—Eva Yaa Asantewaa, The Village Voice
TERRAIN History
Lazier's choreography has roots in experimental, contemporary, post-modern, modern and classical dance. Lazier’s dances are full of pathos and exuberance and her versatile performers bring the work to life with audacious strength and absorbing sensitivity. The company invigorates abstract dance with emotional content by exploring themes that span from the discomfort of grieving to a satire on the dance making process. Lazier’s work is innervated by original music commissions or uses significant musical works which have ranged from Pytor Tchaikovsky and Arnold Schoenberg to Paul Lansky. Lazier has collaborated with composers Shane Shanahan, Jody Elff, Fred Ho, Michael Wall, Becet Mehmet Ates, Daniel Trueman, Paul Lansky, Arthur Solari, and theater directors Bartlett Sher and Ron Bashford.
Lazier and Terrain have toured from Martha’s Vineyard to California; from Jacob’s Pillow to New Orleans; and from Nova Scotia, Canada to Perm, Russia. Lazier inaugurated the ODTU Dance Festival in Ankara, Turkey; performing throughout the region in Urfa, Batman, Harran, Adyiman, and in Istanbul at the Music Selengli Festival, Dulcinea, and Cemal Resit Rey.
Terrain was founded in 2001 and has performed in many New York venues including Danspace Project, The Kitchen, Guggenheim Museum, 92nd Street Y, Joyce SoHo, Movement Research at the Judson Church, and Brooklyn Arts Exchange among others. Recently, Terrain received a grant from the Greater New York Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Inc., to support new work and Rebecca has received funding for her choreography from the Canada Council for the Arts, Princeton University, Nova Scotia Arts Council, and USIS. Rebecca has been artist-in-residence at Movement Research, The Joyce Theater Foundation, The Yard, and the Djerassi Resident Artist Program, where she was named Honorary Fellow supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.; Brooklyn Arts Exchange; and the 92nd St Y Harkness Dance Center. Recently, Terrain completed teaching residencies at James Madison University, The Yard and Shenendoah Conservatory. From 2003-2006, Terrain was the company-in-residence at the White Mountain Summer Dance Festival at Sarah Lawrence College, and Lazier was Festival Director.
