choreography:
Risa Cohen

composer:
Phillip Glass

premiere:
this selection was a preveiw selection
of the full length work that will be
premiered at the
Southern Theater in June, 2001

dancers:
Tina Anderson, Audrey Chebille, Risa Cohen
& guest artist Melanie Hughes

Risa Cohen moved to New York City after graduating from Towson University in Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Neurological Psychology. She spent the next five years working with the Margolis Brown Company which relocated to Minneapolis in 1995. As an emerging choreographer, Ms. Cohen focuses on a movement-based vocabulary that combines powerful dramatic intentions with modern dance technique. Ms. Cohen founded Precipice Dance Theater in 1997 and since then has produced dances that address various issues reflecting humanity such as alienation, obsession and oppression. "Babble", which premiered at the Red Eye theater (1999), depicted her experiences of growing up with dyslexia. "Giselle", which also premiered at the Red Eye Theater (2000), examined the underlying impulses and deep obsessions embedded in the classic tale. The third concert,"Unraveled", presented at the Music Box Theater (2000), explored the struggle between feminisim and the Jewish patriarchal tradition. Ms Cohen has also presented works at the Walker Art Center, Southern Theater, and the Loring Playhouse.
      In February 2001 Risa was commissioned by Ballet Minnesota to create a new work for the 5th annual Youth Concert Series. The dance, "Finlandia", is an abstract interpretation of the music. Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (considered by many as Finland's greatest composer): was the composer (1890) of this rich piece.
       Presently Risa working on her own conert "Self Storage" which will be held at the Southern Theater in June. An excerpt from this new work will be premiered on the Minnesota Dance Festival.   (updated: May 2001)

May 18-19, 2001, 8:00pm

Risa in a modern choreographer with a goodRisa Cohen founded Precipice Dance Theater in 1997 in Minneapolis, MN. The works presented by the company focus on a movement-based vocabulary that combines powerful dramatic intentions with modern dance technique. Risa presented an excerpt from her evening long work "Self-Storage" on the 13th Minnesota Dance Festival. Ballet Minnesota also presented the commissioned work which Risa set on Ballet Minnesota, "Finlandia"