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A group of dancers mid-jump on stage, arms extended upwards, creating a dynamic arc. They wear military-inspired outfits in various shades of green and brown. The background is dark, emphasizing their movement and form. The stage floor reflects their leaps, adding to the visual impact.

Repertory

D-Man in the Waters (Part I)

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

COMPANY PREMIERE

New York City Center, 2013

WORLD PREMIERE

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, The Joyce Theater, 1989

RESTAGING

Janet Wong

MUSIC

Felix Mendelssohn

COSTUMES

Liz Prince

LIGHTING

Robert Wierzel

RUN TIME

18 Minutes

“In a dream you saw a way to survive and you were full of joy.” 
– conceptual artist Jenny Holzer 

In this exhilarating work by Kennedy Center Honoree, MacArthur Grant awardee, and Tony Award-winner Bill T. Jones (Fela!, Spring Awakening), rigorous formalism and musicality embody resilience and triumph over loss.

The piece captures the infectious energy, innocence, and will to survive of a beleaguered generation during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Although it deals with sorrow, it maintains a defiantly celebratory tone.

Felix Mendelssohn’s soaring Octet for Strings propels the nonstop momentum, sending the dancers hurling across the stage in a whirlwind of leaps, rolls, and slides. Jones has said that the fact that Mendelssohn was just 16 years old when he composed the work resonated strongly with him. “This piece was created when we were dealing with a lot of death,” he said. “Creating this work was for us a way of dealing with grief, by finding the joy in the music this 16-year-old boy created.”

Jones’ tour-de-force was awarded a New York Dance and Performance Bessie Award and is praised for being one of the finest examples of postmodern dance. The New York Times called it “a stylish, impassioned outpouring of movement.”

D-Man in the Waters (Part I) is dedicated to Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company dancer Demian Acquavella (1958-1990).

Three pairs of dancers and one solo dancer perform on stage against a blue background. The pairs are engaged in lifts and intricate holds, showcasing their strength and balance. The dancers wear earthy-toned costumes, including camouflage patterns, and their movements are graceful and expressive.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Bill T. Jones' D-Man in the Waters (Part I) Photo by Paul Kolnik

Seven dancers on stage perform synchronized high kicks against a blue background. They wear earthy-toned costumes, including camouflage patterns. The dancers' movements are energetic and coordinated, showcasing their flexibility and strength.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Bill T. Jones' D-Man in the Waters (Part I) Photo by Paul Kolnik

Five dancers perform on stage against a blue background. They are dressed in earthy-toned costumes, including camouflage patterns. The dancers are mid-movement, with dynamic and expressive poses, highlighting their athleticism and grace.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in D-Man in the Waters (Part I) Photo by Paul Kolnik