Jacqulyn Buglisi is an American

choreographer Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...

artistic director An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogu ...

dancer Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

, and

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

. In 1993 she co-founded the Buglisi Dance Theatre, with

Terese Capucilli Terese Capucilli is an American modern dancer, interpreter of the roles originally performed by Martha Graham. She is one of the last generation of dancers to be coached and directed by Graham herself. A principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dan ...

Christine Dakin Christine Dakin, the Daughter of James I Crump and Jean Coulter Crump, was born August 25, 1949 in New Haven. She is an American dancer, teacher and director, and a foremost exponent of the Martha Graham repertory and technique. Performances D ...

and Donlin Foreman.

Choreography

Buglisi choreographs works primarily in the genre of

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

, with a repertoire of more than eighty pieces. Her choreography has been presented at venues throughout the United States, including: *

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

Joyce Theater The Joyce Theatre Foundation is a leading presenter of dance in New York City and nationally. It is runs, in part, from the Joyce Theater, a 472-seat dance performance venue located in the Chelsea, Manhattan, Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in ...

Jacob's Pillow Jacob's Pillow is a Dance studio, dance center, school and performance space located in Becket, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires. The facility itself was listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 2003. History The site of Jacob's Pi ...

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 ...

* Society for the Performing Arts, Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, Houston * Kravis Center for the Performing Arts * Spring to Dance Festival, St. Louis * SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center * Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts – Sosnoff Theater *

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

– Centennial Hall Internationally, her work has been featured at the Melbourne International Festival (State Theatre); International Dance Week in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

; Sadler's Wells Theatre in London; Rovereto Festival in Italy; and other venues across the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, and

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

. In a 2001 review for ''

Dance Magazine ''Dance Magazine'' is an American trade publication for dance. It was first published in June 1927 as ''The American Dancer''. ''Dance Magazine'' is currently part of Dance Media, led by longtime arts publisher Joanna Harp as president, and has mu ...

'', dance critic Lynn Garafola wrote, "Buglisi is a rarity in today's world, a woman who delights in the many splendid forms of female being. Probably no woman, other than Graham, has plumbed such emotional depths choreographically." Reviewing *Under the Buttonwood Tree*, choreographed for Lower Manhattan Cultural Council,

Alastair Macaulay Alastair Macaulay is an English writer and dance critic. He was the chief dance critic for ''The New York Times'' from 2007 until he retired in 2018. He was previously chief dance critic at ''The Times'' and Literary Supplement and chief theater cr ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' remarked, "

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...

would have been proud." Buglisi has collaborated with Venezuelan painter and filmmaker

Jacobo Borges Jacobo Borges (born 28 November 1931 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a contemporary, neo-figurative Venezuelan artist. His curiosity for exploring different mediums made him a painter, drawer, film director, stage designer and plastic artist. Known fo ...

on works including *Rain* (music by

Glen Velez Glen Velez (born 1949) is a four-time Grammy winning American percussionist, vocalist, and composer, specializing in frame drums from around the world. He is largely responsible for the increasing popularity of frame drums in the United States an ...

), *Sand* (music by

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

), and *Blue Cathedral* (music by

Jennifer Higdon Jennifer Elaine Higdon (born December 31, 1962) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. She has received many awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her Violin Concerto and three Grammy Awards for Best Contemp ...

). She has also worked with composer Jack Mehler.

Table of Silence Project 9/11

Buglisi is the co-creator, with Italian visual artist Rosella Vasta, of the *Table of Silence Project 9/11*, a large-scale public tribute and ritual performance presented annually on September 11 at Lincoln Center since 2011. The performance is a call for peace and tolerance, and its live-streamed version has reached viewers in over 200 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Site-specific versions of the *Table of Silence* have also been presented at Syracuse University's Pan Am 103 Remembrance Wall, during the company’s NYSCA residency; in Perugia and Assisi, Italy; and at UC Santa Barbara to commemorate the May 23, 2014 Isla Vista shooting. Buglisi’s company repertoire is archived at the

Jerome Robbins Dance Division Jerome (; ; ; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was an early Christian priest, confessor, theologian, translator, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome. He is best known for his translation of the Bible in ...

of the

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, is located at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, in the Lincoln Center complex on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York City. Situated between the Metropolitan O ...

Dancer

Buglisi was associated with the

Martha Graham Dance Company The Martha Graham Dance Company, founded by Martha Graham in 1926, is both the oldest dance company in the United States and the oldest integrated dance company. The company is critically acclaimed in the artistic world and has been recognized as " ...

for over 30 years, including 12 years as a principal dancer. During that time, she performed leading roles in numerous works by Graham, including: * the Three Marys in ''

El Penitente ''El Penitente'' is a modern dance work by Martha Graham performed to music by Louis Horst. It premiered on August 11, 1940, at the Bennington College Theater, Bennington, Vermont, with costumes by Edythe Gilfond and a set by Arch Lauterer. Isamu ...

'' * Andromache in ''Cortege of Eagles'' * the Warrior in ''Seraphic Dialogue'' * the Lament in ''Acts of Light'' * the Girl in Yellow in ''Diversion of Angels'' * Leader of the Chorus and Jocasta in ''Night Journey'' * Creusa in ''

Cave of the Heart ''Cave of the Heart'' is a one-act ballet choreographed by Martha Graham to music (''Medea'' suite) by Samuel Barber.Martha Graham Dance Company Repertory http://marthagraham.org/press-presenters2/repertory It was first performed on May 10, 1946, ...

'' * the Spectator in '' Every Soul is a Circus'' * and a role created for her by Graham in ''Tangled Night'' She performed in tribute to Graham during the CBS-televised

Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors are annual honors given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to Culture of the United States, American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in ...

, and was featured in the PBS special *An Evening of Dance and Conversation with Martha Graham*. Buglisi also worked to preserve early modern dance. Coached by Jane Sherman, she performed solos by

Ruth St. Denis Ruth St. Denis (born Ruth Dennis; January 20, 1879 – July 21, 1968) was an American pioneer of modern dance, introducing eastern ideas into the art and paving the way for other women in dance. She was inspired by the Delsarte advocate Gene ...

at venues including

and the Lyon Biennale de la Danse. She appeared in the documentaries *Trailblazers of American Modern Dance* and *The Spirit of Denishawn*, which highlight early 20th-century pioneers of American modern dance.

Educator

Buglisi has been commissioned by The Juilliard School's Emerging Modern Master's Series, Ailey/Fordham University B.F.A. Program, the

University of Richmond The University of Richmond (UR or U of R) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It is a primarily undergraduate, residential institution with approxim ...

, California State University/Long Beach, George Mason University, Purchase Conservatory of Dance,

Interlochen Center for the Arts Interlochen Center for the Arts ( '; also known as I.C.A. or Inty) is a Nonprofit organization, non-profit corporation which operates Visual arts education, arts education institutions and Music venue, performance venues. Established in 1928 b ...

, the State Ballet College of Oslo, Oklahoma Arts Institute,

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Jacob's Pillow is a Dance studio, dance center, school and performance space located in Becket, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires. The facility itself was listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 2003. History The site of Jacob's Pi ...

Boston Conservatory of Music Boston Conservatory at Berklee (formerly The Boston Conservatory) is a private performing arts conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in dance, music, and theater. Boston Conservatory was founded o ...

, Randolph-Macon College and

National Dance Institute National Dance Institute (NDI) was founded in 1976 by New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise (dancer), Jacques d'Amboise. NDI works with mainstream, bilingual, and special education classes. NDI classes are taught by professional ...

, among others. In 1970, Buglisi founded the first school of contemporary dance for the community of

Spoleto Spoleto (, also , , ; ) is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east-central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is south of Trevi, north of Terni, southeast of Perugia; southeast of Florence; and north of Rome. H ...

, Italy, and was the Master Artist-in-Residence at the

Atlantic Center for the Arts Atlantic Center for the Arts (ACA) is a nonprofit, interdisciplinary artists' community and education facility located in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The complex was designed by the Boston-based firm Thompson and Rose Architects. Atlantic Center ...

. She taught for the Dance Aspen Festival from 1990 to 1995, the

Julio Bocca Julio Adrián Lojo Bocca (born March 6, 1967) is an Argentine ballet dancer. Bocca spent twenty years as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. From 2010 to 2018, he served as artistic director of the National Ballet of Uruguay, adminis ...

Center in Argentina, the Victoria College in Melbourne in 1999, and the Chautauqua Institution and Festival from 1995 to 2005. As a resident teacher in New York City, she has been chairperson of the Modern Department at The Ailey School, served on the faculties of

The Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

from 1991 to 2005, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance since 1977, and Ballet Hispanico School of Dance. Buglisi guest teaches at the LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts (alumna) and instructs workshops at Steps on Broadway and Peridance Capezio Center. She was named honorary chair for the

Marymount Manhattan College Marymount Manhattan College is a private college on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. As of 2020, enrollment consisted of 1,571 undergraduate students with women making up 80.1% and men 19.9% of student enrollment. Columbia University Masters ...

2005 Gala and served as a panelist for both the Heinz Family Foundation and the New Jersey State Council for the Arts. Buglisi holds creative and educational residencies at Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts-Institute, SUNY Purchase, California State University, Long Beach,

George Mason University George Mason University (GMU) is a Public university, public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Located in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., the university is named in honor of George Mason, a Founding Father ...

, The Mahayfee Theater Class Act in FSU at Tallahassee, Petersburg Florida, and

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

. Buglisi served on the Dance/USA's Board of Trustees as Chair of the Artistic Director's Council from 2010 to 2013.

Accolades

Buglisi's awards and honors include the American Dance Guild Award for Artistic Excellence, the Italian International Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, the Fiorello LaGuardia Award for Excellence in the field of Dance, The 2014 Kaatsbaan International Playing Field Award, The Gertrude Shurr Award for Dance, and Altria Group's 2007 Women Choreographer Initiative Award. As well as grants for new work from the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the feder ...

New York State Council on the Arts The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) serves to foster and advance the arts, culture, and creativity throughout New York State, according to its website. The goal of the council is to allow all New Yorkers to benefit from the contribution ...

, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Howard Gilman Foundation, and The O'Donnell-Green Music & Dance Foundation. Jacqulyn Buglisi received the Juilliard President’s Metal and the 2021 Bessie’s Awards Special Citation for Table of Silence Project 9/11.

References

External links

Official website
Buglisi Dance Theatre.
Official website
Table of Silence Project 9/11. {{DEFAULTSORT:Buglisi, Jacqulyn 20th-century births 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American educators 21st-century American educators American women choreographers American choreographers American theatre directors American female dancers Dancers from New York (state) American founders American artistic directors Entertainers from New York City Living people American women theatre directors Women founders Year of birth missing (living people) Educators from New York City 20th-century American women educators 21st-century American women educators