J. Dance for a Farm, 1989

The idea for “Dance for a Farm” was conceived during the period when Susan Sgorbati was choreographing compositional improvisations for specific sites. During this period, Sgorbati was interested in creating a series of events for particular locations. The Factory series happened during this time, as well as a piece for Sarah Delano Roosevelt Park in New York City, and former Site Dances in different locations in Vermont. Dance for a Farm, like all of the Site Dances was a collaboration between dancers, musicians and designers. In this series, the dancers were Bennington College students, Hope Clark and Chivas Sandage. The musicians were the Will Dicker Boys with Randall Neale on the banjo, and Daniel Michaelson created the designs, and David Cote produced beautiful models of all of the farms. This was a celebration of family farms and all donations went to support family farms. All of the Site Dances involved research on the history of the sites, and the current challenges that people were facing engaged with these sites. The performances happened at several farms. At each performance, a brief history of the farm was shared, along with a poem for the farm and a song for the farm. A final reading was shared and the Dance for the Farm began. At the end of each event, there was much conversation and socializing. Each performance happened at the farm, with chairs set up for the families, their neighbors, and friends.