R e t r o S p e c t r a l
B r e n d a n D r a k e
Retro Spectral is a hybrid solo performance for two. The work uses both impersonation and magical realism in a chaotic study of art criticism, horror genre and the ruptured lineage of queer mentorship brought on by the AIDS crisis.
screen shot of an op ed by Fran Leibowitz
click photo to enlarge
Photos by Peter Hujar
Photos by Peter Hujar
Photos by Peter Hujar
Photos by Peter Hujar
+ expand for bibliography
Retro Spectral
Choreographer: Brendan Drake
Bibliography of Sourced Materials
Literary Works
Jarman, Derek: Modern Nature. 1984; Overlook Press
Gere, David: How to Make Dances in an Epidemic: Tracking Choreography in the age of AIDS
Liebowitz, Fran: The Impact of AIDS on the Artistic Community. New York Times, 1987.
Music Works
Charles Ives: Central Park in the Dark for chamber orchestra (1906, 1909); Symphony No. 3,
The Camp Meeting (1908–10); Memories (1897)
Alvin Lucier: 3 Translation of the Works of Maurizio Mochetti: No. 3, Rebounds (2017)
PJ Harvey: White Chalk (2007)
George Michael: Fast love (1996)
Dance Works
Beth Gill: New Work for the Desert (2014); Catacombs (2016)
Miguel Guitierrez: myendlesslove (2006, revised 2013)
Bob Fosse & Gwen Verdon: “Whatever Lola Wants,” Damn Yankees (1955)
Visual Art Works
Peter Hujar: Christopher Street Pier (1976); Gary in Contortion No. 2 (1979); Draped Male
Nude No. 2 (1980); Bruce de Sainte Croix Masturbating (1976); Nude Self-Portrait Series #2
(1966); Andrew's Back (1973); Paul, Nude Seated (1979); Robert Bending (1977); Self-Portrait
in the Baths (1979);
Michael Leonard: Climbing out (2008);
Steven Maisel: Flesh and Fantasy (1991)
Stanley Stellar: Aner and Stephen (1991)
Film Works
La Maison Ensorelee. Dir: Segundo De Chomón (1908)
Bachelorette. Dir Michel Gondry and Bjork (1997)
One Froggy Evening. Dir: Chuck Jones (1955)
2001: A Space Odyssey. Dir: Stanley Kubrick (1968)
The Science of Sleep. Dir Michel Gondry (2006)
Fran Liebowitz: Public Speaking. Dir. Martin Scorsese (2010)
comments welcomed below
Brendan Drake (flex pronouns) is a Brooklyn based choreographer who uses theatricality and disparate movement forms to create hybrid performance spectacles. He was a 2017-2018 Fresh Tracks Artist at New York Live Arts (formerly Dance Theater Workshop) a 2015 CUNY Dance Initiative resident artist through Baruch College and the recipient of a 2020 Brooklyn Arts Council Grant. His work has been presented at Danspace Project, The Brick, HERE, La MaMa, New York Live Arts, Chez Bushwick, Gowanus Loft, Industry City Distillery, Joe’s Pub, Museum for the Moving Image, The Dance Complex (Boston) and Brooklyn Studios for Dance where he was a 2017 Artist in Residence. In addition to his work for the stage, Brendan choreographed the fall 2014 “Equality = Love” campaign for Adidas Originals/Pharrell Williams. He has also served as movement coordinator on editorial shoots for Vogue, Porter, V and Elle Magazines (photographer: Ryan McGinley, Liz Collins). Last May, Brendan co-curated with Dance and Media Artist Kate Ladenheim the digital performance series “19 Acts of COVID-19 Bravery” which was an online exhibition of works, created in isolation, responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic. He has had the pleasure of guest teaching at Columbia University, University of Massachusetts, Muhlenberg College, Gibney, and Ball State University. He was also named a 2016 “Artist to Watch” in Dance Europe Magazine. He will pursue his MFA in Choreographic Inquiry at UCLA starting Fall 2021.
Instagram: @brendandrakechoreography
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