99 Acres
Choreographed and performed by Randee Paufve (2022 by Molly Levy)
Directed by Beth Harris
The piece was made as an homage to the 99 acres of forest, fields and creeks where I grew up in the rural northeast. Created in the modern dance idiom this dance was made as a way to connect my dancing body –all of our dancing bodies –to the North American land we occupy, and the fraught histories thereof.
Premiere Summerfest 1997, Brady Street Studios, San Francisco
Performed 1998 at Conduit Theater, Portland; 2004 at The Dance Complex, Boston, MA, and the Phantom Theater, Warren, VT; 2022 Hillside Swedenborgian Church, El Cerrito, CA
VIDEO > Randee Paufve performing 99 Acres
VIDEO > Molly Levy performing 99 Acres
"99 Acres" Dancer Randee Paufve lies on her back, head toward camera, arms extended high, her right palm faces her left wrist, her left hand is curved into a “C” shape and hovers over her right hand. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: David Jacquot
"99 Acres" Dancer Randee Paufve faces camera, standing on one leg, folded forward. Her other leg is extended with a flexed foot facing the camera, Her arms cross her body, one in front, one behind. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: David Jacquot
"99 Acres" Dancer Randee Paufve stands on one leg facing the camera in a lunge and twisting to the right. Her upper body falls backwards and her arms are extended overhead in a wilting circle. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: David Jacquot
Dancer Molly Levy in rehearsal, stands facing Choreographer Randee Paufve. Molly touches her heart with one hand. Randee bows towards Molly with her palms together against her forehead. Dancers Anna Greenberg, Suzanne Beahrs, standing in background, unknown production assistant sits taping cables on floor Pictured: Molly Levy, Randee Paufve, Anna Greenberg, Suzanne Beahrs. Photo: Hillary Goidell
"99 Acres" Dancer Molly Levy in performance, audience close up and visible. She stands on one bent leg, her other leg extended and bent behind her. She pitches forward, twisting to one side. One arm is high and bent in front of her; her other arm is bent behind her. Dancer: Molly Levy. Photo: Dillon Vado
"99 Acres" Dancer Molly Levy lying on floor on her side, legs folded toward her chest, arms crossed and extended on front of her face, palms visible, long braid curling behind her. Dancer: Molly Levy. Photo: Hillary Goidell