Edward Villella and Alonzo King at Words on Dance

Edward Villella and Alonzo King, two rather different dance personalities, were the guests of honor at Words on Dance's program at the JCC in San Francisco. Interviewed by photographer Rose Eichenbaum, who chose both men as subjects in her new book of portraits, the two reminisced a little about their respective dance backgrounds, but mainly talked dance philosophy -- it's one of the best parts of any Words on Dance presentation when you hear this kind of stuff.

Some of my favorite quotes from the evening:

Villella: People think dance is about "the step" but it's about the continuity-- how the connection is made.

(Villella goes on to note about the safety zone that comes of just teaching technique) If you are teaching technique, then you are never wrong -- it's the student that is wrong.

Villella: There was a moment in Prodigal Son I couldn't get. In frustration, Mr B. finally said "Byzantine icons, dear, Byzantine icons." He taught me Prodigal Son in one half hour, another half hour and 45 minutes of rehearsal. Then I never saw him again. Arlene Croce once said to me, "Maybe he wanted you to show him."

The participants also occasionally quoted others:
Eliot Feld: Your creative work owes you nothing, you owe it everything.

(and my favorite) Katherine Dunham: Ask yourself who you are, what were you put here to do, and if you're not doing it, why not?