Jane Jerardi

The Efficiency Project

As part of Washington Performing Arts Society’s 40th Anniversary Season, Jane Jerardi presented the premiere of her latest work for the stage, Efficiency, on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at the GALA-Tivoli Theatre. Jerardi’s choreography draws inspiration from everything in the world around her. This work is no different: it uses video of fast-paced DC life as a backdrop for her exploration of the tension associated with society’s ongoing quest for “free time.” Efficiency was one of four dance projects commissioned by Washington Performing Arts Society during its 2005/2006 season.

Efficiency was inspired by a Washington Post article that inspected the concept of efficiency from its roots in the industrial revolution to its larger impact on modernism. In contrast to the hyper-efficiency that has permeated today’s society, Jerardi acknowledges what happens to human relationships along the way, tapping into an all too common desire for inefficiency. The new work features an original music score by multi-media composer Scanner (aka Robin Rimbaud) and video visuals created by D.C.-based videographer Michael Wichita. It is performed by dancers Brian Buck and Nicholette Routhier, along with Jerardi.

Efficiency is available on DVD. It is available through this site's PayPal store (see to the right) or through Proliferate.

Efficiency available on DVD

Efficiency is now available on DVD-R.  Approximately 29 minutes in length it documents the premiere performance at GALA's Tivoli Theatre in Washington, DC.  It features an original score by Scanner and is performed with Brian Buck and Nicholette Routhier.  Documentation by Natasha Kraus.  See details on ordering to the right --->

Efficiency @ Consume

On Saturday, January 6, 2007, Brian Buck and I showed an excerpt from Efficiency as part of the closing of the exhibition, Consume, at Flashpoint in downtown Washington, DC. "Look + Listen" also included performances by Joe Lally with Willie Hoffman and a dj set by Ian Svenonius (dj name names). View some pictures from the event.

An Excerpt from Efficiency

A short excerpt from Efficiency (Quicktime file), with Brian Buck, Nicholette Routhier, Jane Jerardi, videography by Michael Wichita, original score by Scanner.

Composer

British artist Robin Rimbaud (also known as “Scanner”) creates absorbing, multi-layered soundscapes that twist technology in unconventional ways. From his early controversial work using found mobile phone conversations to his focus on trawling the hidden noise of the modern metropolis as the symbol of the place where hidden meanings and missed contacts emerge, his restless explorations of the experimental terrain have won him international admiration from Bjork and Stockhausen. Scanner is committed to working with cuttingedge practitioners and has collaborated with artists from every imaginable genre, including musicians Bryan Ferry and Laurie Anderson, The Royal Ballet and Random Dance companies, composers Michael Nyman and Luc Ferrari, and artists Mike Kelley and Derek Jarman. As well as producing compositions and CDs, his diverse body of work includes soundtracks for films, performances, radio, and site-specific inter-media installations.

Visuals

Michael Wichita's photographs have been seen in Metro Weekly, the Advocate, The Washington Post and the Village Voice, and in several local art shows in the metro area. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he is currently assistant photo editor at the AARP Bulletin.

Performer

Nicholette Routhier received her B.A. in Dance from the George Washington University and she plans on pursuing an M.F.A. in Clowning. In addition to her work with Jane Jerardi, she has a duet company with Wendell Cooper called Transport, and she has danced with Clancyworks Dance Company, Deborah Riley Dance Projects, and with Gia Cacalano from Pittsburg, PA.

Performer

Brian H. Buck is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he received numerous letters of appreciation and accommodation, a good conduct medal, and was honorably discharged in January of 1995. He received his Associate Degree in English, from the Community Colleges of Baltimore County/Essex, where he also started dancing. Brian has performed with Dimensional Dance Media, the student company, in the works of Aina Delpi Sneed, Anna Rider, Vanessa Johnson-Jackson, Jan Taylor, and Shannon Glascow. Brian received his Bachelor degree in Dance from the University of MD where he performed with Maryland Dance Ensemble in the works of Alvin Mayes, Stephanie Thibault, Jen Roth, as well as his own work. In addition, Brian has worked extensively with Daniel Lepkoff. Brian is currently an assistant Property and Events Manager at Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture.

Lighting Design

Catherine Eliot has been designing lighting for the last 14 years. She was delighted to collaborate on Efficiency as well as many of Jerardi's other recent projects.

Production

CJ Holm has served on production staff for the American Dance Institute (Technical Director), Dance Place (Associate Technical Director), the Jack Guidone Theater, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Jane Franklin Dance, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival (Production Intern). She holds a BA in Dance from Hampshire College. Her choreography has been presented locally by Joy of Motion Dance Project, Dance Place, and The Field/DC.