Seminal Solos Project
The Seminal Solos project uncovers historic rarely seen modern dance solos from 1926-1970 bringing them into current light through reconstructions, performances, education initiatives, and video documentation. Rosewood aims to deepen her choreographic work and performance through preserving, sharing, and recontextualizing culturally relevant historic dances.
“The seriousness of the scholarship, research and Rosewood’s execution is moving and provokes questions: Why do these dances today? Who should they be performed for? Where should they be performed?” -Bill T. Jones
Film
Image of Ella Rosewood in the "Ideas of an Acrobat" screendance (2022) choreographed by Anna Sokolow (1970).
Ideas of an Acrobat Film (2022)
Based on the Original Solo from 1970
Choreographed by Anna Sokolow
Danced by Ella Rosewood
Directed by Jason Bahling
The Solos
Image of Ella Rosewood in "Negro Spirituals" (1928-32) choreographed by Helen Tamiris. Photo by Jaqlin Medlock.
Negro Spirituals (1928-32)
Choreographed by Helen Tamiris
Image of Ella Rosewood in "The Call/Breath of Fire" (1930) choreographed by Doris Humphrey.
The Call/Breath of Fire (1930)
Choreographed by Doris Humphrey
Image of Ella Rosewood in "Harmonica Breakdown" (1938) choreographed by Jane Dudley. Photo by Jaqlin Medlock.
Harmonica Breakdown (1938)
Choreographed by Jane Dudley
Image of Ella Rosewood in "Statement of Dissent" (1938) choreographed by Louise Kloepper.
Statement of Dissent (1938)
Choreographed by Louise Kloepper
Image of Ella Rosewood in "Never Sign A Letter Mrs." (1939) choreographed by Hortense Lieberthal Zera.
Never Sign a Letter Mrs. (1939)
Choreographed by Hortense Lieberthal Zera
Image of Ella Rosewood in "No Peace on Earth" (1947) choreographed by Sybil Shearer.
No Peace on Earth (1947)
Choreographed by Sybil Shearer
Image of Ella Rosewood in “Eighth Dance” (1949) choreographed by Sybil Shearer.
Photo by Chris Steele-Nicholson
Eighth Dance (1949)
Choreographed by Sybil Shearer
Image of Ella Rosewood in “The Glyph” (1951)
choreography by Katherine Litz.
The Glyph (1951)
Choreographed by Katherine Litz
Image of Ella Rosewood in "Ideas of an Acrobat" (1970) choreographed by Anna Sokolow. Photo by Jaqlin Medlock.
Ideas of an Acrobat (1970)
Choreographed by Anna Sokolow