Choreography: Pascal Rioult
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23Interpreted by Jacques Loussier
Lighting: David Finley
Costumes: Pilar Limosner

Support for the creation of this work was provided by the Kenneth French Fund for New Works. If By Chance was developed while in residence at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center and funded in part with a New York State Residency grant from the New York State Council on the Arts.

First Performed June 20, 2006 - The Joyce Theater, NYC

BLACK DIAMOND

Choreography: Pascal Rioult
Music: Igor Stravinsky, Duo Concertant
Lighting: David Finley
Set & Costumes: Pascal Rioult

Black Diamond was commissioned by The Grand Marnier Foundation. Music used by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.

First Performed April 17, 2003 - The Joyce Theater, NYC

WIEN*

Choreography: Pascal Rioult
Music: Maurice Ravel, La Valse
Lighting: David Finley
Costumes: Russ Vogler

Faithful to Ravel's intentions, Wien is a fantastic and fatal swirling of tragic dimensions. The Viennese waltz, the very image of social refinement, becomes the symbol of a disintegrating society taken into a whirlpool of violence and humiliation. The piece has the poisoned atmosphere of despair and fatalism. It is the trail of failed humanity. It is a premonition of triumphant evil.

First Performed January 13, 1995 - Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse, New York

*Wien (Vienna) is the original title of the musical score.

BOLERO

Choreography: Pascal Rioult
Music: Maurice Ravel, Bolero
Lighting: David Finley
Costumes: Russ Vogler
Set: Harry Feiner

When Maurice Ravel was asked about his Bolero he said: "my most famous piece; too bad there is no music in it." Ravel challenged himself to repeat as little material possible as many times as he could without losing the audience's interest. This is exactly what Rioult decided to do with his version, creating a machine-like dance that explores the duality of constant rhythm and sensuality of Bolero while bringing it to a riveting crescendo. Variations in this human assembly line of movement bring detail to the choreography as the instrumentation adds detail to the music.

This piece has been co-commissioned by Cal Performances and The Théâtre de Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France. Additional funding provided by The Florence Gould Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance and, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Challenge Program.

First Performed February 15, 2002 - Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, California

Set underwriting provided by The Grand Marnier Foundation.