THE GRAND STEP PROJECT
(2004)
THE GRAND STEP PROJECT is a site-adaptive work for six of New York City's most magnificent public staircases commissioned by Dancing in the Streets for their 20th anniversary.
Sponsored by Bloomberg, THE GRAND STEP PROJECT was produced and commissioned by Dancing in the Streets with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
Short (3min) Highlights of Grand Step Project
The premiere performance at the World Financial Center Winter Garden was followed by performances on the steps of The New York Public Library at 42nd Street, the Bronx County Building, Brooklyn Borough Hall, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and the National Museum of the American Indian at Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House.
​
​
The Grand Step Project featured on Japanese Newscast
Conception, Choreography - Stephan Koplowitz
with creative contributions by the Core Company
Original Score- Quentin Chiappetta
Costume Design - Kaibrina Sky Buck
Asst. Director/Rehearsal Director - Jeramy Zimmerman
Core Company Performers - Donna Ahmadi, Christina Amendolia, Stasia Blyskal, Ann Chiaverini, Katie Diamond, Caron Eule, Daman Harun, Melissa Lopata, Dana Reed, Sara Robledo, Allison Vinal, Matthew Wagner, Sarah Young
Performers:
Alyssa Alpine, Lindsay Blodgett, Gina Bolles, Kelly Buwalda, AT Davenport, Jessica Desmond, Elyssa Dole, Tiffany Dozier, Lenore Eggleston, Yuu Fujita, Chase Granoff, Marisa Gruneberg, Emily Joffee, Karla Karpowicz, Yuka Kikuchi, Kristy Kuhn, Allison Linamen, Tori Lubecki, Laurel Lynch, Jordan Marinov, Amanda Martin, Anna Victoria Martinez, Sally-Anne McConnell, Alwyn McCormick, Megan Metcalf, Erica Nelson, Jelena Nikolic, Maria Parshina, Jeffrey Peterson, Molly Phelps, Allison Rodgers, Ashley Singletary, Jennifer Torriero, Elaine Wang, Mauri Weakley, Ivanna Wei and Brooke Welty
​
Production Manager - Andrew E. Wagner
Lighting Designer (opening night) - Tony Giovannetti
Sound Designer - Thom Tilney
Stage Manager - Matthew Salerno
Costume Design Assistant - Genevieve Estes
Production Assistants - Aimee Decker, Rebecca Frick, Sunshine de Leon, Diijon Jones, Sara Mayer, Andrew McConnell, Sasha Okshteyn
​
​
​
​
​
The inspiration for THE GRAND STEP PROJECT was the dynamic tension between the magnificent beauty and elegant grandeur of New York City’s grand staircases and the casual use a diverse public makes of them on a daily basis. In the choreography, 50 dancers fill the stairs with movement that evokes the historic and contemporary uses of all six staircases. Each performance segment was preceded by an acclaimed choir singing from its repertoire, including members of the renowned New York Choral Society, singing classical and spiritual music; Highbridge Voices, a Bronx-based youth choir; Great Day Chorale, a Brooklyn-based choir singing spirituals; and the SilverCloud drum group performing Native American traditional music.
PRESS
"As the piece accumulates complexity and the movement expands slightly beyond the ordinary, I'm struck by how skillfully Koplowitz articulates the space."
​
​
"50 dancers in waves of motion, evoking the poetic chaos of city life..."
​
​
​
​
- WNYC New York Public Radio Feature with Amy Eddings
WINTER GARDEN, World Financial Center-June 15, 2004, Tuesday - All photos by Julie Lemberger
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY- June 17, 18, 19, 2004, Thurs, Fri, Saturday
BOROUGH HALL - June 25, 2004, Friday
BRONX COUNTY COURTHOUSE - June 23, 2004, Wednesday
ST. JOHN THE DIVINE - June 26, 2004, Saturday
CUSTOMS HOUSE - BOWLING GREEN - June 28, 2004, Monday
