Living art
Production shows life goes on

By KELLY HARAMIS
Collegian Arts Writer

Although Bill T. Jones was diagnosed as being HIV-positive almost 10 years ago, he doesn't let it affect his performance and he is full of energy when he dances in his production, Still/Here.

Despite his illness, Jones is adamant about the fact that he is still living and has hopes, dreams and aspirations for the rest of his life. The theme of the production is that a terminal illness does not have to stop one from living the rest of one's life. Still/Here will be performed at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Eisenhower Auditorium.

In 1982, Jones and his lover founded the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, consisting of people of all shapes, sizes and colors.

Jones created the company's latest production, Still/Here. In Still/Here, Jones incorporates people with real life-threatening diseases into his program. He found these people during the 14 "survival workshops" that he sponsored in 11 different cities.

The workshops are open to participants who are dying or terminally ill and Jones videotaped them talking about their hopes, dreams and expectations.

Jones incorporated the workshops into the performance of Still/Here by forming lyrics from the survival participants' videos and using those videos as a backdrop for the dancers' performance.

"I think it's beautiful work," said Lawrence Goldhuber, a company dancer. "It's serious, yet depressing."

Goldhuber has been dancing with the company since 1985 and said working with Jones is terrific. "He's a very challenging, creative and generous man and a good friend as well."

The performance of Still/Here is divided into two sections. In the first part Still, folk singer Odetta performs music by Kenneth Frazell. Still is the meditative part of the act, confronting mortality and survival.

Here, is the second part, and is about how one continues on through the phase of diagnosis. This part features music by Vernon Reid.

"They're an exciting dance company," said Patricia Heigel-Tanner, coordinator of the University's dance program.

Heigel-Tanner saw the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company last time they were in town. Heigel-Tanner said she was impressed with the dancing and the theme of their program.

The dance company will hold a master class in dance from 1:30 to 3 p.m. today at 108 White. The class is free and open to the public and experience is not necessary for participation.

The company will also hold a symposium, "Managing Mortality," which will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. today in the Colonial Room in the Nittany Lion Inn.