Ensemble of Ressl Dance!
Ressl
Dance! was formed in 1989 as a vehicle for the creation and performance
of modern dance in Northeastern Minnesota. The primary objective is
to produce quality modern dance within our region and present the widest
possible range of choreography and subject matter to our audience.
Our goal is to bring professional modern dance to this region by developing
new works, working with guest and local artists and performers, and
commissioning works by established choreographers.
"Doris
Ressl is a choreographer who follows the best traditions of classic
Modern Dance and Ballet. She also investigates her own vocabulary
to discover movement which is new and personal."
— Michael George, Blue Water Dance
"Doris
is committed to [taking] dance beyond the boundaries of the traditional
stage presentation, introducing dance to a wide spectrum of viewers.
Ressl creates a unique relationship between the performer and
the audience that is in-the-round, as opposed to the frontal
presentation.
Working with Doris, is an extra opportunity to experiment and
choreograph beyond the fall-to-spring season."
— LilaAnn Coates, Principal Teacher,
Minnesota Ballet and Choreographer
"Beyond
the new sense of place Ressl creates for modern dance, Doris
personally challenges the individual dancer both technically
and creatively,
beyond exisiting boundaries, into yet undiscovered territories
of self."
— Reneé Moe, Sterling Dance
"[Ressl's]
ability to work well with any level of dancer - from beginner
to accomplished professional - demonstrates Doris' inherent creativity
and her commitment to dance. The joy she takes in working with
diverse
dancers is testament to her love for her art."
— Christopher Watson, Artistic Director,
Christopher Watson Dance Company
"I am
a musician and I've worked with Doris on a number of projects including "Collaborative
Spirits in Motion" and the "African Music and Dance" events at UMD,
as well as "Dances on the Lakewalk." A few words come to mind
when I think about Doris: creativity, integrity, flexibility,
and commitment.
She has a wonderful sense of vision and adventure and I always
come away feeling invigorated after working with Doris and her
dancers."
— Dave Schamelenberger,
Percussionist and Assistant Professor of Music at UMD
Ressl Dance!,
directed by Doris Ressl, is composed of dancers hired from the Duluth-Superior
community and the Twin Cities. In addition to presenting the choreography
of Doris Ressl, the Ensemble includes the commissioned works of guest
choreographers and invites guest dance artists to perform with the
Ensemble, and serves as a presenting organization for large scale dance
events in the Duluth-Superior community.
Over the
past several years the Ensemble presented concerts in Duluth, receiving
support from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arrowhead Regional Arts
Council, the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation, and the Duluth
Public Arts Commission.
Ms. Ressl
has choreographed over 30 works some of which have been presented by
the Minnesota Dance Alliance, The Walker Art Center, Chequamegon Fine
Arts Festival, College of St. Scholastica, The Minnesota Ballet, and
the Grand Marais Art Colony.
Doris Ressl
and Twin Cities choreographer Christopher Watson have pooled their
artistic resources to present concert and community outreach performances
in Minneapolis, Duluth, Grand Marais, and Ely. In August 1995, Ressl
presented 6 Choreographers, 6 Dancers. It
was a "first time ever" collaboration of Duluth choreographers. In
1996 Ressl presented another choreographic collaboration involving
Twin Cities and Duluth artists in a production of Duluth
Dance Festival: I:35 Connection.
In 1997 and
1998, Ressl created Dances on the Lakewalk©,
as a collaborative, site-specific public dance event performed along
Duluth's scenic Lakewalk on the shores of Lake Superior.
