That Obscure Subject of Desire
Choreography: Randee Paufve
Dancers: Frank Shawl, Diane McKallip, Brian Rundstrom, Jane Schnorrenberg, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Laura Marlin, Marlena Oden, Jill Randall, Christy L. Thomas, Stephanie Ballas, Randee Paufve
Lighting Design: Gabe Maxson
Costume Design: Rachel Stone
Sound Design: Heather Heise
Spasm, later revised and titled That Obscure Subject of Desire, is an evening-length dance exploring the history and paradoxical nature of romantic love, with a particular focus on women and desire. Featuring a cast of intergenerational dancers, the work weaves together images and ideas from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Luis Bunuel’s That Obscure Object of Desire.
Spasm Premiere February 2008, Mondavi Performing Arts Center, Davis, CA
That Obscure Subject of Desire premiere July 2009, Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco
That Obscure Subject of Desire was revised as a 2014 Commission by Muscle Memory Dance Theater, Dallas, TX
That Obscure Subject of Desire was nominated for Isadora Duncan Dance Awards for Outstanding Ensemble Performance, and for Costume Design
VIDEO > Excerpts from That Obscure Subject of Desire
VIDEO > Solo Excerpt from That Obscure Subject of Desire
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" One dancer stands on two legs bent backward away from camera, one hand on her belly, the other hand on he dancer standing to her left. The dancer on her left stands on two legs looks at backbend dancer with her hand on backbend dancer’s chest. Dancer in background stands on two legs facing down diagonal right, her arms outstretched and bent, elbows down, palms toward ceiling, she looks up. Dancers: Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Jane Schnorrenberg. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Dancer stands to left of screen facing forward, wearing a dark suit. Dancer stands behind him, barely visible, whispering in his ear. Dancer in gray patterned top to his left faces left screen in a blurry curve forward, her hair flying high behind and above her. Dancers: Rebecca Johnson, Randee Paufve, Frank Shawl. Photo: Unknown
"Spasm | That Obscure Subject of Desire" Closeup of dancer in black camisole dress, upper body only, lying on her left side in white flower petals strewn on a black marley stage floor. Dancer’s left arm is stretched long underneath her body, her right arm crooked over her head, elbow pointing up, fingertips grazing floor. Her face is turned toward the floor, eyes close, blissful. Dancer: Marlena Penny Oden. Photo: Unknown
"Spasm | That Obscure Subject of Desire" Closeup of dancers in black camisole dresses, lying close together on black marley floor strewn with white flower petals, their heads face left. Closer dancer lies on her left facing other dancer, right arm bent and in front of her chest, upper arm tattoo visible. Further dancer lies on her back, relaxed, left leg bent. One hand rests on her stomach, the other arm lies long on floor, she looks at closer dancer, face toward camera. Dancers: Marlena Penny Oden, Stephanie Miller. Photo: Unknown
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Dancer stands off to the left, facing down the right diagonal, mid-step forward, arms swinging low by her side. She is wearing an 18th-century style linen bustier and light blue chiffon skirt. Her hair is down. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Photo is tilted on the left to right diagonal. Dancer on the left is facing away from camera, lunging on her left leg and twisting so the side of her face is just visible. Her right arm is stretched behind and to her side, held with both hands by another dancer facing her and looking at her intently. Dancers: Katie Kruger, Frank Shawl. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Dancer stands on two legs, facing the camera. She raises her left arm to the side, palm up. She reaches her right arm high, palm forward as if waving hello. Dancer: Randee Paufve. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Close up of dancer center of shot. She faces the camera, standing on right leg, looking left, her arms down by her side and head turned to right. Dancer: Katie Kruger. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Dancer stands on her left leg, stepping with right foot. Her lower body faces to the left and her upper body is twisted to look back low right. Her left arm is stretched long diagonally back from her. She points how with her forefinger on the diagonal. Her right arm curves by her side and she makes a fist in front of her stomach. Dancer: Jane Schnorrenberg. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Cluster of 9 dancers to right of the frame, walking downstage, arms outstretched to their low sides, all are in an arch, faces to ceiling. Lone dancer center stage in deep twisting lunge on her right leg, her left leg stretched behind her, facing camera. Her left arm is crooked and her right arm is stretched high and back from her right shoulder. Dancers Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Diane McKallip, Randee Paufve, Jill Randall, Brian Runstrom, Frank Shawl, Jane Schnorrenberg, Christy L. Thomas. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Ten Dancers walking right to left, reaching high, looking up at the ceiling. Dancers Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Diane McKallip, Randee Paufve, Jill Randall, Brian Runstrom, Frank Shawl, Jane Schnorrenberg, Christy L. Thomas. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Nine dancers stand in background facing away from Camera, left arms stretched high to the left, they look down to their right sides. One long dancer stands center stage on her right leg, facing the camera. Her left leg and arms reach to the right. Her right arm is overhead and her left arm stretches out from her shoulder. Dancers Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Diane McKallip, Randee Paufve, Jill Randall, Brian Runstrom, Frank Shawl, Jane Schnorrenberg, Christy L. Thomas. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Eight dancers kneel and sit side by side in a vertical row. One dancer stands on the back of the dancer closest to camera, arms outstretched, looking down, as if preparing jump off a cliff. Another dancer stands in background slightly behind and to the right of the row of dancers, looking out at the dancer standing as if to jump. Dancers Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Diane McKallip, Randee Paufve, Jill Randall, Brian Runstrom, Frank Shawl, Jane Schnorrenberg, Christy L. Thomas. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Eight dancers kneel and hug each other in a vertical row. Two dancer stand upstage of the line, facing each other, arms stretched high, palms touching, as if playing “London Bridge”. Red ribbons strewn about stage. Dancers Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Diane McKallip, Randee Paufve, Jill Randall, Brian Runstrom, Frank Shawl, Jane Schnorrenberg, Christy L. Thomas. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Two dancers in the background look to their right at the two dancers in foreground. One foreground dancer faces the camera, arms crossed in front of her chest. The other foreground dancer stands directly in front of first foreground dancer, twisting away toward their left. Dancers: Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Jane Schnorrenberg. Photo: Gabe Maxson
"That Obscure Subject of Desire" Four dancers in a row from left to right. Two dancers stand on two legs facing camera, twisting their upper bodies, with one hand covering their faces. A dancer stands behind one of them, barely visible. Another dancer stands in the middle with legs crossed, tilting to left, holding a red ribbon like a rope she is pulling. The final dancer furthest to the right faces middle dancer, holding the ribbon as if to pull her toward him. Dancers: Stephanie Ballas, Rebecca Johnson, Katie Kruger, Jane Schnorrenberg, Frank Shawl. Photo: Gabe Maxson