David Rousseve / REALITY
PAST WORKS
List of Works Choreographed
(1987-2006)
2006
Ecstasy of the Pomegranate
(evening-length)
Commissioned by and for Ilkhom Theater Company, Tashkent Uzbekistan
Choreography: David Roussève
Director: Mark Weil
Composer: Artem Kim
Set Design: Bobur Ismailov, Vasily Jurev
Digital imagery/animation: Nikolay Leonov, Boris Gafurov
2005
Bittersweet
Dance For the Camera (15 minutes).
Directed, choreographed, and written by David Roussève
Videography and editing: Roberta Shaw
Produced by David Roussève and Roberta Shaw
Music: Nina Simone
View video excerpt
Jumping the Broom
Commissioned by and for Giselle Mason’s No Boundaries Project
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Music: Nat King Cole
Walking on Clouds
Commissioned by and for Cleveland Contemporary and Dancing Wheels companies
Choreography, text, direction, music lyrics by David Rousseve
Music: The Kinks, Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, Billy Strayhorn
View video excerpt
2002
Twenty Four Hours in Birmingham
Commissioned by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (Denver).
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Music: Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, the Temptations, Tina Turner
2001
The Ten Year Chat
(evening-length)
Solo with video.
Choreographed, written, directed by David Roussève
Music: Pop Collage
View video excerpt
1999
Simple Gifts
Commissioned by and for the Houston Ballet
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Music: Aaron Copland
View video excerpt
1999
Somethin’ from Nothin’
Commissioned by and for Ballet Hispanico.
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Original score: Eddie Palmieri
View video excerpt
1998
Love Songs
(evening-length)
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival, Columbia College (Chicago), On the Boards (Seattle), Arizona State University, for David Roussève/REALITY
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Performed by David Roussève/REALITY
Music: Wagner, Brahams, Pucinni, Saint-Saëns
Lighting: Beverly Emmons
Sets: Debbie Lee Cohen
View video excerpt
1997
Bittersweet Chocolates
Commissioned by and for Ririe Woodbury Dance Company (Salt Lake City)
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Music: Wagner
1996
When Dreams Explode
Commissioned by and for Ballet Hispanico, NYC
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Music: Selena
1996
Love Stories
Commissioned by and for the Dance Alloy (Pittsburgh)
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Music: Camille Saint-Saëns
1996
Yello'-Tailed Dogs
Commissioned by and for The Atlanta Ballet
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Music: Traditional spirituals performed live by the Morehouse College Glee Club, Etta James, rap music with vocals written and recorded by David Roussève
View video excerpt
1995
The Whispers of Angels
(evening length)
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival, Walker Art Center, Performing Arts Chicago, UC Berkeley, and Pennsylvania State University
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Performed by REALITY and 25 members of local communities
Music: Me'Shell NdegeOcello (original), Nina Simone
Music vocals also written and performed by: David Roussève
Set: Debbie Lee Cohen
Lighting: Beverly Emmons
View video excerpts
1994
Pop Dreams
(evening length)
Lincoln Center's "Serious Fun" Festival, LaMama ETC.
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Performed by REALITY
Music: Pop Collage
Set design: Debbie Lee Cohen
1993
Dry Each Other's Tears in the Stillness of the Night
Commissioned by and for the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater, Denver Co.
Choreography, text, direction by David Roussève
Music: Public Enemy, Jackie Wilson
The Neighbors From Hell/Pig in the Blanket
Commissioned by and for Xenon Dance Co. (Minneapolis)
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Music: Nat King Cole
Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams
(evening length)
Commissioned by The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival, The Walker Art Center, Performing Arts Chicago, Columbia College of Chicago
Choreography , text, and direction by David Roussève
Performed by REALITY, one guest actor/singer, a gospel choir, and chorus of 25 community members
Music: Ysaye Barnwell
Set design: Debbie Lee Cohen
View video excerpt
1992
Crossings
Commissioned by and for The Dance Alloy (Pittsburgh)
Choreography, text and direction by David Roussève
Performed by Dance Alloy and local gospel choir
Music: Ysaye Barnwell
Tellin' You my Dreams from a Cloud Sailin'by
(evening length)
Performed in two spaces on one evening with a Creole meal at intermission
Commissioned byPerformance Space 122 and Danspace Projects
Choreography, text and direction by David Roussève
Performed by by REALITY and Lavender Light: the Gay and Lesbian Black and People of all Color Gospel Choir
1991
Had Me Somebody But I Lost Her Very Young
(evening-length)
Commissioned by New York's Dancing in the Streets and Los Angeles' First Impressions
Choreography and Text by David Rousseve
Performed by REALITY and six LA-based dancers
Created site-specific for Los Angeles' Bradbury Building
Caged Birds Singin' in the Pale MoonlightPhoenix Rep. Co., University of Maryland Baltimore County
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Colored Children Flyin' By
(evening length)
Commissioned by Performance Space 122
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Performed by REALITY
Music: James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, Queen Latifah
1990
Mama Goes to the Moon
Commissioned by Mollie Davies and LaMama
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Score written and performed live by: Edwina Lee Tyler
Film/Projections: Mollie Davies
Pull Your Head to the Moon...Tales of Creole Women
(evening length)
Commissioned by Performance Space 122
Choreography and text by David Roussève
Music: Leontyne Price, Aretha Franklin, James Brown
Pighead in the Dining Room: Creoles, Civil Rights and Blood Sausage
(evening-length solo)
Premiered at Henry Street Settlement
Choreography, text, and performance by David Roussève
Video created by David Roussève and Brian Moran
1987
Silent Dreams
Choreography by David Roussève, Benoit LaChambre , andMary Ting
Performed by David Roussève, Benoit LaChambre, and Mary Ting
Visual Design: Mary Ting
Journey to the Nonexistent Enchanted Air Gardens
(solo)
Premiered at The Toronto Dance Theater
Choreography, text, direction, and performance by David Roussève
Music: Maria Callas, Marvin Gaye
CHOREOGRAPHY (Television/Film)
2005
Bittersweet
Dance For the Camera (15 minutes).
Directed, choreographed, written by David Roussève
Videography and editing: Roberta Shaw
Produced by David Roussève and Roberta Shaw
Music: Nina Simone
View video excerpt
Dancing Without Boundaries
Documentary for Cleveland Public Television that included interview and excerpts of work by David Roussève
2000
BrotherMen
Feature length documentary on five AfricanAmerican male artists
Directed by Demitria Royals
(national airing on PBS)
1997
Positive: Life with HIV
(PBS, national)
A series of four one-hour programs that provided a forum on and about those affected and/or infected by HIV, featuring original and excerpted choreography by David Roussève
1995
MTV
(Brazil)
Focus on REALITY/interview with Roussève
PBS/NYC, City Arts: 'Whispers of Angels'
WABC/NYC, Views: 'Whispers of Angels'
MTV
(U.S.A.)
MTV NEWS (Segment on collaboration with Me'Shell NdegeOcello)
1994
French Public Television:
Festival Biennale de Danse/REALITY
German Public Television:
Festival Biennale de Danse/REALITY.
1993
BBC
(Manchester, England)
Showcase on David Roussève
German Public Television
(national broadcast): Documentary on REALITY at the Hamburg Theater Festival
1992
Pull Your Head to the Moon... Stories of Creole Women
Commissioned by Alive TV (PBS)
Conceived, choreographed and written by David Roussève
Director/editor: Ayoka Chenzira
Performed by REALITY
Produced by Elise Bernhardt and Joe Melillo
PBS/NYC, Eye on Dance. Interview with David Roussève with highlights of work
PBS/NYC, A Day Without Art
Excerpts from REALITY works
1991
ABC (National) "Story of A People:
Portraits of African American Artists"