Name Annie-B Parson Role Choreographer | Spouse Paul Lazar Movies Ride, Rise, Roar | |
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Education Teachers College, Columbia University Nominations Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer Similar People Paul Lazar, Alex Timbers, Jose Llana, Maria‑Christina Oliveras, David Byrne | ||
Annie b parson in conversation with curator philip bither
Annie-B Parson is an American choreographer, dancer, and director based in Brooklyn, New York. Parson is notable for her work in modern dance and immersive theater. Parson was the founder of Brooklyn's Big Dance Theater along with Molly Hickok and her husband, Paul Lazar. She is also well known for her collaborations with Nico Muhly, St. Vincent, and David Byrne.
Contents
- Annie b parson in conversation with curator philip bither
- Anne Delaney on Honorees Annie B Parson and Paul Lazar
- Big Dance Theater
- Notable projects
- Awards
- References
Anne Delaney on Honorees Annie B Parson and Paul Lazar
Big Dance Theater
Parson founded Big Dance Theater in 1991 with Molly Hickok and Paul Lazar. She has since choreographed and co-created dozens of works for the company, ranging from pure dance pieces, to adaptations of plays and literature, to original works combining wildly disparate materials. Her work with Big Dance has been commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The National Theater of Paris, The Japan Society, and The Walker Art Center.
Notable projects
Outside of Big Dance, Ms. Parson created choreography for David Byrne’s Here Lies Love at the Public Theater, his 2012 world tour with St. Vincent, and for his 2008/09 Brian Eno world tour. She also created dance for St Vincent’s 2014 world tour. She directed and choreographed for the string quartet Ethel. Her dances are featured in the film Ride, Roar, Rise about David Byrne. She choreographed for Nico Muhly's opera Dark Sisters, Walt Disney at Soho Rep, Sarah Ruhl's Orlando, Futurity at ART, The Broken Heart at TFNA, David Bowie's Lazarus, full length work for The Martha Graham Dance Co. , and a solo for Wendy Whelan at The Linbury/Royal Opera House.
Since 1993 Parson has been an instructor of choreography at New York University's Experimental Theater Wing. She has also taught nationally and internationally including Tokyo and Spoleto, Italy. She was featured in BOMB magazine, and wrote a piece for Dance USA on the state of dance/theater in the U.S. As an artist curator, she has curated shows including: the Merce Cunningham memorial, Dancer Crush at NYLA and Sourcing Stravinsky at DTW. Parson tours a lecture on abstraction called "The Structure of Virtuosity" to universities and for audience development.
Awards
Her awards include a 2014 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, 2014 Foundation for Contemporary Art Grants to Artists Award, 2012 USA Artists Grant in theater, a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography, 2002 and 2010 BESSIE awards, two Lucille Lortel nominations (2011, 2012), and NYFA Fellowships (2012, 2005 and 2000). BDT received an OBIE in 2000 and the first Jacob's Pillow Dance Award in 2007. She received a 2015 nomination for an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. She has been nominated for the CalArts/ Alpert Award seven times. Ms. Parson was a YCC choreographer at The American Dance Festival where she worked with composer Richard Einhorn to create City of Brides.