An Expansive View—

A Few Thoughts on

the Legacy of Beth Burns

By Melanie Rios Glaser, Incoming Artistic Director

As the artistic director of SJB, I am already standing on the earthen, fertile hill of Beth Burns' artistic legacy.  From up here the view is clear.

In Beth’s pioneering vision, providing an opportunity for youth to dabble in the arts was not enough. She knew that if a program was to make a lasting contribution to the positive development of youth, it could only happen through a substantial and committed involvement based on the quality of the artistic/dance experience.  Working with accomplished artists and mentors, young people would access their creative potential, sense ownership over their physicality, and develop their latent sophistication.

The 2005 concert allowed us to witness and celebrate this legacy of quality.  Unknown to many, Beth has gathered one of the most formidable production teams found anywhere in the professional dance world to work with our kids.  Jim Ingalls, a long time

collaborator of Beth’s, to name only one, is one of America’s most talented and sought after lighting designers.  Even more remarkable is that from the beginning, Beth choreographed original and pertinent works that were about and for our youth.  With courage, she respectfully explored themes that touched on the lives and on the cultural heritage of our

community.

Beth’s artistic legacy is centered and grounded in her belief in the soulful and artistic potential of our youth.  I gratefully inherit this strong center, which I believe is also fluid and responsive…so we can extemporaneously and creatively continue to unfold.

Many thanks to Martin Keogh for letting me borrow some words for the last paragraph from his book "The Earth is Breathing You" --Essays on Contact Improvisation.