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Dancer + Choreographer |
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 Richard Daniels, a highly esteemed performer and choreographer in New York contemporary dance circles, has produced solo and group concerts since 1995. Known for his lyrical, penetrating, and genuinely musical choreography, he has recently danced at important Manhattan venues such as Joyce Theater, the 92nd. St. YMHA, and the St. Marks Church Danspace. Daniels worked as an arts manager, producer, and consultant to prestigious groups like the Jose Limon Dance Company, Molissa Fenley, the Joyce Trisler Danscompany, and the New York State Council on the Arts in the 1980's, but chose to return to the stage to concentrate on his own formidable talents.  In a world where so much cultural product aims for commercialism at best and poor art at worst, Daniels offers an alternative with integrity. He commands the stage with a fluid style, tempered with a strong focus and executed with exquisite musical phrasing. His dances can range in temperament from expressive to contemplative to rapturous. Often using simple gestures combined with the language of dance, Daniels's artistry makes a strong impact, amplified by his use of live piano music. In addition to his own choreography, Daniels has performed works by respected artists like Christopher Gillis, Zvi Gotheiner, Barbara Mahler, Molissa Fenley, Scott Rink, and Peggy Baker. As a choreographer, he is able to pinpoint the essence of other dancers and use their skills to great advantage. In his recent work, Wee Hours, for example, he distills well-known nocturnes to choreographic abstraction, utilizing the talents of veteran dancers like Kate Johnson, Keith Sabado, and Regina Larkin; duets, solos, and trios evoke a night of restless meditation. Above all, Daniels demonstrates that mature artists have plenty to say in the realm of dance—and that he and his collaborators are able to speak eloquently through their physicality.  Richard Daniels's work is adaptable to nearly any type of program: a subscription series offered by a community arts organization, a family-oriented program, a cutting-edge university series, a concert program normally reserved for solo or group musicians, and church- and temple-affiliated presentations. Venues can include theaters from the most intimate to midsize houses of up to six hundred seats.  Solo Concert with Live MusicAccompanied by pianist Nurit Tilles, Daniels performs choreography from his repertoire. Richard Daniels and FriendsDaniels and his company of first-rate dancers perform a mixed repertory of choreography by Daniels and other established choreographers. WorkshopsWorkshops can be arranged for both dancers and non-dancers to offer exploration of movement with an emotional core. With a solid commitment to the HIV community, Daniels is especially sensitive to the needs of people living with HIV and their caretakers. |
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Richard Daniels
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