Susan Rethorst. Photo by John Mann
Yvonne Rainer Judith Dunn Simone Forti Trisha Brown
No one makes work in a vacuum. Rethorst has been moved by other choreographer’s choices, bravery and modesty, by seeing their lives.
Link to Susan Rethorst's Essay Stealing, Influence and Identity
Yvonne Rainer, Still from: “Trio A”
Like many of her generation, when you look at her dances, with their ‘ordinary’ movement, you can’t help thinking of choreographer/filmmaker Yvonne Rainer’s revolt against the reign of the theatrical.
“Trio A” Choreographed 1966 and performed August 14, 1976 by Yvonne Rainer (TRT: 9:56)
“No to spectacle no to virtuosity no to transformations and magic and make believe no to glamour and transcendency of the star image no to the heroic no to the anti-heroic no to trash imagery no to involvement of performer or spectator no to style no to camp no to seduction of spectator by the wiles of the performer no to eccentricity no to moving or being moved.”
---Yvonne Rainer
Link to Yvonne Rainer's Hand Movie
Judith Dunn, Photo by Irene Borger
Choreographer/improviser Judith Dunn, one of Rethorst’s teachers at Bennington College, was unafraid to make uncomfortable, unbeautiful, awkward movement. As is Rethorst.
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Performance by The Dance Company at Bennington College in September 26, 1974, Lisa Kraus, videographer
Simone Forti, © the estate of Lona Foote
Trusting the body, trusting sensation, one of the pioneers of working in pedestrian movement and improvisation, Simone Forti, has acutely tuned to the seamlessness between choreography and the world outside the studio.
Link to Simone Forti's Solo No. 1
Trisha Brown, Photo by Lourdes Delgado
Rethorst’s quality of slithery, slippery movement evokes the work of choreographer Trisha Brown. “I was just seduced by Trisha’s earlier work,” she says. One piece that influenced her was the dance Accumulation.”
“Accumulation” by Trisha Brown Performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, October 5, 1996. Original Performance 1971 TRT: 5:53