Guild Hall proudly presents the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company, one of the most influential and innovative dance companies of our time. Founded in 1982 by the legendary duo Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane, the company has consistently redefined the boundaries of contemporary dance, blending movement with narrative, visual art, and spoken word.
For this special performance, the company presents Story/Time, a mesmerizing work inspired by legendary artist and composer John Cage’s Indeterminacy—a performance of one-minute stories interrupted by a chance musical score. In Story/Time, Jones creates a collage of dance, music, and his own short stories, arranged anew for each performance through chance procedure. The result is a dynamic fusion of movement and meaning, where audiences are invited to find their own connections in a sweep of randomized, disparate elements—much like a busy streetscape or a crowded room.
Jones’ short stories, drawn from his own life and generations of family narratives, layer traditional storytelling against avant-garde composition, questioning the tension between high and low art. The piece also marks the first collaboration between the Company and composer, musician, and intermedia artist Ted Coffey, Ph.D., whose acoustic and electronic score incorporates chance procedure and interactive technologies.
Join us for an evening of innovative movement, layered storytelling, and artistic experimentation as Bill T. Jones and his company continue their groundbreaking legacy.
The performance environment is shaped by long-time Company collaborators Robert Wierzel (lighting design), Bjorn Amelan (décor), and Liz Prince (costume design).
Story/Time had its world premiere in January 2012 at Peak Performances @ Montclair State University (NJ). Co-commissioned by Peak Performances @ Montclair State and the Walker Art Center, the work was developed in residence at Arizona State University Gammage Auditorium, Bard College, Montclair State University’s Alexander Kasser Theater, the University of Virginia, and the Walker Art Center.