Jennifer Muller/The Works, founded in 1974 by Jennifer Muller, is known for its dynamic theatricality, virtuosic dancers, and shared global humanity. The company earned worldwide recognition touring to 39 countries, 30 states, and self-producing 28 NY seasons at City Center, the Joyce, Cedar Lake, and New York Live Arts. In the US, JMTW has appeared in venues such as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Jacob’s Pillow, Alice Tully Hall, Jacob Javits Center, the United Nations, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, and St. Louis’ Spring to Dance Festival among many others. 

The late Jennifer Muller was known for her visionary approach and innovations in dance / theater, multi-disciplinary productions incorporating spoken word, media, and unusual production elements. She created 125+ pieces including 7 full-evening productions, working with artistic collaborators Yoko Ono, Keith Haring, Jeff Croiter, Marty Beller, and Keith Jarrett, to name a few. Muller’s commissions include Alvin Ailey, Tanz-Forum, Ballet Contemporaneo, NDT, NDT3, and in 2019, Introdans, among others. A gifted leader, she also conceived the innovative Muller Polarity Technique, which continues to influence and inspire dancers worldwide. 

Jennifer Muller’s profound vision for JMTW encouraged dancers, creatives, and audiences to trust their humanity, deepen their imagination, and ultimately, connect in a shared and transformative experience. From this essential mission unfurled 50+ years of extraordinary creativity and a monumental body of work that has reached countless people around the world. JMTW is honored to present at Battery Park Dance Festival in memory of Jennifer and in celebration of her undeniable creativity and her masterpieces that live on.

More information about a Celebration of Life – honoring Jennifer Muller – will be released in late Summer 2023. Stay up to date with the company through our social media and website.

Dances by Isadora keeps the work of Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) vital and relevant, bringing it to vibrant life for global audiences since 1989. Director Catherine Gallant, was introduced to Duncan’s work while watching a Dance in America program on PBS featuring Annabelle Gamson in the late 1970’s. She then began her study of the technique and repertory with Julia Levien, Hortense Kooluris and Sylvia Gold. (students of Anna and Irma Duncan, two of Isadora’s six students known as the “Isadorables”). Ms. Gallant is the US performer of Jerome Bel’s work, Isadora Duncan. She also creates her own fully contemporary work as Catherine Gallant/DANCE and is on the faculty of PS 89, the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) and Hunter College.

A NYC-based dancer-choreographer, Jody Sperling is the Founder/Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance. She has created 50+ works and is the leading exponent of early performance technologist Loïe Fuller (1862-1928). Sperling has expanded Fuller’s genre into the 21st century, deploying it in the context of contemporary environmental performance forms. Sperling is developing an inquiry called ecokinetics that cultivates the relationship between the human movers and ecological systems while forging strategies for climate-engaged artmaking. She is Eco-Artist-in-Residence at The New York Society for Ethical Culture.

All Denishawn recorded music played by Jonathan Katz

Audrey Ross, believing that these historic dances should be preserved and performed from time to time, gathered a group of stellar dancers to perform dances by The Mother and Father of American Modern Dance. Performances took place October 2021 at the Theatre at St. Jeans in NYC, and participating artists were Arthur Aviles, PeiJu Chien-Pott, Christine Dakin, Antonio Fini, Nina Jirka, Valentina Kozlova, Limon2, Bradley Shelver, Sokolow and Dances We Dance members.

A NYC-based dancer-choreographer, Jody Sperling is the Founder/Artistic Director of Time Lapse Dance. She has created 50+ works and is the leading exponent of early performance technologist Loïe Fuller (1862-1928). Sperling has expanded Fuller’s genre into the 21st century, deploying it in the context of contemporary environmental performance forms. Sperling is developing an inquiry called ecokinetics that cultivates the relationship between the human movers and ecological systems while forging strategies for climate-engaged artmaking. She is Eco-Artist-in-Residence at The New York Society for Ethical Culture.

Hailed by the international press, Lori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan Dance Company is a spirited ensemble of highly trained dancers distinguished by their deeply felt connection to the art of Isadora and to Artistic Director Lori Belilove´s interpretive vision and aesthetic sensibility. Belilove’s direct lineage and prestigious performing career have earned her an international reputation as the premier interpreter and ambassador of the dance of Isadora Duncan and is considered the living embodiment of Duncan’s grace, power, and mastery of weight.  As a creative team, the Company delves into new artistic territory as it delivers the essence of Duncan into the 21st Century.