Quarter-Life Triumph

Ever since Bill T. Jones and his late partner Arnie Zane officially founded their eponymous company in 1983, America’s dancescape has been rocked by passionate, angular and unique work.

This year, the 10-member company is celebrating its silver anniversary with festivities galore! First up is a continuous, three-pronged exploration of Abraham Lincoln. A legend investigating a legend—how fitting!

In September, Jones went solo to direct and choreograph Fela! at 37 Arts in NYC. The piece was a riveting theatrical event about the life and struggle of Fela Kuti, a Nigerian political activist and founder of the funky music genre, Afro-beat. Emphasizing Jones’ interest in integrating artforms, it was a combination of visual art, dance, theatrical narrative and video displays with a melting pot of crying saxophone (played amazingly by Sahr Ngaujah in the title role), pulsing drums, swiveling hips, jutting arm

sequences and sensual partnering.

The company will also take its anniversary on the road, touring through March 2009, from Santa Fe, NM, to Washington, DC. Make sure to catch the company in action—we can’t wait to see what it shows us in the next 25 years!

For more info, go to billtjones.org.—Lauren