Set to the music of jazz pianist Duke Ellington, this dance piece attempted to capture the expansive power of movement. Sullivan started by moving her feet close to the ground, tracing a figure eight, the movement spreading through her body. Her use of facial expression was innovative and contrasted strongly with classical dancers’ traditionally impassive features; when the movement reached her face, Sullivan stood still, facing the audience, tracing the figure eight with only her eyes.
Constant Evolution: The Work of Françoise Sullivan
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Françoise Sullivan, Black and Tan, 1948
Performance, costume by Jean-Paul Mousseau