American Dance Asylum
HISTORY
“American Dance Asylum presents…” first appeared in 1972 on posters for a dance concert coordinated by choreographers Lois Welk, Jill Becker and other graduates of the SUNY Brockport Dance Department. Following a sojourn in San Francisco, Welk and Becker headed back east to study Contact Improvisation with Steve Paxton. Welk was invited by Richard Bull to teach a one week workshop at the Brockport Dance Department, an introduction to Contact Improvisation. The first session was well attended but on the 2nd day of the workshop only two individuals returned - Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane. A powerful collaboration was born.
Lois Welk & Bill T. Jones, 1977. PC: Mary Ross
In 1974, the American Dance Asylum (ADA) incorporated as a non-profit, co-directed by Bill T Jones, Lois Welk and Arnie Zane based in Binghamton, NY. Living a collective lifestyle and challenging regional audiences, the American Dance Asylum quickly earned a reputation for its innovative and often controversial productions. From 1974 - to 1979, the American Dance Asylum produced the early works of Arnie Zane, Bill T. Jones and Lois Welk. Clive Barnes (NY Times) wrote in 1977, “The Dance Asylum shows the value of collective experimentation.” In late 1979, Bill T Jones and Arnie Zane left for NYC to start their own company.
Many of the American Dance Asylum posters from the 1970s were original photo silk-screens designed and executed by Arnie Zane with collaborators Barry Butterfield, Phil Sykes and others. Poster design continued to be integral to the ADA's identity through subsequent decades, most notably the collaboration with visual artists- Mary Ross and Michael Celbar. ..
Since 1980, the ADA has been under the sole artistic direction of Lois Welk, producing over forty original works, most noteworthy are the site-specific projects including The Parking Ramp Dances (1978,1980,1981,1984 and 1996), The Train Station Dances (1987, 1988), The Carousel Dances (1990,1993), The Hiawatha Island Dance (1991) and The Pavilion Dance (1989). From 1977-1989, the ADA supported the work of other artists by presenting their work in upstate New York (among them Deborah Gladstein, Richard Bull, Daniel Nagrin, Elizabeth Streb and others) and by providing creative residencies through the Space for Choreography program (1986-1989).
In 1988, Welk became the Executive Director of 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning NY. Many artists enjoyed residencies hosted by 171 Cedar Arts in partnership with ADA, often funded by the New York State Council on the Arts’ long term dance residency program, among them- Sean Curran Co., Bebe Miller Co., Iréne Hultman, and Reggie Wilson’s Fist and Heel.
ADA in Grand Waltz. Nick Leichter, Mark Schmitterer,
Gabriel Bobek & Mindy Heywood, 1989. Choreography: Lois Welk
For nearly twenty years (1984-2003) the ADA’s 5,6,7,8… Dance!, an in-school program linking choreography with music theory, toured to elementary and middle schools in upstate New York providing thousands of young people their first exposure to contemporary dance.
From 2003-2010, the ADA sponsored eight editions of the Ichnusa Festival, a cultural bridge between the island of Sardinia, Italy and New York, directed by Paola Bellu. Ichnusa Festival was a model for integration of humanities, fine arts and community development. In addition to performances and other events, the festival offered opportunities for young people to learn and practice the English language through art activities in a very rural area.
In July 2005, the ADA became the administrator of the NYS DanceForce, a state-wide network of individuals and organizations working to connect artists with communities funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. Curt Steinzor serves as the Director of the NYS DanceForce.
The American Dance Asylum is a performing arts production and service organization that connects artists with communities including, but not limited to, New York State for the purpose of supporting the work of creative artists and improving the quality of life in the communities that they involve.
Choreography produced by the American Dance Asylum (1972-1991)
1972
Unguarded Moment Choreography: Lois Welk
First Solo In A Long Time Choreography: Jill Becker
Planting Song Choreography: Lois Welk
Facing Downstage/Slightly Off-Center Choreography: Welk/Chinabear
110 counts of Movement for Leonardo da Vinci Choreography: Lois Welk
Variety Show Choreography: Lois Welk
One of My Cousins Froze to Death On the Farm So Winter This Year Makes Me a Little Afraid
Choreography: Lois Welk
1973
Emergency Chamber Concert Choreography: Lois Welk
Extra-Vehicular Activity Choreography: Welk/Becker/Chinabear
Dance To Eat Dinner By Choreography: Lois Welk
One Problem Leads To Another Choreography: Lois Welk
1974
The Lois Welk Show Choreography: Lois Welk
Hardware Choreography: Lois Welk
A Christmas Story Choreography: Bill T. Jones
Self-Portrait Choreography: Arnie Zane
A Dance with Durga Devi Choreography: Bill T Jones
Dances For a Third American Century Choreography: Well/Jones
Works Choreography: Bill T Jones
Entrances Choreography: Bill T Jones
Pas de Deux for Two Choreography: Jones/Zane
1975
The Dream Report Choreography: Lois Welk
Impersonations Choreography: Bill T Jones
Women in Drought Choreography: Bill T Jones
Across the Street Choreography: Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane
Zoo Dance Choreography: Lois Welk
Could Be Dance Choreography: Bill T Jones
Track Dance Choreography: Bill T Jones
6,5,4… Choreography: Lois Welk
Video and Dancing in Binghamton Choreography: Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane
A Real Dance Choreography: Arnie Zane
Trio Choreography: Lois Welk
The Casualties Are Mounting Choreography: Lois Welk
1976
Transport Dance Choreography: Arnie Zane
Couple 513 Choreography: Lois Welk/Arnie Zane
At the Crux of… Choreography: Arnie Zane
Crux, An Old Dance Constructed Anew Choreography: Arnie Zane
Everybody Works/All Beasts Count
Movement for Video, Dance and Music Choreography: Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane
Floor Act Choreography: Lois Welk
The Lois Welk Show, Part Two Choreography: Lois Welk
The Parking Lot Dance Choreography: Lois Welk
Everybody Works/All Beasts Count(solo) Choreography: Bill T Jones
1977
Da Sweet Streak ta Loveland Choreography: Bill T Jones
Asymmetry: Every Which AWay Choreography: Bill T Jones
The Parking Lot Dance (Brockport) Choreography: Lois Welk
Storie, Steps and Stomps Choreography: Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane
Steppin’ Choreography: Arnie Zane
Carnival ‘77 Choreography: Arnie Zane
Hand Dance Choreography: Arnie Zane
More Dogs and People Dancing Choreography: Arnie Zane
1978
The Parking Ramp Dance Choreography: Lois Welk
Hand Dance/Pink Dress Blue Choreography: Arnie Zane
Environmental Piece for Marine Midland Plaza Choreography: Bill T Jones
By The Water Choreography: Bill T Jones
Whosedebabedoll? Baby Doll Choreography: Bill T Jones
1979
Don Sturdy and The Mystery of the Future Choreography: Lois Welk
Monkey Run Road Choreography: Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane
Matrix Choreography: Lois Welk
Welcome Choreography: Jones/Calder
Addition Choreography: Bill T Jones
Crossover for Three Choreography: Bill T Jones
1980
Four Hundred and Fifty Choreography: Lois Welk
And… Choreography: Jill Becker
The Parking Ramp Dance (1980) Choreography: Lois Welk
1981
The Dream Report Continued Choreography: Lois Welk
Exotic Invention Choreography: Lois Welk
The Parking Ramp Dance (1981) Choreography: Lois Welk
Making and Doing Choreography: Richard Bull
1982
Outloud Choreography: Lois Welk
The Pursuit of Happiness Choreography: Lois Welk
The Back of the Picture Choreography: Lois Welk
1983
Make A Mark, Make a Move Choreography: Lois Welk
From Dancing to a Tune to Dancing to Another Tune Choreography: Lois Welk
Choreology Choreography: Lois Welk
Concerto Choreography: Lois Welk
1984
Mix I Choreography: Lois Welk
The Parking Ramp Dance (1984) Choreography: Lois Welk
Variations Choreography: Lois Welk
1985
9/8 Choreography: Lois Welk
1986
The Ecstasies Choreography: Jill Becker
Beside Myself Choreography: Lois Welk
The Nines Choreography: Lois Welk
Stress Management Choreography: Lois Welk
1987
The Train Station Dance Choreography: Michael DiFonzo/Lois Welk
1988
Eulogy Choreography: Lois Welk
The Train Station Dance (1988) Choreography: Michael DiFonzo/Lois Welk
1989
The Pavilion Dance Choreography: Lois Welk
The Grand Waltz Choreography: Lois Welk
1990
The Carousel Dance Choreography: Lois Welk
1991
The Twilight Zone Dance Choreography: Lois Welk
The Hiawatha Island Dance Choreography: Lois Welk