Rebecca Rice
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Rice is a Boston-based modern dance choreographer whose work blends modern contemporary dance and ballet.
with the creative, innovative energy of 20-21st C. modern dance
. Rebecca work includes new classical music and has collaborated with Pulitzer Prize winning composer, John Harbison
, pianist Constantine Finehouse
and Burberry designer/photographer Martin Cooper
. Her work has been shown as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston
(2006) which included "Shortstories" a dance created to a score John Harbison
created especially for her company, "Deep Dances" (2006).
Rebecca Rice's signature style is her unique blend of creativity and musicality. Her company was invited to perform at Boston's Jordan Hall
in 2006, MIT and at Jacob's Pillow
. In 2009, her company was invited to perform with Keith Lockhart
and the Boston Pops as part of Boston's Ballet Russes 2009 Festival. As a professional choreographer Rebecca has set new work on various modern and ballet companies including Boston Ballet II.
Rebecca Rice comes from a dancing family where she trained with her grandmother Marion Rice
in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. She is a member of Marion Rice Denishawn Dancers
, a company dedicated to preserving early modern Denishawn dance, along with her mother (Mona Irvine Rice) and sister (Robin Rice). She studied and performed modern dance with Bill Evans (dancer)
and Utah Repertory Dance Theatre at the University of Utah
as well as in New York City and Boston. She was a founding performing member of the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy
modern dance company where she became resident choreographer, and teacher. In 1998, Rebecca implemented the first choreography workshops with the Boston Ballet
Company under Bruce Marks
.
The Boston reviewer Marcia B. Siegel described her work as drawing from
Rebecca's aunt, Carolyn Brown, was Merce Cunningham
's leading dancer for 20 years and the author of "Chance and Circumstance: Twenty Years with Cage and Cunningham".
Biography
Rebecca is artistic director of Rebecca Rice Dance, a company that focuses on blending balletBallet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
with the creative, innovative energy of 20-21st C. modern dance
Modern dance
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.-Intro:...
. Rebecca work includes new classical music and has collaborated with Pulitzer Prize winning composer, John Harbison
John Harbison
John Harris Harbison is an American composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.-Life:...
, pianist Constantine Finehouse
Constantine Finehouse
Constantine Finehouse is a Russian-born pianist.Praised by Rhein Main Presse Allgemeine Zeitung for his "interpretations of depth and maturity,” Constantine Finehouse has performed extensively in the US and abroad, including in Trieste, London, St. Petersburg and Odessa...
and Burberry designer/photographer Martin Cooper
Martin Cooper
Martin Cooper is an American former Motorola vice president and division manager who in the 1970s led the team that developed the handheld mobile phone ....
. Her work has been shown as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston
Celebrity Series of Boston
The Celebrity Series of Boston is a non-profit performing arts presenter established in Boston, Massachusetts by Boston impresario Aaron Richmond in 1938 as Aaron Richmond's Celebrity Series....
(2006) which included "Shortstories" a dance created to a score John Harbison
John Harbison
John Harris Harbison is an American composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.-Life:...
created especially for her company, "Deep Dances" (2006).
Rebecca Rice's signature style is her unique blend of creativity and musicality. Her company was invited to perform at Boston's Jordan Hall
Jordan Hall
Jordan Hall is a 1,019-seat concert hall in Boston, Massachusetts, the principal performance space of the New England Conservatory. It is one block from Boston's Symphony Hall, and together they are considered two of America's most acoustically perfect performance spaces...
in 2006, MIT and at Jacob's Pillow
Jacob's Pillow
Jacob’s Pillow Dance is a dance center, school and performance space located in Becket, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires. The organization is known for the oldest internationally acclaimed summer dance festival in the United States. The facility also includes a professional school and extensive...
. In 2009, her company was invited to perform with Keith Lockhart
Keith Lockhart
For the baseball player, see Keith Lockhart Keith Lockhart , to Newton Frederick and Marilyn Jean Woodyard Lockhart, is an American orchestral conductor....
and the Boston Pops as part of Boston's Ballet Russes 2009 Festival. As a professional choreographer Rebecca has set new work on various modern and ballet companies including Boston Ballet II.
Rebecca Rice comes from a dancing family where she trained with her grandmother Marion Rice
Marion Rice
Marion Burbank Stevens Rice was an American modern dance choreographer, dance teacher and producer.-Early life:...
in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. She is a member of Marion Rice Denishawn Dancers
Marion Rice Denishawn Dancers
Marion Rice Denishawn Dancers is a dance company devoted to preserving Denishawn dance, the choreography of modern dance pioneers Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, taught and staged by Marion Rice, a Massachusetts modern dance and ballet teacher, performer, choreographer and producer who died in...
, a company dedicated to preserving early modern Denishawn dance, along with her mother (Mona Irvine Rice) and sister (Robin Rice). She studied and performed modern dance with Bill Evans (dancer)
Bill Evans (dancer)
Bill Evans is an internationally-known choreographer, performer, teacher, administrator, and movement analyst. More than 200 of Evans' works have been performed by professional and pre-professional ballet, modern dance, and tap companies through the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Europe and...
and Utah Repertory Dance Theatre at the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
as well as in New York City and Boston. She was a founding performing member of the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy
Dance Alloy
Dance Alloy is a modern dance repertory company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Friendship neighborhood.-History and mission:The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy was founded in 1976 at the University of Pittsburgh as an artistic collective of nine dancers...
modern dance company where she became resident choreographer, and teacher. In 1998, Rebecca implemented the first choreography workshops with the Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Boston Ballet’s national and international reputation developed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Violette Verdy , Bruce Marks , and Anna-Marie Holmes...
Company under Bruce Marks
Bruce Marks
Bruce S. Marks is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.He appeared to lose a 1993 election for the 2nd senatorial district for the Pennsylvania Senate, but a federal judge declared him the winner of that election after finding that the campaign of William G. Stinson had...
.
The Boston reviewer Marcia B. Siegel described her work as drawing from
"the theatricality of Denishawn dance, the extroverted skills of ballet and the physical investment of modern dance"
Rebecca's aunt, Carolyn Brown, was Merce Cunningham
Merce Cunningham
Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of the American avant-garde for more than 50 years. Throughout much of his life, Cunningham was considered one of the greatest creative forces in American dance...
's leading dancer for 20 years and the author of "Chance and Circumstance: Twenty Years with Cage and Cunningham".
External links
- http://rebeccarice.blip.tv
- http://www.rebeccaricedance.com/