Christopher Beck studied dance as a child, including a year at the Mary Wigman Studio in Berlin. In New York he studied at the New Dance Group and with Merce Cunningham, Irving Burton and Ruth Currier and danced in the companies of Cliff Keuter, Elina Mooney and Phoebe Neville. He began making dances professionally in 1972 and moved to San Francisco in 1974 to develop his own work. In 1975 he founded Christopher Beck & Company Dance/Theater, of which he was artistic director until closing the Company in 1989, choreographing dozens of works. During those years he received four Choreographer's Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Besides frequent performances in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, the Company toured twice to the East Coast, in 1980 and 1986, as well as performing in San Diego, Los Angeles and Seattle. After moving back to New York in 1989 he began choreographing Inscapes, a series of solos for other dancers of varying ages (ranging from 11 to 70). He also made several dances after moving to the Netherlands in 1993, ending his choreographic career in 2000 with a final Inscapes solo made for his dancer mother, Nancy Brock, then aged 81.
"Clearly Beck works within the tradition of expressionist dance that stemmed from Wigman, with its emphasis on extreme emotional states and the darker sides of human experience. The most striking thing about Beck's work is the way he has managed to revivify the tradition from a personal and contemporary standpoint, infusing it with new substance, new life, new coloration. At the same time, Beck's dances feel well aged - they are the works of someone who has taken the time to ponder, to probe, and who also has enough assurance to use silence and stillness as effectively as movement." - Alan Kriegsman, Washington Post
"Clearly Beck works within the tradition of expressionist dance that stemmed from Wigman, with its emphasis on extreme emotional states and the darker sides of human experience. The most striking thing about Beck's work is the way he has managed to revivify the tradition from a personal and contemporary standpoint, infusing it with new substance, new life, new coloration. At the same time, Beck's dances feel well aged - they are the works of someone who has taken the time to ponder, to probe, and who also has enough assurance to use silence and stillness as effectively as movement." - Alan Kriegsman, Washington Post
"dream journeys into dance with a sense of theater that is stunning" – San Francisco Chronicle
Christopher Beck's work challenges the audience to realize that only by confronting the dark aspects of life is there any hope for growth and transformation, and it also shows some of the tenderness, beauty and joy that can be found in this struggle. This website presents a series of images from his dances. Although most of the dances were recorded on videotape (and the videotapes are available at the Museum of Performance & Design in San Francisco), this site consists mainly of still photographic images, which avoid fostering the illusion that any mechanical reproduction on a flat screen can re-create the experience of actual performance in the presence of the dancers. For those who saw the dances performed live, these images are meant to serve as a reminder of what being present for them was like. For those who never saw the dances live, these images can only faintly suggest what the experience was like.
There are dreams which we cannot rationally understand, which "make no sense," and yet are so full of feeling that they can change our day and even change our lives. Christopher Beck's dance/theater pieces are like these. Though there is no narrative, nothing is merely decorative; every image, movement and gesture which you will see tonight arises from an intensity of feeling; even the dancers' eyes speak of emotion. Each dancer is an individual center of being: watch for what the dancers mean to each other, and watch how these meanings change, as they change in life. There is isolation, but there is connection; there is cruelty, but there is gentleness; there is fear, but there is trust; there is sorrow, but there is joy. – Robert Chesley
A selection of Christopher's dances from the past 30 years:
Nameless (1972, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Photos: Frank Gimpaya
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Heatlightning (1973, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: J.S. Bach
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Photos: Philip Hipwell
The I Do Not Know (1973, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Debussy/Newman
Photos: Frank Gimpaya
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Debussy/Newman
Photos: Frank Gimpaya
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Dying Away (1974, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Photos: Frank Gimpaya
The Other (1975, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Lighting: Jim Matthews
Dancers: Virginia Hoover and Fran Parker
(1976 revival) Virginia Hoover (standing)
& Rachel Dreisbach
& Rachel Dreisbach
(1979 revival) Rachel Dreisbach (left) & Ingrid Hurlen
(1979 revival) Ingrid Hurlen (left) & Rachel Dreisbach
(photo: Steve Savage)
(photo: Steve Savage)
Visitation (1975, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Mahler
Costume: Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Jim Matthews
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Caught (1976, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancer: Helen Dannenberg
Helen Dannenberg (photo: Peter Vogel)
(1978 version) Bill Haas (above), Helen Dannenberg,
Gary Palmer
Gary Palmer
Night Vision (1976, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Ken Jones, Paul Kevil and Helen Dannenberg
Set Design: Bill Haas
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancers: Gary Palmer and Naomi Rudo
Naomi Rudo
(1976 revival) Claire Bolljahn & Gary Palmer
Mysteries of the Heart (1976, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Canteloube
Costumes: Stephanie Lake
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancers: Claire Bolljahn, Helen Dannenberg, Rachel Dreisbach, Janice Gruber and Virginia Hoover
Rachel Dreisbach, Janice Gruber, Virginia Hoover, Helen Dannenberg, Claire Bolljahn (left to right) (photo: Peter Vogel)
Virginia Hoover (left) & Janice Gruber (photo: Peter Vogel)
(1977 revival) Diana Cushway (kneeling), Rachel Dreisbach, Helen Dannenberg, Claire Bolljahn, Virginia Hoover (standing, left to right).
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Elgar
Costumes: Stephanie Lake
Lighting: Jon Greene
Photos: Peter Vogel
Dancers: Christopher Beck and Gary Palmer
Christopher Beck
Christopher Beck
Ghosts (1977, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Songs of the Humpback Whale, Balinese Gamelan
Costumes: Stephanie Lake
Dancers: Claire Bolljahn, Charles Campbell, Diana Cushway, Rachel Dreisbach, Bill Haas, Virginia Hoover and Gary Palmer
Claire Bolljahn, Rachel Dreisbach, Virginia Hoover, Diana Cushway (top to bottom) (photo: Peter Vogel)
(1980 revival) Christopher Beck, Hilary Clark, Ken Korpi, Ingrid Hurlen (left to right), Rachel Dreisbach, Benton Wong (kneeling) (photo: Steve Savage)
On the Edge (1977, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bill Evans
Costumes: Lee Ann Ditson
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bill Evans
Costumes: Lee Ann Ditson
Photos: Stewart Bloom
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Claire Bolljahn, Charles Campbell, Diana Cushway, Helen Dannenberg, Rachel Dreisbach, Bill Haas, Virginia Hoover and Gary Palmer
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Claire Bolljahn, Charles Campbell, Diana Cushway, Helen Dannenberg, Rachel Dreisbach, Bill Haas, Virginia Hoover and Gary Palmer
Christopher Beck (above), Helen Dannenberg, Gary Palmer
Gary Palmer (standing, left), Bill Haas,
Diana Cushway (left), Claire Bolljahn
Diana Cushway (left), Claire Bolljahn
Christopher Beck, Helen Dannenberg, Claire Bolljahn,
Rachel Dreisbach (top to bottom)
Stone Shadow (1977, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Costume: Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Photos: Peter Vogel
Reconnaissance and Reconnoitering (1978, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Eric Chappelle, Margaret Crofts and William Evans
Lighting: Jon Greene
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Diana Cushway, Rachel Dreisbach, Virginia Hoover, Gary Palmer and Gretchen Phillips
Gretchen Phillips (standing), Virginia Hoover, Gary Palmer
Rachel Dreisbach, Gary Palmer, Gretchen Phillips, Diana Cushway, Virginia Hoover (clockwise from left)
Virginia Hoover (above), Gretchen Phillips, Gary Palmer (left to right)
The Dreaming Ground (1978, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Daniel Rosen
Costumes: Lee Ann Ditson
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Bill Haas, Gary Palmer and Lim Pei
Bill Haas (above), Christopher Beck, Gary Palmer, Lim Pei (left to right) (photo: Tigger)
(1978 revival) Rachel Dreisbach, Gary Palmer,
Ingrid Hurlen, Christopher Beck (left to right)
(photo: Steve Savage)
Ingrid Hurlen, Christopher Beck (left to right)
(photo: Steve Savage)
(1978 revival) Gary Palmer, Rachel Dreisbach, Ingrid Hurlen, Christopher Beck (left to right) (photo: Steve Savage)
Luminous Rose (1979, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Hindemith
Costumes: Stephanie Lake
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Lim Pei, Gary Palmer and Charles Yarborough
Lim Pei, Charles Yarborough, Gary Palmer, Christopher Beck (left to right)
Christopher Beck & Lim Pei (left to right)
Lim Pei, Christopher Beck, Charles Yarborough,
Gary Palmer (left to right)
Passages (1979, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bertrand Howard
Costumes: Gina Badger
Lighting: Jon Greene
Dancers: Rachel Dresibach, Ingrid Hurlen, Lim Pei and Gary Palmer
Ingrid Hurlen (left) & Rachel Dreisbach
(photo: Steve Savage)
(1979 revival) Ingrid Hurlen & Christopher Beck (photo: Nan Temkin)
(1979 revival) Gary Palmer, Christopher Beck , Ingrid Hurlen, Rachel Dreisbach (left to right) (photo: Nan Temkin)
(1979 revival) Ingrid Hurlen & Christopher Beck (photo: Nan Temkin)
(1979 revival) Gary Palmer, Christopher Beck , Ingrid Hurlen, Rachel Dreisbach (left to right) (photo: Nan Temkin)
Duo (1979, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Leo Brouwer
Costumes: Gina Badger
Lighting: Jon Greene
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck and Gary Palmer
Gary Palmer (left) & Christopher Beck
Christopher Beck (left) & Gary Palmer
Unspoken (1979, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bertrand Howard
Costumes: Amy Mueller
Set Design: Tom Carlisle
Lighting: Jon Greene
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Rachel Dreisbach, Ingrid Hurlen and Gary Palmer
Rachel Dreisbach
Ingrid Hurlen (left) & Rachel Dreisbach
Gary Palmer & Christopher Beck
Ingrid Hurlen, Gary Palmer, Rachel Dreisbach
Inreach (1980, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Beck
Costumes: Amy Mueller
Lighting: Richard Lund
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Hilary Clark, Ken Korpi and Benton Wong
Hilary Clark (standing), Benton Wong, Christopher Beck, Ken Korpi (left to right)
Hilary Clark , Ken Korpi, Benton Wong,
Christopher Beck (left to right)
Christopher Beck (left to right)
Beyond Recall (1980, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Sasha Matson
Costumes: Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Richard Lund
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Hilary Clark, Rachel Dreisbach, Ken Korpi and Benton Wong
Christopher Beck (left) & Ken Korpi
Benton Wong, Ken Korpi, Christopher Beck, Hilary Clark, Rachel Dreisbach (left to right)
Rachel Dreisbach, Christopher Beck, Ken Korpi (left to right)
Christopher Beck
Placeless (1981, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Sasha Matson
Costumes: Lee Ann Ditson
Lighting: Richard Lund
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Hilary Clark, Ken Korpi, Katia Noyes and Benton Wong
Katia Noyes, Christopher Beck, Benton Wong, Ken Korpi, Hilary Clark (left to right)
Ken Korpi, Katia Noyes, Christopher Beck
(left to right)
(left to right)
Ken Korpi, Katia Noyes, Hilary Clark, Benton Wong, Christopher Beck (left to right)
Critical Mass (1981, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bertrand Howard
Set and Costumes: Jill Neff
Lighting: Kurt Landisman
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Libbi Evans, David Fritz, Larry Henderson, Laura Lipman-Clark and Katia Noyes
Christopher Beck, Laura Lipman-Clark, Larry Henderson, Katia Noyes, David Fritz, Libbi Evans (left to right)
Katia Noyes, Laura Lipman-Clark, Libbi Evans (standing, left to right), Larry Henderson, Christopher Beck, David Fritz (left to right)
Laura Lipman-Clark & group
Interface (1981, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Sasha Matson
Costumes: Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Kurt Landisman
Dancers: Ken Korpi and Katia Noyes
(photo: Gary Sinick)
(photo: Marty Sohl)
Biplay (1982, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bertrand Howard
Costumes: Sue Fox
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Libbi Evans and Laura Lipman-Clark
Laura Lipman-Clark (left) & Libbi Evans
Laura Lipman-Clark (front) & Libbi Evans
Caravan (1982, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Gwendolyn Watson
Costumes: Ida Reiter
Lighting: Kurt Landisman
Photos: Steve Savage
Performers: Christopher Beck and Gwendolyn Watson
Return (1982, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Sasha Matson for Steel Chords
Costumes: Sue Fox
Lighting: Kurt Landisman
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Pamerla Asherah, Maria Battista, Silvia Chloe, Anne Marie Clear, Grace Cottle, Carey da Roza, Nancy Endy, Sara Gifford, Jere Graham, Ingrid Hurlen, Jane Jordan, Pat MacKenzie, Jamie Lynn Ross, Barbara Ryan, Fumi Spencer and Sarah LcLennan Walker
Voices (1983, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Gwendolyn Watson
Costumes: Sue Fox
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Maria Battista, Carey da Roza, Sara Gifford, Veronica Michael, Quan and Anne Worthington
Quan, Sara Gifford, Maria Battista, Anne Worthington, Veronica Michael, Carey da Roza (left to right)
Quan (foreground), Veronica Michael, Maria Battista, Sara Gifford, Anne Worthington, Carey da Roza (left to right)
Chasm (1983, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Erik Ian Walker
Costumes: Sue Fox
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Maria Battista, Christopher Beck, Carey da Roza, Sara Gifford, Veronica Michael, Patrick Morgan and Anne Worthington
Veronica Michael, Sara Gifford, Maria Battista
(back, left to right), Christopher Beck, Anne Worthington,
Carey da Roza (middle, left to right), Patrick Morgan (front)
Sara Gifford, Patrick Morgan, Veronica Michael, Maria Battista (left to right)
Signals (1984, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: J. Scott Brazieal
Costumes: Sue Fox
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Dancers: Maria Battista, Carey da Roza and Sara Gifford
Carey da Roza, Maria Battista, Sara Gifford (left to right) (photo: Gary Sinick)
Carey da Roza, Maria Battista, Sara Gifford (left to right) (photo: Marty Sohl)
Carey da Roza, Sara Gifford , Maria Battista (left to right) (photo: Marty Sohl)
Questions (1984, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Baldassare Galuppi
Costume: Lea Ditson
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Transformations (1985, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman
Costumes: Sue Fox and Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Charles Chism, Anne Marie Clear, Peggy de Coursey, Krishna Evans, Maximilienne Ewalt, Sara Gifford, Jeff Hughes, Jane Jordan, Maureen Katz, Evri Kwong, Dory Magasis, Sandra Metzler, Deborah Phillips, Carla Wood Saivre, Leslie Saxon, Carla Tandy, Grace Valentine, Eris Weaver and Liz Williams
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman
Costumes: Sue Fox and Sandra Woodall
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Charles Chism, Anne Marie Clear, Peggy de Coursey, Krishna Evans, Maximilienne Ewalt, Sara Gifford, Jeff Hughes, Jane Jordan, Maureen Katz, Evri Kwong, Dory Magasis, Sandra Metzler, Deborah Phillips, Carla Wood Saivre, Leslie Saxon, Carla Tandy, Grace Valentine, Eris Weaver and Liz Williams
Maureen Katz & the Company
Christopher Beck & the Company
Christopher Beck & the Company
Constellation (1985, Ukiah, CA)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Goro Yamaguchi
Photo: Steve Savage
Dancers (original cast): Jenna Byrne, Nori Dolan, Sandy Metzler, Mary Lou Partridge and Leslie Saxon
(1986 revival) Deborah Phillips, Mary Lou Partridge, Cindy J. Mackenzie, Patricia Mason, Sara Gifford (left to right)
Flayed (1985)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Tony d'Anna
Costume: Laurie Everly
Photo: Steve Savage
Dancer: Ann Woodhead
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Tony d'Anna
Costume: Laurie Everly
Photo: Steve Savage
Dancer: Ann Woodhead
Matrix (1985, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: James Swyers
Costumes: Sue Fox
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Sara Gifford and Deborah Phillips
Sara Gifford (above) & Deborah Phillips
Deborah Phillips (left) & Sara Gifford
Natural Forces (1985, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Charles Chism, Sara Gifford, Mary Lou Partridge, Deborah Phillips, with C. BonDurant, Sylvia Chloe, Anne Marie Clear, Krishna Evans, Jere Graham, Jane Jordan, Julie Kane, Evri Kwong, Dory Magasis, Patricia Mason, Alan Phillips, Dan Skaggs, Carla Tandy and Susan Tatje
Sara Gifford (above), unidentified, Evri Kwong, unidentified (left to right)
Alan Phillips; Patricia Mason
Terra Incognita (1986, Petaluma, CA)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman
Costumes: Patrick Morgan
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Charles Chism, Sara Gifford, Mary Lou Partridge and Deborah Phillips
Charles Chism, Sara Gifford, Deborah Phillips, Mary Lou Partridge (left to right)
Charles Chism, Mary Lou Partridge (left to right above)
Sara Gifford, Deborah Phillips (left to right below)
Sara Gifford, Deborah Phillips (left to right below)
Judgment (1986, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman, in collaboration with Robert Sudduth
Costumes: Jere Graham
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Charles Chism, Anne Marie Clear, Gregory Colburn, Gina Cooper, Peggy De Coursey, Marc Donsky, Sara Gifford, Jere Graham, Jane Jordan, Kerrily Joy Kitano, Evri Kwong, Dory Magasis, Mary Lou Partridge, Deborah Phillips, Eberhard Scheiffele, Dan Skaggs and Carla Tandy
The Company
The Company
The Company
Penumbra (1986, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman, in collaboration with Robert Sudduth
Visuals and Costumes: Jill Neff, assisted by Barry Ellery and Nancy Yeo
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Charles Chism, Gregory Colburn, Sara Gifford, Mary Lou Partridge and Deborah Phillips
Deborah Phillips, Sara Gifford, Mary Lou Partridge, Charles Chism, Gregory Colburn (left to right)
Simple Pleasures (1987, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Peter Hartman
Visuals: Anne Busse
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Christopher Beck, Charles Chism, Sara Gifford, Mary Lou Partridge and Deborah Phillips
Sara Gifford, Charles Chism, Deborah Phillips,
Christopher Beck, Mary Lou Partridge (left to right)
Christopher Beck, Mary Lou Partridge (left to right)
Sara Gifford, Charles Chism, Deborah Phillips,
Christopher Beck, Mary Lou Partridge (left to right)
Christopher Beck, Mary Lou Partridge (left to right)
The Modern Graces (1988, Rohnert Park, CA)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Tony D'Anna
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Dancers: Julie Goodnough, Diana Keener and Libby Rhodes
Diana Keener, Julie Goodnough, Libby Rhodes (left to right)
Prayer (1988, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Tony D'Anna
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Costume: Leah Ditson
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancer: Christopher Beck
Community (1988, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Richard Marriott and Gino Robair for Clubfoot Quintet
Sets and Props: Anne Busse
Costumes: Karen Hampton
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Dancers: Esther Aviva, Joe Barello, Renée Beauvais, Christopher Beck, Tanya Lee Coffeen, Bridget Jean Cooper, Gina Cooper, Jan Dederick, Theresa Dickinson, Jennifer Howard, Jane Jordan, Jennifer Kendall, Dashiell Merrick-Kamm, Mary Lou Partridge, Deborah Phillips, Perry Salit, Carla Tandy and David Christopher Tom
The Company
Christopher Beck
Joe Barello with the Company
Mary Lou Partridge & Joe Barello (left), unidentified couple (center), Theresa Dickinson and Christopher Beck (right)
Journey (1988, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Robert Sudduth
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photo: Steve Savage
Dancers: Mary Lou Partridge, Deborah Phillips and Christopher Beck
Mary Lou Partridge, Christopher Beck,
Deborah Phillips (left to right)
Deborah Phillips (left to right)
Dream Dances (1989, Ukiah, CA)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Tom Ganoung
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Dancers: Star Carroll-Smith, Zoe Comings, Susan Era, Dale Glaser, Yvonne Jolley-Crawford, Pat Kearney, Joel McGarvey, Debbie Nobles, Pam Norris and Suzette Stiles Slaughter
Photos: Big Darby
Suzette Stiles Slaughter (standing) & group
Star Carroll-Smith, Joel McGarvey, Susan Era, Pat
Kearney (left to right)
Kearney (left to right)
If So, Why Not? If Not, Why? (1989, San Francisco)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music Direction: Bertrand Howard
Visuals: Anne Busse
Lighting: Holly Charlton
Photos: Steve Savage
Performers: Joe Barrello, Renée Beauvais, Margaret Bernstein, Jan Dederick, Judy Job, Annie Johnston, Jane Jordan, Jennifer Kendall, Victoria Kirby, Jennifer McClure, Meaghan Siobhan McClure, Thomas McClure, Stephen O'Shea, Erika Peterkin, Chris Domingo Pocock, Naomi Puro, Dan Skaggs, Carla Tandy and Jean von Hermann
The Company
Victoria Kirby, Thomas McClure, Joe Barello, Dan Skaggs
(left to right)
Thomas McClure holding Meaghan Siobhan
McClure; Jane Jordan, Jennifer McClure
(left to right)
Carla Tandy
Breakaway (1990, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Costume: Miriam Strasberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photos: Tom Brazil
Dancer: Elise Long
Awakening (1990, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Gary Trosclair
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photo: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Carlo Adinolfi
Summer (1990, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bob Goldberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photo: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Beverly Brown
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bob Goldberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photo: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Beverly Brown
Zey... (They...) (1990, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Giora Feidman
Poem: Mani Leyb
Costume: Miriam Strasberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photos: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Irving Burton
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Giora Feidman
Poem: Mani Leyb
Costume: Miriam Strasberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photos: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Irving Burton
Talisman (1991, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Bob Goldberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Costume: Miriam Strasberg
Photo: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Alan Danielson
Threshold (1991, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Mozart
Costume: Miriam Strasberg
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photos: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Jesse Philips-Fein
Wellspring (1991, New York)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Nature Sounds
Costume: Karin Weston
Lighting: Chele Ware
Photos: William W. Irwin
Dancer: Mary Lisa Burns
Determination (1993, Amsterdam)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Saint-Saëns
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Saint-Saëns
Photos: Isabelle Jenniches
Dancer: Sima van Dulleman
Changing Ground (1995, Amsterdam)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Egmont Swaan
Visuals and Lighting: Isabelle Jenniches
Dancer: Michaël Boucherie
Egmont Swaan & Michaël Boucherie
Schauspieler, Tänzer, Sängerin (Actor, Dancer, Singer) (1996, Vienna)
Author: Gisela von Wysocki
Production, Direction and Design: Isabelle Jenniches
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Performers: Alexander Fend, Alexander Mitterer and Ulla Pilz
Photos: Peter Hebeisen
Ulla Pilz & Alexander Fend
Alexander Fend
She Who (2000, Amsterdam)
Choreography: Christopher Beck
Music: Keith Jarrett
Dancer: Nancy Brock
Photo: Isabelle Jenniches
'After seeing "Passages" Joseph Campbell told Beck, "You're dreaming the myth on."'