A suite from “Psalm,” a dance originally choreographed by José Limón in 1967, will be performed as part of the Fall Dance Concert presented by Hofstra University’s Dance Program on Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2.
Limón (1908-1972) was praised by The New York Times as the “finest male dancer of his time.” He created “Psalm” as a tribute to the Jews who died in World War II.
Restaged by Adjunct Professor Pablo Francisco Ruvalcaba, a former dancer with the Limón Dance Company, the dance is based on the ancient tradition that the sorrows of the world rest with 36 “Just Men” (in Hebrew, Lamed-Vov).
These men are ordinary mortals who are unaware of their station. It is believed that if even one of them were to go missing or stop being righteous, mankind would perish. This dance is the history of one such “Just Man” or, in this performance, a “Just Woman.”
Other featured dances in Hofstra Fall Dance include: “Journey Hof18,” a fun and energetic piece in abstract form using repetitive, unified, athletic, funky and very technical movement; “Tribute,” a tribute to music and dance icons who have passed on, leaving this world a much brighter place; and “Last Call,” a term usually heard at the end of the evening at a bar before closing, but in this performance represents transformative periods in the dancer’s lives.
The Fall Dance Concert takes place at the Toni and Martin Sosnoff Theater at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. Show times are 8 p.m. on Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets are $10; $8 for senior citizens (over 65) or matriculated, non-Hofstra students with I.D.Members of the Hofstra community receive two free tickets upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.
For tickets call the Hofstra Box Office at 516-463-6644 Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. or purchase online at Hofstratickets.com. If available, tickets will also be sold at the door starting 90 minutes prior to show time.
