<P>The Lawrence Pech Dance is about to begin a one-week run at the Yerba Buena Center in SF. The program will feature four world premieres by Bay Area choreographers, including SFB's Val Caniporali and Julia Adam, both of whom are hot at the moment, with recent successes both at home as well as in other cities.<P>Artistic Director Pech is featured in this article in the Contra Costa Times:<P><B>The newspaper link is now broken</B><P>These days, the choreographer displays humor and determination at the helm of his own troupe<BR>Blair Tindall, Contra Costa Times<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Due to an editing error, the following quote by Lauren Jonas was cut from Blair Tindall's preview of Lawrence Pech:<P> "Those were the most horrific years of my life," said Pech, who left the company in 1994 to start his own.<BR> <I>Diablo artistic director Lauren Jonas acknowledged the rift, but nonetheless said that Pech was wonderful to work with.<BR> "Let's just move on and celebrate the fact that both companies are doing <BR>so well," said Jonas.</I><BR> And Pech moved fast,......<P>The two lines that were cut are in italics.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>For a complete schedule, check out the <A HREF="http://www.baydance.com/Nov.htm" TARGET=_blank>November calendar</A> in Michael Phelan's <A HREF="http://www.baydance.com" TARGET=_blank>BayDance.com</A>.<P><BR><I>[Edited by Azlan to include the correction by Blair Tindall of the Contra Costa Times]</I><P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited June 13, 2002).]

And another, loving, preview from the SF Chronicle:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/11/05/PK107121.DTL" TARGET=_blank>The Dance Goes On For Lawrence Pech<BR>Small company reflects Bay Area's best</A></B><P>Octavio Roca, SF Chronicle<P>In a world where ballet troupes come and too often go, the success of the Lawrence Pech Dance Company is heartening news for dance lovers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>

Wow! From "those were the most horofic years of my life" to "it's(Diablo Ballet) my baby."<P>Ain't love grand? <P>DH

DavidH, I know what you mean...<P>It's also hard to defend Bay Area dance journalism, isn't it? BTW, you may want to check this article too (I also posted it in the <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000130.html" TARGET=_blank>Dance Crisis in SF</A> thread as it has to do with funding):<P><BR><B>The newspaper link is now broken</B><P><I>Behind the on-stage magic, ballet companies scramble hard to put on their shows</I><BR>By Blair Tindall, Contra Costa Times<P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited June 13, 2002).]

One of Larry's dancers (also dances with the SF Opera) is a good friend. He freelances/cor and design costumes.<P>Here's Michael Kruzich's web site:<BR> <A HREF="http://danceswithinreach.homestead.com" TARGET=_blank>http://danceswithinreach.homestead.com</A>

Grace-<BR>Four to five years ago. <P>The term "east bay" refers to the geography that lies east of San Francisco. Oakland,Berkeley,etc........<P>Take a look at their website. Diabloballet.org<BR>They've had a tough time of it, but due to the tireless leadership of the artistic director, continue to move forward. <P>DH <p>[This message has been edited by DavidH (edited November 10, 2000).]

<P>First impressions.<P>This was a wonderful show to watch, with the second half -- consisting of Val Caniparoli's "Already Dusk" and Julia Adam's "The Shroud" -- much stronger than the first.<P>Pech arranged the program brilliantly by putting Adam's work last. It drew the most applause from the mostly savvy ballet "in-crowd." This choreographer isn't afraid to throw all her ideas into her ballets. Watching a Julia Adam ballet is like watching several ballets in one.<P>Caniporali's pdd was classy and lyrical; and probably one of the works that truly challenged the dancers, with Cynthia Pepper's "The Habitat" being the other.<P>The live music for Pech's work "Chaveroht" was a nice touch as well -- the chamber orchestra was set on stage behind the dancers.<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited November 09, 2000).]

Another good review for Caniparoli and Adam:<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Lawrence Pech Dance Company stages ``Four Firsts"</B><BR>By Ann Murphy, Oakland Tribune<P>On Thursday night, four choreographers offered ``Four Firsts," presented by the Lawrence Pech Dance Company. It was an evening of diverse dance that included work by Pech, Cynthia Pepper, and San Francisco Ballet top dogs Val Caniparoli and Julia Adam.<P>Caniparoli and Adam's works stole the show.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR><B>This newspaper link is now broken </B><P><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited June 13, 2002).]

Adams ballet called "The Shroud" is one I think I would love to see. I love to see props used this creatively. (Please, no comments on that) If no one is using the cd lear, can those of us interested in seeing this ballet borrow it?

Another stunning review of Adam's "The Shroud":<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B><A HREF="http://www.sfbg.com/AandE/35/07/peching.html" TARGET=_blank>Pech-ing order</A></B><BR>Lawrence Pech Dance Company's fall program ends well.<P>By Rita Felciano, SF Bay Guardian<P>RICH, COMPLICATED , and layered, Julia Adam's The Shroud – the closer of Lawrence Pech Dance Company's fall program of world premieres – was a dessert that overshadowed the evening's main courses last Thursday. The Shroud addressed archaic social codes and primitive sacrifices with a contemporary sensibility. With its unswerving trajectory and unforced sense of drama, the piece (the third work the Pech Company has commissioned from Adam) revealed a choreographer who can physicalize her ideas with conviction. It was also great fun to watch.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR><B><A HREF="http://www.sfbg.com/AandE/35/07/peching.html" TARGET=_blank>The full article</A></B>

An article from The chronicle about what these guys have been doing lately.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Pech dance company's preview promises good things<P>Octavio Roca, Chronicle Dance Critic <P>A hip crowd gathered Tuesday night at the Forum in Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the creative process that turned out to be one of the year's most fascinating dance events. <P>The Lawrence Pech Dance Company previewed its fall season in something called "Works in the Works," with the choreographers on hand to discuss the new ballets and a splendid troupe to dance what there is of them so far. And it was quite a lot.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/06/13/DD210750.DTL&type=performance" TARGET=_blank><B>more...</B></A>

Oh, cool. You can't go wrong with Val Caniparoli and Julia Adam -- they are both stylish and, in Adam's case, witty chboreographers -- and it looks like Lawrence Pech has come up with an interesting ballet of his own as well if Octavio Roca's review is to go by. Sounds like this is a must-see program in the Fall.<P>I also note that he is shedding the over 40 talent and using some wonderful dancers in their prime, including the steady James Strong of Ballet San Jose and the stylish Edward Stegge of Diablo Ballet

A sneak preview of the Lawrence Pech Dance Company's upcoming Yerba Buena Center season. It should be a treat for fans of the company, since there will be excerpts performed by the company at this event!

From Pech roars back by Octavio Roca in the San Francisco Chronicle:

more...

Oh, nice. The program features a new production of a Julia Adam work and a new ballet by Val Caniparoli!