Epitaphe de Marie (1999)

(for Leandra Smith, 1971-1999)

Restaged March 2007

Performances:
The Vision Series
Cowell Theater, SF

Dance Palace
Point Reyes Station, Marin CA.
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Music : “Koyumbaba” by Carlo Dominiconi
Costumes : Brittany Brown Ceres
Dancers:
Cari Bellinghausen, Claudia Hubiak, Elizebeth Randall, Gianna Shepard, Emma Stewart, Shaunna Vella, Jenny Ward

Duration : 15 minutes

This piece was a present for my friend and colleague, Leandra Smith, as well as a celebration of the relationship that we developed during her battle with cancer.  At the time, she was in her thirtieth month of treatment for synovial sarcoma and I was over 3000 miles away. She passed away a few days before my scheduled visit, creating my first experience with a loss of this magnitude.

Rehearsal was an emotional process that gave life to a timeless epitaph. The piece evolved into a clear story of how Leandra brought our community together; joining social groups that would not have necessarily come together.  After their union, she was diagnosed, became sick and began to drop out of the circle.  Instead of being able to help support her community, as she used to, the community now supported her in her fight against cancer.  Slowly and surely, as the cancer consumed her, she begged her community to support her in ending her own mortal coil.