Agon

2008

About

Choreographed to mark the company’s twenty-fifth anniversary in 2008, Agon is a duet that investigates the tension and struggle of opposites – images connected to the archetype of the twins. First Nations/European cultural dialogue and the underlying intention of dance traditions to achieve spiritual transformation will be unified through the metaphor of the agon, which comes from the ancient Greek word for intense struggle, conflict or contest. Agon is the root of the word agony and the focus of the ancient Olympic Games.

The exceptional score was created through a unique collaboration of composers – John Korsrud and Cris Derksen who themselves have emerged through First Nations and European traditions. The world premiere of this extraordinary work took place at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver October 17, 2008.

Agon premiered and toured as part of the Sisyphus Project in October 2008.

The Sisyphus Project was a full length program that revealed the new vision of Karen Jamieson Dance; looking both forward and back simultaneously through juxtaposing newly created work with signature works. The content of the 2008 program included the re-creation of masterwork Sisyphus (1983), the re-creation of signature work, Man Within (1989), the premiere of the new duet Agon (2008) and the newly recreated signature work Solo from Chaos (1982).

The Sisyphus Project premiered at the 2007 Vancouver International Dance Festival to sold-out houses and featured a cast of extraordinary intergenerational dancers, including Jay Hirabayashi, the quintessential Sisyphus, to re-create his 1983 role. The program included Sisyphus, Man Within, Elmer & Coyote and Crow.

The 2008 program of The Sisyphus Project included Sisyphus and Man Within and two new additions: Solo From Chaos and the premiere of Agon – all choreographed by Karen Jamieson, Artistic Director of KJD. It toured British Columbia through the Made In B.C. Dance on Tour program.

The People

Choreographer: Karen Jamieson

Performers: Ron Stewart, Brian Solomon

Composers: John Korsrud, Cris Derksen

Lighting: Jean Philippe Trépanier

Original Costume Design: Linda Chow

Tour Original Scores: David K. MacIntyre, Jeff Corness, Ahmed Hassan, John Korsrud, and Cris Derksen, with a re-creation of the Solo From Chaos score by Joseph “Pepe” Danza

Tour Lighting: Jean Philippe Trépanier

Tour Costume Designers: Susan Berganzi, Linda Chow, and Catherine Lubinsky

Tour Technical Director: Jeff Harrison

Tour Stage Management: Julie Martens

Tour Coordination: Beverly Walker

KJD General Manager: Pamela Tagle

Reviews

“In one back corner, Ron Stewart moved his upper body and clapped his hands together in a motion like he was hurling a bolt of energy across the stage. In the other corner, Brian Solomon responded like he had been whiplashed by what Stewart had thrown. An invisible cord connected the two dancers. After a pause, Solomon returned the energy and Stewart’s body caught what Solomon had thrown. As the dance developed, the length of the pause shortened until the two men were rapidly exchanging bolts of energy in what had clearly become a competition.

Even though it was only a rehearsal, the two dancers weren’t holding back. Within a few minutes, you could see the beads of sweat on both their bodies.

In the work staged at Kay Meek, the dancers performed beautifully sparse and condensed movement that clearly communicated the give and take of healthy competition. They could be embodying any one of several kinds of archetypal rivalries such as between father and son. But with Agon being performed this evening as part of Karen Jamieson Dance’s 25th anniversary performance called The Sisyphus Project, a different reading was also possible.”

- Kevin Griffin
The Vancouver Sun, October 17, 2008