Joseph Campbell Foundation Announces “Jean Erdman: The Creative Legacy”
A 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & RETROSPECTIVE OF OUR LOCAL AWARD-WINNING DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, AND THEATRE DIRECTOR
Friday, February 19th at 7:00pm in the Ernst Lab Theatre on the UHM campus, the Joseph Campbell Foundation in cooperation with the UHM Department of Theatre + Dance celebrates the distinguished career of Honolulu native and long-time resident, Jean Erdman. One of the founders of the modern dance movement, Jean initiated her award-winning career of over 50 years as a principal dancer in Martha Graham’s company where she performed original roles and collaborated with pioneers of modern dance including John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Maya Deren, Lou Harrison, and Louis Horst. Married to world-famous mythologist, Joseph Campbell, their creative works and explorations comingled, particularly with the idea of the “Hero’s Journey.” Presenters will look at their relationship and the influences that impacted them both as well as Erdman’s individual accomplishments.
This event features never-before-seen vintage photographs and video. Jean’s major achievements include the film, Hamadryad, by Nancy Allison which embodies the spirit of this legacy having been shown at the Oklahoma Dance Festival, International Festival in Madison, Southeastern Film Festival, Mykonos Biennial, and the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Friday evening’s showing adds Honolulu to this list. Her own choreography and theater pieces won a National Arts Club Award, OBIE, Vernon Rice and a Tony Nomination. Her recognition, particularly for Coach with the Six Insides included round-the-world tours to Spoleto, Dublin, Tokyo, Paris, and Toronto as well as many other cities.
The presenters and performers for this event include talented dancers and musicians from Hawai‘i and the mainland who were influenced by her or worked with her over her career of more than 50 years, contributing to major dance and theater events in New York City and beyond. Orchestrating the event is Robert Walter, Literary Executor of the Joseph Campbell Estate and President of the Joseph Campbell Foundation who worked closely with Jean and Joe in the 1980s.
What: Hawaii’s Award-Winning Dancer Jean Erdman Celebrates 100th Birthday with Career Retrospective
Presented By: UHM Department of Theatre + Dance and Joseph Campbell Foundation
Where: UHM Kennedy Theatre’s Ernst Lab Theatre
When: February 19, 2016 at 7:00pm