Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray

*****2010*****

Fondly Do We Hope is the most ambitious work to date in the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company’s 25 year history.  The title comes from Lincoln's second inaugural address.

 

Bill T. Jones Thoughts

 

"I live with the uneasy feeling that society has shaped me as a result of something that was stolen from us when Abraham Lincoln was killed. The cynicism and alienation that I feel in my head and heart arose because of this strange turn of destiny."--Bill T. Jones

We are making a work about Abraham Lincoln. It premiered on September 17, 2009 at the Ravinia Festival But why dance? It would be much easier to do a play about the man.Therein lies the challenge.What do we want to say about Lincoln? We do not want this be a history lesson. How do we talk about the hot button issue of the day, slavery? How do we present the war.; More than 600,000 men died. How do we reconcile 19th century language with movement and how can our modern ears grasp the ideas behind those words? And what about Mary Todd?  And how is he reflected in us?; The piece has to be ultimately about us.

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Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray investigates the myriad meanings of Lincoln. According to Jones he rejected the accepted truths we have all been fed via lore, films and history books etc. in favor of challenging and through the elements of dance, music, song, and narration celebrate the lasting contributions of this great man.

Investigating a handful of key moments from Lincoln’s remarkable life, this work is both dance and theatre. Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray envisions the America that might have been had Lincoln not been assassinated and he had been able to complete the Reconstruction. The result exposes the great distance between what is and what could have been.

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There was a whole section of the original site called the DIARY where readers could follow the development of this piece as Bill T. Jones and the dance company worked towards the premiere as well as how the dance / theater work changed when they took it on the road. Alas there were no archived version available.

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Ideas Behind MUSIC and DESIGN

These sections allowed viewers to learn about the little things that happen on the side in SIDELINE.

THE MUSIC

THE DEAD LINCOLNS:

• Christopher Antonio William Lancaster (band leader) - Lady Gay
• Jerome Begin - Hot Linx aka Freedom’s Bitch
• George Lewis Jr. - Kinky Linx
• Clarissa Sinceno - Titilly Linx aka C-dog

These crazy names are not in the program. The band named themselves, probably during a couple of van rides to and from the theater in May.The rock, folk and gospel music are jointly composed by Chris, Jerome, and George. Because this dance piece is about the Civil War period, some of the music is drawn from that period of time between 1850 to 1860. Their process is quite unique and sometimes involving the warmth and glow of the fireplace.

DESIGN for the Production of Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray ​

The Set:

Creative Director/Set Designer

 Bjorn G. Amelan

Bjorn G. Amelan began collaborating with BTJ/ AZDC in 1993. As the company’s resident set designer, he has created décor for many of the company’s works and special presentations. For Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray he created a gauze oval enclosure with projected video images of Janet Wong. The video images are non-narrative. It operates poetically, suggesting ideas and feelings. Sometimes the enclosure made the dancers within look as if they were shrouded in mist. Elsewhere written quotations, song lyrics and opinions were projected on top of the dancers.

The stage is designed to make you feel like you are entering another world, the world of this piece.. Although it includes curtains, columns, and a small stage built over some of the seats in the audience, it remains more abstract and does not represent anything in particular.

The Costumes:

FONDLY DO WE HOPE...FERVENTLY DO WE PRAY

• Choreographed and Directed by: Bill T. Jones in Collaboration with: Janet Wong and Dancers
• Music by: Christopher Antonio William Lancaster, Jerome Begin, George Lewis jr.
• Lighting by: Robert Wierzel
• Set by: Bjorn G. Amelan
• Associate Set Designer: Solomon Weisbard
• Costume by: Liz Prince
• Video by: Janet Wong
• Sound Design by: Lindsay Jones
• Text: selection from Whitman, Lincoln, etc, compiled by Bill and Janet

Performers:

• Antonio Brown
• Asli Bulbul
• Peter Chamberlin
• Talli Jackson
• Shayla-Vie Jenkins
• LaMichael Leonard
• I-Ling Liu
• Paul Matteson
• Erick Montes
• Jennifer Nugent
• with Jamyl Dobson

Music Ensemble:

THE DEAD LINCOLNS:

• Christopher Antonio William Lancaster (band leader) - Lady Gay
• Jerome Begin - Hot Linx aka Freedom’s Bitch
• George Lewis Jr. - Kinky Linx
• Clarissa Sinceno - Titilly Linx aka C-dog
• Wynee Bennett

Production Staff:

• Production Stage Manager: Kyle Maude
• Lighting Supervisor: Laura Bickford
• Technical Director: Eric Launer
• Assistant Stage Manager: Michelle Dunn
• Video Programmer: Dallas Nichols and Micah Stieglitz
• Costume Supervisor: Anjia Jalac

A very helpful Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray pdf presented as a Teacher Resource Guide is informative. You don’t have to be a teacher or a student.

 

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More Background on FondlyDoWeHope.com: Celebrating Dance, History, and Cultural Reflection

FondlyDoWeHope.com is a website dedicated to celebrating and preserving the legacy of the dance-theater work Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. This ambitious piece, first presented at the 2010 Lincoln Center Festival, explores the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through a blend of dance, music, and narration. The site offers a unique resource for those interested in the intersection of history, dance, and cultural reflection, encapsulating the creative processes and profound themes behind this iconic work.

Historical Context and Development

The Fondly Do We Hope project was conceived as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, coinciding with the bicentennial of his birth. The work is deeply rooted in historical reflection, examining Lincoln’s legacy through both the lens of his own era and its ongoing resonance in modern times. Bill T. Jones, a choreographer known for his ability to weave social commentary into his works, collaborated with Janet Wong and the dancers to create a piece that is as much about words as it is about movement. The production integrates texts from sources like Shakespeare, the Hebrew Bible, Walt Whitman, and Lincoln himself, constructing a narrative that challenges the audience to think about the distance between Lincoln’s time and our own.

This work is not just a historical piece but also a reflection on the present. Jones, who comes from a post-modern dance tradition, uses this work to explore complex questions about race, identity, and the role of art in society. The dancers in the production act as both participants in the historical narrative and as symbols of contemporary struggles and hopes, creating a rich tapestry that speaks to both past and present concerns.

Press and Media Coverage

Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray has been widely discussed in both dance and general media, receiving acclaim for its innovative approach and powerful message. Critics have noted the work's ability to blend different artistic forms—dance, theater, music, and spoken word—into a cohesive and moving performance. However, some reviews have pointed out the challenges of balancing these elements. For example, while the spoken words are deeply impactful, they sometimes overshadow the dance elements, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience in parts of the performance.

The work’s premiere at the Ravinia Festival was particularly well-received, with critics praising the emotional depth and the historical insight it offered. The juxtaposition of Lincoln’s era with contemporary issues was highlighted as one of the piece’s strengths, prompting audiences to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still have to go as a society. Despite some criticism regarding the execution of certain segments, the overall impact of the performance was undeniable, with reviewers lauding the company’s ability to evoke both the grandeur and the tragedy of Lincoln’s legacy.

Audience and Cultural Significance

The audience for Fondly Do We Hope is diverse, ranging from dance enthusiasts and historians to those interested in social justice and American history. The work’s exploration of themes such as slavery, civil rights, and national identity resonates strongly with audiences, particularly in the context of ongoing discussions about race and equality in the United States. The use of historical texts and the incorporation of music that spans genres and eras also make the piece accessible to a wide range of viewers.

Culturally, Fondly Do We Hope stands as an important work that challenges traditional narratives about American history. By presenting a nuanced and sometimes critical view of Lincoln, Jones and his collaborators invite audiences to reconsider what they know about this iconic figure and the era he represents. The work’s emphasis on the “what ifs” of history—such as what might have happened had Lincoln not been assassinated—adds a layer of speculative reflection that is both provocative and poignant.

Insights and Specifics

One of the most striking aspects of Fondly Do We Hope is its innovative use of dance to convey complex ideas. Jones, who has long been a pioneer in the dance world, brings a unique approach to choreography that combines traditional ballet vocabulary with contemporary movements and abstract concepts. This approach allows the dancers to embody not just characters but ideas and emotions, making the performance a deeply intellectual as well as a visceral experience.

The design elements of the production also contribute significantly to its impact. The set, created by Bjorn Amelan, features a gauze enclosure that creates an ethereal, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Projected video images by Janet Wong add a dynamic visual layer to the performance, sometimes making the dancers appear as if they are moving through mist or being enveloped by the history they are portraying.

The music, composed by a team including Christopher Antonio William Lancaster and George Lewis Jr., blends rock, folk, and gospel influences, reflecting the diverse cultural landscape of Lincoln’s America. This musical diversity helps to underscore the work’s themes of unity and division, past and present.

 

FondlyDoWeHope.com serves as an invaluable resource for anyone looking to delve deeper into the themes and artistic achievements of Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray. The website not only preserves the legacy of this remarkable work but also provides insight into the creative processes of one of America’s most influential dance companies. Through detailed exploration of the production’s history, press coverage, and cultural significance, visitors to the site can gain a deeper understanding of both the work itself and the broader questions it raises about art, history, and society.

By offering a platform for reflection and education, FondlyDoWeHope.com continues the dialogue that Bill T. Jones and his collaborators began with their work, ensuring that the questions and ideas it raises remain relevant and impactful for years to come.