when I began preparing for “In andOut” I invited a Swiss friend of mine (who used to sit around at parties and play Jimi Hendrix licks) to compose the score. After I choreographed the first draft, he viewed the DVD and we discussed the musical mood of each section.

As for the set, initially, I told Rossi that I wanted some kind of wall or partition that would let the light shine through. However, when he came with me to see the performance space at St. Mark’s Church, Rossi saw the geometry of the space--all the lines and rectangles. He suggested building a sphere and when I thought about it, and it made perfect sense. Much of my work is based on spirals, circular movements and turns. He picked up on the feeling of a circle in the piece and constructed a blue sphere.

Fortunately, I found a live/work space in Brooklyn. Without this luxury, I could never afford to run a dance company and perform for audiences who I hope will be touched and connect to my world.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY - Celia Ipiotis