Our community had an opportunity this past weekend to experience history being made when three of the most respected and loved early Modern Dance exponents came to town for a “Meet the Art and Artist” evening and performance. The brainchild of Moving Voices Director Patricia W. Ward, MUSES OF MODERN DANCE THE LEGENDS AND THE LEGACIES was part of Virginia’s statewide March through June 2010 Minds Wide Open Virginia Celebrates Woman In The Arts. 

Jeanne Bresciani, Jody Sperling and Livia Drapkin Vanaver appeared at Moving Voices The Isadora Duncan Cultural Exchange in South Boston on Friday night for a Meet The Art and Artist workshop. 

Many local dance enthusiasts who appreciate fine art attended this wonderful opportunity to meet these dance professionals up close and personal, ask them questions about their work and learn more about the birth and evolution of American Modern Dance during this “meet and greet” event.

On Saturday night the talented dance trio performed MUSES OF MODERN DANCE THE LEGENDS AND THE LEGACIES in The Chastain Theatre at The Prizery.

Those attending delighted at the performance as they witnessed Bresciani personify Muse Isadora Duncan; Sperling, Muse Loie Fuller; and Vanaver, Muse Ruth St. Denis.

And history also was made that night as these three dance exponents, representing The Three American Modern Dance Pioneer legends, performed together for the first time.

Billed as a “world premiere performance,” the weekend celebration of dance highlighted the pioneering American Modern Dance works of Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller and Ruth St. Denis, something that has never been accomplished before.

County patrons of the arts marveled at these American female dancers who were at the forefront of artistic and feminist enlightenment.  Nowhere on any stage has this dance trio ever come together to present such an extraordinary body of historic works…only here in South Boston.

What a treat for those who witnessed in action “these innovators of a worldwide trend and true patriot founders of a distinct new art form discovered by Americans here on our own soil, suited to the American spirit and steeped in the values of beauty, truth, strength and freedom.”

A hearty congratulations is extended to the Moving Voices director for envisioning this collaboration and production featuring the works of Duncan, Fuller and St. Denis and bringing her vision to life on the stage at The Prizery during this groundbreaking event.

“I am always overwhelmed and made pleasantly speechless as to how history informs, defines and molds us. It is magical, perplexing and awe-inspiring. This is DANCE. This is our WORLD….magical, perplexing, awe-inspiring, speechless. This is the HISTORY of Dance,” she said.

For Patricia Ward, this was “truly a dream come true” that profoundly impacted the world of dance and the arts.

For our community, it was an opportunity to witness history in the making.

2010-2012 State Map Is Here
The commonwealth has released its new official state map just in time to assist travelers with their Memorial Day and summer travel plans.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) collaborated with the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) and the National Park Service to develop the 2010-2012 state map.

The new map features the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway (www.blueridgeparkway75.org) and encourages travelers to visit the many attractions along the parkway and across the commonwealth.

The 2010-2012 state map underwent an extensive formatting conversion that represents the first major overhaul of the map software since 1995. This includes improved user-friendly fonts and detailed shaded relief to display enhanced elevation. More than 140 cartographic changes – including newly completed or widened highways – were added this year.

This year, 2.5 million maps were printed and are available at Virginia’s state welcome centers and by request at safety rest areas. State maps also are available at VDOT offices across the state. The state map and other VDOT maps also can be ordered or printed from VDOT’s website.