NAME: Gries, Lance

BIRTH DATE/LOCATION:
12 March 1963, Sioux City, Iowa

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Photo: David Seidner, courtesy Lance Gries

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  • identification & bio
  • key contact
  • human repositories
  • video documentation
  • photographic documentation
    		•
  • movement notation
  • production materials
  • oral history
  • personal papers
  • immediate needs
    		•
  • other relevant information
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    IDENTIFICATION AND BIO:
    A former dancer with the Trisha Brown Dance Company, Lance Gries now choreographs and performs independently, including frequent appearances at AIDS benefits in his works titled Carry On, Carry On (1993) and Calling (1995). According to Rob Baker, who writes about Carry On, Carry On at some length in his book The Art of AIDS (see below), the piece "beautifully captures the dilemma of the contemporary artist in the age of AIDS: how to deal with this intruder, this disease, in our bodies, in our midst" (10). Carry On, Carry On was featured at the 1993 benefit sponsored by DIFFA and dedicated to Christopher Gillis.

    KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
    Lance Gries
    212-532-1434
    lancegries@aol.com

    HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
    (name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
    Lance Gries

    VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    The Dance Collection of the New York Public Library claims to hold the following videotaped documentation:

    DIFFA Presents a Demand Performance (1993)—compilation video of excerpts by several choreographers including Lance Gries's Carry On, Carry On, with music by John Adams; videotaped in performance at New York State Theater on 18 October; presented by the Design Industries Foundation for AIDS in collaboration with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids; four videocassettes (163 min.); call number MGZIC 9-4078.

    Note: Gries writes (7 May 1998) that he does not believe there is a videotape. "For some reason—a technical snafu, I imagine—only the first half of that Benefit Concert is on videotape. I myself have asked for it a few times."

    PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    None identified.

    MOVEMENT NOTATION
    (location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
    None identified.

    PRODUCTION MATERIALS
    (scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
    None identified, though the costume and soundscore are presumably in Gries's possession.

    ORAL HISTORY:
    None identified.

    PERSONAL PAPERS
    (location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
    A clippings file for "Gries, Lance," is maintained at the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library, call number MGZR. No separate reviews of Carry On, Carry On or of Calling are catalogued.

    IMMEDIATE NEEDS
    (archival assistance? storage? other?):
    Video documentation of these two works.

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
    None identified.

    PARTIAL LIST OF WORKS
    (title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):

    Carry On, Carry On (1993)—premiered 18 October at a benefit organized by DIFFA; music by John Adams (Shaker Loops); subsequent performances at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (1994).

    Calling (1995)—premiered in August? at the Dancers Responding to AIDS Benefit on Fire Island; music by Jane Siberry (Calling); subsequent performed at other DRA benefits, studio showings, and at the QueerUpNorth Festival in Manchester, England.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    • Baker, Rob. 1994. The Art of AIDS. New York: Continuum. 9-10, 12, 109.
    		 
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