MARGARET JENKINS DANCE COMPANY
May 1-4, 2025
​Z Space, SF
This performance will last approximately 60 minutes with no intermission
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In honor of the memory of Becky Jenkins
Artists
Artistic & Choreographic Direction: Margaret Jenkins
Choreographic & Rehearsal Assistant: Kelly Del Rosario
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MJDC Dancer/Collaborators:
Allegra Bautista, Raven Bautista, Corey Brady, Tristan Ching Hartmann, Carolina Czechowska, Kelly Del Rosario, Claire Fisher-Mendez, Anna Greenberg Gold
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Composers: Paul Dresher and Joel Davel
Text & Structural Concept: Michael Palmer
Production Design: Jack Beuttler
Costume Design: Mary Domenico
Sound Engineer: Jacob Felix Heule
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Readers: Allegra Bautista, Tristan Ching Hartmann, Carolina Czechowska,
Kelly Del Rosario, Michael Palmer​
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The performance text is included at the end of this program.
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Music:​
Paul Dresher: guitar and keyboard
Joel Davel: Marimba Lumina
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Wheel of Winds
"Baiana" by Barbatuques
"Mashup" by Joel Davel as performed live by Joel Davel and Paul Dresher
Wheel of Constellation
"Lament" by Paul Dresher as performed live by Paul Dresher and Joel Davel
"Almost" by Paul Dresher
David Steinberg - violin
Julie Steinberg - piano
Wheel of Rupture
"Chug" by Joel Davel as performed live by Joel Davel and Paul Dresher
"Struggle" by Hania Rani
Wheel of Memory
"Time Alone" by Joel Davel as performed live by Joel Davel and Paul Dresher
"De Ushuala a la Quiaca" by Gustavo Santaolalla
Wheel of Kites
"Cross Hands" by Paul Dresher as performed live by Paul Dresher and Joel Davel
Wheel of Currents
"Ebb and Flo Hello" by Joel Davel as performed live by Joel Davel and Paul Dresher
"124 Thoughts" by Joel Davel as performed live by Joel Davel
"Collide" by Joel Davel as performed live by Joel Davel and Paul Dresher
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SPECIAL THANKS
Anna Burke, City Dance Studios, Joe Goode Annex, ODC, and the Staff & Crew at Z Space
Artist Bios
Note on Collaboration with Dancers: For each new work, I assemble a company of dancers with whom I have worked, in most instances, for years. In collaboration with myself and the other artistic collaborators, they are a community of makers who fashion the ultimate character and atmosphere of the piece. They generate the material and deeply engage in the process of integrating the movement into the overall structure of a work. Their commitment to making something of meaning to themselves and to our audience is what binds and sustains us in this elaborate and complicated process. I am deeply indebted to, and feel privileged to work with, such amazing people. As we reckon with our current social and political realities, it has become even more consequential to be in the studio with these remarkable human beings.
Note on Artistic Collaborators: Poet and collaborator since 1973, Michael Palmer has been a constant muse, interrogator, and guide, bringing his unique poetic perspective to Wheel. Choreographic assistant Kelly Del Rosario, now in his 18th year, has become an important and supportive voice; this year, he lends his artistic acumen toward developing, in collaboration with the dancers, Wheel's structure and movement vocabulary. Working on Wheel with Paul Dresher and Joel Davel as composers has been a real treat. Together they support, enliven, and compel the work forward. Visual Designer for our 50th anniversary, Jack Beuttler, joins us again for Wheel with his mercurial and mysterious ways. Mary Domenico, costume designer for over seven of our works, has brought her singular aesthetic to Wheel. Separately and in combination, these collaborators have contributed their creative and engaged imaginations to the process and the ongoing conversation, deeply affecting how the wheel turns.
Production Team
MARGARET JENKINS DANCE COMPANY
Artistic Director: Margaret Jenkins
Executive Director: Kegan Marling
Artistic Associate: Michael Palmer
Company Manager: Sophie Otewalt
Production Manager: Kaitlyn Ryan
Outreach Advisors: Kate Courteau, Sravanthi Dev
House Manager: Nadine Johnson
Costume Assistant: Nichole Kreglow
Bookkeeper: Bonnie Ayers-Namkung
Poster photo Illustration: Sarah Palmer
Poster source photographs: RJ Muna, Austin Forbord, Doug Winter
Postcard & Program Design: Katherine Disenhof
Board of Directors
Marcia Hofer, Margaret Jenkins, Mindy Kershner, Rhys Mason, Michael Palmer
Supporters
Wheel and the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company are graciously funded by The Bernard Osher Foundation, Cathy & Jim Koshland, Hellman Foundation, John Sanger Family Foundation, Judith Brown Meyers Fund, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Michael P.N.A. Hormel (in loving remembrance of James C. Hormel), The National Endowment for the Arts, Pro Suecia Foundation, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, and many generous individuals.
Performance Text
Text 1
Read by Carolina Czechowska
​
Was Was once Were Were we Wasn’t I
War War dance Want Wheel Waltz
Wind Wall Why Why not Whisper
Weary Wary Whistle Wild Worry
Would you Where Where to Will you While we
White whale Whale song Wander Weeping Wake
Will we Wait Wake Wander Waste
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Text 2
Read by Allegra Bautista, Tristan Ching Hartmann, Kelly Del Rosario
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Will it end?
If so when?
Will we resist?
What world is this?
I wonder where, where we are.
I wonder what, what is, what was.
I wonder whether…
Blood moon rising, was it that?
Will we speak, speak out?
Sing, will we?
All one, all one war?
And why or why not?
Again and again?
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Text 3
Read by Michael Palmer
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Long time turning, this wheel, I’ll tell you that.
Light to dark and back, I can tell you that.
Some here, some gone, you know that.
Burn it down is what they say.
And be careful of the waves.
Long time turning, this wheel.
Wheel that was, is not, will be.
Will be what?
Will there be dancing?
Will there be dancing in the dark?
Will we dance the darkness down?
A long time now.
A long time turning now.
Will we march, will we watch?
Will we look on from afar?
Will things fall apart?
Time, it is, for night to sleep.
Time, it is, for day to speak.
Time for the waterwheel, for whale song in Babylon.
And then will time break?
Never said it would be easy.
No, never said.