Bebe Miller Company

 
 

Bebe Miller Company - Landing Place - 2005 - Dancers Kathleen Hermesdorf, Kathleen Fisher, Angie Hauser - Photo by Lois Greenfield

Story from Bebe Miller

“My pleasure.” I hear Kathleen say that in my head almost daily, still. She used to say it with a drawl that was half Joel-Grey-in-Cabaret, three-quarters seductive, and all sleek, all sly, all yes. The phrase came up, as these things do, during rehearsal residencies or touring for Landing/Place (2002-2007), or perhaps during Necessary Beauty (2007-2009), the two works we made together. She drawled the words, looking straight at you while offering a beverage, a piece of clothing, a joke, a dance. Her generosity was wide and full, her heart the same. Her dancing, immense.

We re-met at the Bates Dance Festival in the early ‘00s, and I of course was entranced by her dancing. And then she said yes to our new project and then off we went. To watch Kathleen while she worked was to see the coursing of physical intention entwined with immediate presence. She directed her full spirit toward whoever was in range, negotiating the rise and fall of whatever was asked for, taking care of you (me) along with the dance, because we all loved it so. Plus, she was lots of fun—and laughed so well and hugged you so deep. And gave you essential oils and the medicinal touch of her hands and her art. Thank you KK, for all of this, all this that we will keep, because you gave us you.

“Her generosity was wide and full, her heart the same. Her dancing, immense.”
— Bebe Miller about Kathleen Hermesdorf

Images

Videos

Landing/Place (2005)
by Bebe Miller Company

  • Choreography and Direction: Bebe Miller

  • Performers: Kathleen Fisher, Angie Hauser, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Darrell Jones, and David Thomson, with live music by Albert Mathias

  • Dramaturgy: Talvin Wilks

  • Music: Albert Mathia and Henry Purcell

  • Animation Design: Vita Berezina-blackburn

  • Video Design: Maya Ciarrocchi

  • Lighting and Set Design: Michael Mazzola

Necessary Beauty (2008)
by Bebe Miller Company

Choreography and Direction: Bebe Miller

Performers: Angie Hauser, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Kristina Isabelle, Bebe Miller, Cynthia Oliver, and Yen-Fang Yu, with live music by Albert Mathias.

Dramaturgy: Talvin Wilks

Music: Albert Mathia and Henry Purcell

Animation Design: Vita Berezina-blackburn

Video Design: Maya Ciarrocchi

Lighting Design: Michael Mazzola

Text: Ain Gordon (partially developed in collaboration with the performers)