A choreographer setting an existing piece of music faces a dilemma: music written for the concert hall is often too dense to be successfully juxtaposed to dance. Many interesting results could be won from just such a misalignment, but it is rarely consciously exploited. Instead, choreographers tend to either choose music that is so simple as to approach banality, providing them with peace of mind and a rhythmic flow, or humbly distort their choreography, stretching and pulling it until it fits the dimensions of a musical masterwork - but almost loses its own identity in the process.

I have been guilty of both offenses. Writing my own music for Reflections allowed me a way out of this conundrum: the dance starts with no music at all, giving the steps a chance to establish their own rhythm. Later, the dancer slows to near stillness as the music gets a chance to be heard. In the end, both what is heard and what is seen is spare enough to need the other for completion.

Choreography: Miro Magloire
Duration: 7 min.
Music: Miro Magloire, Reflections I for Piano
Costume: Candice Thompson
World Premiere: November 10th, 2007
Original Cast: Denise Small

Photos by: Kristin Lodoen Linder

Video: Reflections I
Danced by Denise Small. Music performed by Melody Fader. - (November 2007)