2/17/15 O&A Reposted: Lloyd Knight 2012 Conversation

reposted

LLOYD KNIGHT

During the 2012 New York City season of the Martha Graham Dance Company soloist Lloyd Knight was recovering from an injury. His name was listed in the program, but Knight was unable to perform. After a year of rigorous therapy his persistence and patience paid off and by the summer of 2012 Knight was again in rehearsal.

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Hearing his story I decided to interview this young artist about his recovery, return and aspirations for the future. Knight graciously honored my request and in mid-July we sat down for what now has become an annual pre-season conversation. What impressed my was his sincerity and what can only be described as reverence for his craft.

When I asked him what he thought of Graham’s choreography he looked me in the eyes (his gaze was almost introspective) and simply said, “It is art”. The conviction and unabashed honesty in his voice was not only refreshing to hear, it was also inspiring. It made you want to pack up the car and taking a trip to Appalachian Spring.

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The Martha Graham Dance Company is beginning the second week of the 2015 New York City season at the Joyce; and Knight is now a principal dancer with the company. He is dancing diverse roles from the Graham classics to new works by Nacho Duato, Kyle Abraham and Michelle Dorrance. Over the last three seasons he has also matured into a more seasoned artist, but the one constant that has remained is his sincere commitment to his craft.

We thought it would be refreshing to revisit our first conversations from July 2012.

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In the first part of our 2012 conversation we discuss his injury and his recovery process. 

Conversation with Lloyd Knight (part one)

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We continue our conversation about his favorite roles, the Graham technique and show an excerpt of Knight in rehearsal for the preacher’s solo from Appalachian Spring.

Conversation with Lloyd Knight (part two)

In Photo: 1,2&4) Lloyd Knight 3) Ben Schultz (L) and Abdiel Jacobsen punish Lloyd Knight in Nacho Duato’s Rust 5) Lloyd Knight and Natasha Diamond-Walker in Nacho Duato’s Depak 

Photo Credit: 1) Guilherme Licurgo 2) Paul B. Goode 3) Christopher Duggan, courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow 4) Courtesy Lloyd Knight 5) COSTAS

 

To read more about Lloyd Knight click below:

http://outandaboutnycmag.com/21315-oa-shall-we-dance-lloyd-knight-a-dancers-world/

 

 

 

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