Jody sperling
Encyclopedia
Jody Sperling is an American
dance
r, choreographer, and dance scholar based in New York City
. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance, a dance company
that gives a postmodern twist to vintage genres, from the fin de siècle
spectacles of Loie Fuller
, to circus and music hall entertainments.
in Performance Studies (New York University
, 1996) and a BA
in Dance and Italian (Wesleyan College
, 1992).
Sperling became interested in Fuller in 1997 when she performed Fuller's The Butterfly Dance. Since then, she has gained an international reputation as an expert on Loie Fuller and as a contemporary interpreter of Fuller’s style of dancing. She has lectured and/or performed at colleges, universities and international festivals and conferences in countries such as the United States
, Canada
, France
, Ireland
, Italy
, The Netherlands, and Russia
.
Sperling has created five Fuller-inspired solos:The Serpentine Dance (after the 1891 original); The Magic-Lantern Dance (a collaboration with the American Magic-Lantern Theater); Dance of the Elements, La Nuit set to the music of John Cage; and Debussy Soirée. She has also developed group works such as Ghosts (2008); the trio Roman Sketches (2007), co-commissioned by Vermont Performance Lab, LLC. and Marlboro College
,; and the septet Ballet of Light http://timelapsedance.com/rep_light.htm (2007), a reinterpretation of Fuller’s 1908 original, commissioned by the University of Wyoming
with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts/American Masterpieces program.
Sperling’s interest in dance history has led her to perform works from other periods, such as Yvone Rainer's
1960s Trio A, and her dance Orlando was inspired by an interest in 16th-century galliard steps. She is also a hoop dancer/instructor, and has created dances for low-flying trapeze.
She has written occasional articles for Dance Magazine
, The Village Voice
, and other publications, including a contribution to the six-volume International Encyclopedia of Dance (Oxford University Press, 1998).
Sperling has served on the Board of Directors of the Society of Dance History Scholars.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r, choreographer, and dance scholar based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance, a dance company
Dance company
A dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment.-Members:*Artistic Director*Choreographers*Dancers*Board of Directors*Education administrator...
that gives a postmodern twist to vintage genres, from the fin de siècle
Fin de siècle
Fin de siècle is French for "end of the century". The term sometimes encompasses both the closing and onset of an era, as it was felt to be a period of degeneration, but at the same time a period of hope for a new beginning...
spectacles of Loie Fuller
Loie Fuller
Loie Fuller Loie Fuller Loie Fuller (also Loïe Fuller; (January 15, 1862 – January 1, 1928) was a pioneer of both modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques.-Career:...
, to circus and music hall entertainments.
Biography
Sperling holds an MAMaster of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Performance Studies (New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, 1996) and a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Dance and Italian (Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College
Wesleyan College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Macon, Georgia, United States.-History:The school was chartered on December 23, 1836 as the Georgia Female College, and opened its doors to students on January 7, 1839. The school was renamed Wesleyan Female College in 1843...
, 1992).
Sperling became interested in Fuller in 1997 when she performed Fuller's The Butterfly Dance. Since then, she has gained an international reputation as an expert on Loie Fuller and as a contemporary interpreter of Fuller’s style of dancing. She has lectured and/or performed at colleges, universities and international festivals and conferences in countries such as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, The Netherlands, and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Sperling has created five Fuller-inspired solos:The Serpentine Dance (after the 1891 original); The Magic-Lantern Dance (a collaboration with the American Magic-Lantern Theater); Dance of the Elements, La Nuit set to the music of John Cage; and Debussy Soirée. She has also developed group works such as Ghosts (2008); the trio Roman Sketches (2007), co-commissioned by Vermont Performance Lab, LLC. and Marlboro College
Marlboro College
Marlboro College is a small, coeducational, alternative liberal-arts college in Marlboro, Vermont, USA.-History:Marlboro College was founded in 1946 by Walter Hendricks for returning World War II veterans on Potash Hill in Marlboro, Vermont. The school's operation was initially financed using money...
,; and the septet Ballet of Light http://timelapsedance.com/rep_light.htm (2007), a reinterpretation of Fuller’s 1908 original, commissioned by the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts/American Masterpieces program.
Sperling’s interest in dance history has led her to perform works from other periods, such as Yvone Rainer's
Yvonne Rainer
Yvonne Rainer is an American dancer, choreographer and filmmaker, whose work in these disciplines is frequently challenging and experimental. Her work is classified as minimalist art.- Early life :...
1960s Trio A, and her dance Orlando was inspired by an interest in 16th-century galliard steps. She is also a hoop dancer/instructor, and has created dances for low-flying trapeze.
She has written occasional articles for Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine
Dance Magazine is an "influential" American trade publication for dance, currently published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as The American Dancer. William Como was its editor-in-chief from 1970 to his death in 1989. Wendy Perron became its editor-in...
, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, and other publications, including a contribution to the six-volume International Encyclopedia of Dance (Oxford University Press, 1998).
Sperling has served on the Board of Directors of the Society of Dance History Scholars.