FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH TO HONOR DANCE CRITIC DEBORAH JOWITT at The Theater at the 14th Street Y – March 21 through March 24 - Douglas Dunn, Carmen de Lavallade, Valda Setterfield and Martine van Hamel Join More Than 30 Artists in Four Performances

SPECIAL “CRITIC’S PANEL” ON MARCH 20 AT 3PM - Moderated by Linda Murray, Curator of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts - Panel to Include Writers/Critics Deborah Jowitt, Alastair Macaulay, Wendy Perron, Jack Anderson, Mindy Aloff, Marcia Siegel and Elizabeth Zimmer.

In celebration of her career as a dance critic, writer, dancer, choreographer and educator, From the Horse’s Mouth will dedicate its next theater/dance performance event to Deborah Jowitt, whose lifelong accomplishments exemplify a storied career spanning more than 50 years.

Four performances celebrating Deborah Jowitt will take place at the Theater at the 14th Street Y March 21, 22 and 23rd at 8pm, and Sunday, March 24 at 3pm. Over 30 dancers, choreographers, critics and friends of the legendary critic will participate.  A special Critic’s Panel, with Ms. Jowitt and special guests, will be included on Wednesday, March 20 at 3pm at the same location. Moderated by Linda Murray, Curator of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Library for the Performing Arts, guests will include dance critics/writers Deborah Jowitt, Alastair Macaulay, Wendy Perron, Jack Anderson, Mindy Aloff, Marcia Siegel and Elizabeth Zimmer.

As one of the dance field’s most respected writers and teachers, Deborah Jowitt first emerged as a dancer and choreographer and in 1967 started to write a weekly dance column for The Village Voice. Two collections of her reviews have been published, along with her “Time and the Dance Image” and her biography of Jerome Robbins. She currently posts her critical writing at artsjournal.com/dancebeat/. Winner of many awards, Deborah Jowitt has stood firm at a time when dance criticism has dwindled or been excised from many of our newspapers and periodicals. Her story is one of endurance and love for the art form.

“Dance is ephemeral; it doesn't hang about on walls to be revisited or wait by your bed with a bookmark in it…. a dance flows along like a slippery, shimmering fish; words can’t capture it, only, with luck, convey something of its essence.” – Deborah Jowitt

The intimate From the Horse’s Mouth format provides the ideal vehicle in which to celebrate Deborah’s extraordinary life and legacy. The sharing of stories, memories, anecdotes, and dance form the special tapestry that is a From the Horse’s Mouth production. Rare film footage, videos and multimedia will enhance this edition of From the Horse’s Mouth unique blend of movement and storytelling.

Cast to include: Yoshiko Chuma, Emily Coates, Carmen de Lavallade, Douglas Dunn, Liz Gerring, Phyllis Lamhut, Wendy Perron, Rajika Puri, Valda Setterfield, Vicky Shick, Gus Solomons jr, Martine van Hamel and many more. *Cast subject to change

ABOUT DEBORAH JOWITT:

Deborah Jowitt began to dance professionally in 1953, to show her own choreography in 1962, and to write a regular dance column for The Village Voice in 1967. She currently posts her reviews at www.artsjournal.com/dancebeat/. Her articles on dance have appeared in numerous publications, among them The New York Times, Dance Magazine, Ballet Review, and Dance Research Journal, as well as in catalogues and anthologies. She has published two collections: Dance Beat (1977) and The Dance in Mind (1985). A third book, Time and the Dancing Image (William Morrow; paperback, University of California Press), won the de la Torre Bueno Prize for 1988. Her most recent book, Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theater, His Dance, was published by Simon and Schuster in August, 2004.  She is currently working on a critical biography of Martha Graham.