Terpsichore in Sneakers: Post-Modern Dance

Steve Paxton, Satisfyin Lover

Steve Paxton, Satisfy!n Lover GROUP A 1. walk 2/5. 10 second stop. exit. 2. cue 10 steps, walk across. 3. cue 20 steps, walk across. 4. cue #1 pauses, walk across. 5. cue #1 pauses. walk 1/5. stop 20 seconds, exit. 6,7,8. cue 5 steps. enter together. #6 falling gradually behind (at exit be 15 steps behind ). 7 & 8 walk across. GROUP B 9. walk across. 10. cue 20 steps. walk to 4/5. pause 1 minute, exit. 11. cue #10 passes halfway, walk to %. stop 5 seconds, exit. 12. cue #10 passes halfway. walk to 2/3. stop 20 seconds, exit. 13. cue # 10 pauses. walk to chair 3. sit 30 seconds, exit. GROUPC 14. walk across. 15. cue 15 steps. walk to 5 feet of exit, stop 30 seconds, exit. 16. cue 10 steps, walk across. 17. cue 3 steps. walk across passing #16. exit. 18. cue 10 steps, walk across. 19. cue 5 steps. walk 1/3. stop 15 seconds, walk to chair 1. sit 30 seconds, exit. 20. cue # 19 stops, walk across. GROUP D 21. walk across. 22. cue 20 steps. walk to ¥2. pause 5 seconds, walk 4/5. pause 15 seconds, exit. 23. cue #22 stops, walk across. 24. 25, 26, 27. cue #23 passes 3/5. walk across casually changing relative positions. 28, 29. cue 20 steps. walk across together. GROUP £ 30. walk across. 31. cue 15 steps. walk to 1/5. stop and face audience. 45 seconds, exit. 32. cue 10 steps. walk to chair 3, sit for 15 seconds, walk to 4/5. stop 20 seconds, exit. 72 TERPSICHORE IN SNEAKERS 33. cue #32 sits, walk across. 34. cue 20 steps, walk across. 35. cue 10 steps. walk to 3/5. stop 15 seconds, return to chair 1. sit until final person (timekeeper) passes, exit. 36. cue 5 steps. walk to %. stop 15 seconds, walk to 2/3. stop 15 seconds, exit. 37. cue #36 stops. walk to %. stop 20 seconds, exit. GROUPF 38. walk across. 39. cue #38 passes 4/5. walk across. 40. cue 15 steps. walk to %. stop 5 seconds, exit. 41. cue #40 stops, walk across. 42. cue 15 steps, walk across. Notes to Director of Satisfyin Lover Intervals between groups is to be determined in each performance space according to your judgment. (I begin with thirty-second intervals.) A timekeeper cues the first person in each group, and is the last person to start across the stage. The last person in each group keeps the group card during rehearsals and is responsible for notifying the director of absences, for instructing the other members, et cetera. At no time in the piece should the performance space remain empty for long, and the pause between groups should not be noticeable as such. Costuming is casual clothes with some exceptions as is convenient for the performers. STEVE PAXTON: SATISFYIN LOVER 73 The walking occurs in an imaginary track ten feet wide, the length of which is considered performance space. The track goes from entrance to exit, all performers entering on one side and exiting on the other. In about the center of the space a little in front of the track, three chairs are very casually arranged, oriented to face front, several feet apart. Performers leave the track to sit, return to it to continue walking, do not pass in front of chairs they will not sit on. This dance was made for forty people in a space 200 feet long. The number of people can vary from thirty to eighty-four, and the space can be as little as sixty-five feet or horizon to horizon for stationary audience. Note to Performers of Satisfyin Lover The pace is an easy walk, but not slow. Performance manner is serene and collected. This dance is about walking, standing, and sitting. Try to keep these elements clear and pure. The gaze is to be directed forward relative to the body, but should not be especially fixed. The mind should be at rest. Cues for the first person in each group come from the timer. Subsequently cue from the person ahead of you, unless otherwise directed in the score. 74 TERPSICHORE IN SNEAKERS This page intentionally left blank ...