MARIA HASSABI
BORN IN CYPRUS, moved to California in 1990, currently lives in Manhattan. Has worked with choreographers Luis Lara, Wil Swanson and Jeremy Nelson. Member of the Brazilian company Chamecki/Lerner since 1998, with whom she created five original dances. Choreographing since '99. Her latest piece, Dead Is Dead, features music by Spencer Sweeney and Ben Brumnemer and costumes by As Four.
What is the inspiration for Dead Is Dead? I wanted to create an over-stimulating environment. An urban environment, basically. And within this you have moments that you can really see into one person's quiet privacy. I was also inspired by a photography book, The Fourth Sex, which is presented as this collage. From the very beginning, I had in mind the idea of collage. In our days, this is so much a part of our reality.
How did you choose the dancers that will express your idea? I started this as a duet with Hristoula Haraka, called "A Forest Near Chelsea." But while doing that, I already had in mind using a bigger group of people. But we created the vocabulary, and developed it there. I wanted to use people who are very strong performers and interesting artists. I wanted them to put their own talents into the piece.
So would you say that the piece grew more organically? Definitely, even though I had a very specific thought of what I was going to do for the first 35 minutes of the piece before we even got together. But of course, this is not what it ends up to be. I feel I work instinctually. Even if I start with strong ideas in mind, in the moment of working, I work very much from what I'm seeing and what I'm feeling.
What are the dynamics necessary for you to know a work is done? It needs to make sense to me, even in an abstract way. The whole feeling I'm trying to convey, the way it flows.
Tell me about the artist's struggle. It's very difficult. Especially as the performance gets closer, I really don't have time to work for money. And the dancers are paid so little. I've been paid very little as a dancer for other companies, and it's a system that we all agree on, and we all get excited when we get the paychecks, but it's really nothing. And it's very tough to ask people to commit for so little.
What do you find most compelling about dance? I like how the physicality extends to another level. When the body doesn't work for the brain anymore and has taken over. I also like creating environments.
Dead Is Dead will run Thurs. to Sat., Dec. 9 to 11 at Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-691-6500; 7:30, $20.
