I’ve been thinking about why I’m so interested in Security – the central focus of Bettmann Dances’ new project.

One of the roots of my interest is certainly my personal history. My father’s parents met as refugees in New York during World War II, and as a Jew I was raised with a healthy sense that the US – my country – should never have to rely on any other country for security. I was raised within a cultural sensibility of “Never Again!”; Never again will we be at the whim of an outside aggressor. Recently our efforts to be safe (Iraq, Afghanistan) have been making a whole lot of people less safe. How do we balance that? We empower our leaders to make us safe, but who keeps us safe from them? Who keeps the ‘other’ safe from us?

Another inspiration for Quis Custodiet is my community. Here in the District we host high-powered debate from policymakers and policy wonks that tends to be pretty far removed from the real life experience of security for most District residents (including me!) On the brink of the ten year anniversary of 9/11 I’m curious about the connections between our personal, communal, and national pursuit of security.

Aside from the deep topic, we’re doing this to make a really beautiful, and enjoyable, performance. Our collaborators are incredibly impressive; I have no idea why they agreed to work with us on this! If you don’t yet know Tim Tate, Chanan Delivuk, and Ginger Carlin you should check em out. Through a dedicated project website you’ll be able to watch this work develop.

We’ve budgeted really resourcefully for such a big project, but we need your support. Every dollar counts. Please click through to our Kickstarter Project and give today.

I’d love to hear what you think about this project, and what your thoughts are on security. You can reach me at: rob@dayeight.org. Thank you for your generosity, and support.

Under the direction of choreographer Robert Bettmann, Bettmann Dances is quickly earning a reputation for bringing music, dance and design together in ways that entertain and stimulate the brain as much as the senses.

We won’t be performing at this event. This is chance to celebrate what’s to come, and help us raise the money we need for the project. “QUIS” will be developed and presented in stages over the next year. We’ll show the first section Saturday, November 20th at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainer, MD. We’ll show the second (of three) sections Friday, May 13th at Woolly Mammoth Theater. The Artistic team for Quis Custodiet includes artists Tim Tate (video) and Chanan Delivuk (video), and Ginger Carlin/Booshie Design (costumes.)

Hope to C U THERE! Keep on dancin’ til then.

Robert Bettmann and Bettmann Dances company members  will be teaching FREE two hour dance workshops around DC over the summer and fall.

Artistic Director Robert Bettmann writes, “In teaching this type of workshop I’ve seen that many people find immense satisfaction in creating motion, and moving, and I’m happy to be able to support that experience. In the workshops I and my dancers will help participants find motion as part of their personal expression.” The workshops are offered within development of the company’s new evening length work. Every individual embodies their life in motion, and in that motion is an expressive vocabulary that contains their personal point of view.

In company rehearsals following the workshops, Bettmann Dances will explore the vocabulary made by workshop participants. Some workshops participants may be offered opportunity to perform in the premiere of the piece, Summer 2011. The work, titled Quis Custodiet, is about power, and the ways that personal “sides” color vision, and even sight.

If you are interested in booking a workshop, or know someone who might be, or have any additional questions,  please contact Artistic Director Robert Bettmann at rob@dayeight.org. These workshops are most effective with between 5 and 20 participants. Workshops are appropriate for all ages, and all levels of movement experience. No prior dance experience required.