History

1982–1984: Marshall creates work at The Yard where she meets and works with Arthur Armijo and David Dorfman, and in New York with the repertory dance company CoDanceCo, connecting with Jackie Goodrich and David Landis. She forms Susan Marshall & Company and presents the first evening of entirely her own work at Emanu-El Midtown YM-YWHA to a small and encouraging audience. Other dancers who began collaborating with Marshall at this time include Kathy Casey, Guillermo Resto, Lauren Dong and Donald Mouton. Arms premieres at PS 122 in New York. 

1985–1987: Susan Marshall & Company has its first one-week season at Dance Theater Workshop. The success of this season leads to their first New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award, a two-week season at DTW in 1986, and a three-week season in 1987. The company begins touring, often with only three dancers, including a trip to Spoleto/USA. Company dancers include Arthur Armijo, Beatrice Bogorad, Andrew Boynton, Kathy Casey, David Dorfman, Jackie Goodrich, David Landis, Jeff Lepore, Susan Marshall, Guillermo Resto and Eileen Thomas. In 1986 the company receives its first support from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1987, Kiss premieres at Dance Theater Workshop. 

1988–1990: Marshall is commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music for its Next Wave Festival, premiering Interior with Seven Figures and marking the beginning of an ongoing relationship. The company hires its first company manager, Ryan Gilliam of Downtown Art Company, and tours extensively, including engagements in California, Oregon, Kentucky, Vermont, Montreal and Japan. The company appears at the Vienna Tanz ’88 festival, and Marshall receives the American Choreographer Award and the Brandeis University Creative Arts Citation. In 1989, Arms is adapted for television for PBS’ “Alive from Off Center,” and In Medias Res is commissioned by the Frankfurt Ballet. Contenders, with music by Pauline Oliveros, premieres at Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1990. 

1991–1994: The company performs twice at the Festival International de Nouvelle Danse in Montreal, and participates in a five-week tour to Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Turkey, sponsored by U.S.I.A/Arts America. “Alive from Off Center” commissions the creation of the film Contenders in 1991, bringing in Mark Obenhaus to direct and collaborate with Marshall on the translation for film. Marshall collaborates with Francesca Zambello on two operas, Les Troyens (Los Angeles Opera) and Midsummer Marriage (New York City Opera). Standing Duet and Untitled (detail) premiere at The Kitchen in 1992. In 1994, Brooklyn Academy of Music premieres Fields of View (music by Philip Glass) and Spectators at an Event (video by Christopher Kondek and photos by WeeGee), and Lyon Opera Ballet commissions Central Figure. During this time, dancers include Arthur Armijo, Andrew Boynton, Mark DeChiazza, Allison Easter, Heidi Michele Fokine, Krista Langberg, Jeff Lepore, Susan Marshall, Andre Shoals, Eileen Thomas and Scot Willingham. 

1995–1997: Marshall works with Philip Glass on Les Enfants Terribles, The Children of the Game, a dance/opera composed by Glass, directed and choreographed by Marshall and produced by IPA. Les Enfants has its European premiere in Zug, Switzerland, its U.S. premiere at Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1996, and tours internationally to 39 cities. In 1997, company members include Susan Blankensop, Mark DeChiazza, John Heginbotham, Kristen Hollinsworth, Krista Langberg, Omar Rahim, Marlon Barrios Solana and Eileen Thomas. Marshall receives a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award for Les Enfants. 

1998–2000: Marshall premieres The Most Dangerous Room in The House in 1998 at Dartmouth College, with actress Norma Fire joining the company. In 1999 Marshall premieres The Descent Beckons at Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa; included in the cast are comedian Lisa Kron and 75 inflatable dolls. Company Manager Ryan Gilliam passes the baton to Tia Tibbitts Levinson. Long-time company member Eileen Thomas retires as co-artistic director and from full-time performing, after 15 years with the company. In 200, Marshall receives the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. 

2001–2004: The company premieres One and Only You (2001) in Pittsburgh, and performs newly reconstructed repertory as part of the reopening season of the World Financial Center’s Wintergarden (following the destruction of September 11) in 2002. The company premieres Sleeping Beauty and Other Stories in Chicago in 2003. Company Manager Tia Tibbitts Levinson passes the baton to Robert Dorf. Dancers during this time include Rachel Shao-Lan Blum, Mark DeChiazza, Steven Fetherhuff, Kristen Hollinsworth, Krista Langberg, Jill Locke, Luke Miller, Petra van Noort and Darrin Wright. 

2005–2008: Susan Marshall & Company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2006 with a return to DTW. The company premieres Cloudless with dancers, Kristen Hollinsworth, Luke Miller, Petra Van Noort, Darrin Wright and Joseph Poulson. Cloudless is awarded the company’s 10th "Bessie” and tours the US with engagements in New York, California, Illinois, Florida and Missouri. Sawdust Palace premieres in the Spiegeltent at Bard College. Dancers during this time include Kristen Hollinsworth, Luke Miller, Petra Van Noort, Joseph Poulson and Darrin Wright. 

2009–2012: In 2009, Marshall becomes the Director of Dance at Princeton University. The company premieres Adamantine at Montclair State University and releases Frame Dances, a series of dance films for mobile devices. In celebration of the company’s 25th anniversary in 2011, a live installation version of Frame Dances is performed on a bill with Adamantine at Baryshnikov Arts Center. Company Manager Robert Dorf passes the baton to Desirée van Rensburg. Dancers during this time include Christopher Adams, Ching-I Chang, Kristin Clotfelter, Kristen Hollinsworth, Luke Miller, Petra van Noort, Joseph Poulson, Peter Simpson, Ildiko Toth and Darrin Wright. 

2013–2019: Play/Pause (2013) premieres at the Dance Center Columbia College Chicago. Chromatic (2016), with composer Jason Treuting and visual artist Suzanne Bocanegra, premieres at The Kitchen. Two Person Operating System (2016), a collaboration with sculptor Martha Friedman, premieres at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts and is presented at galleries in New York and San Francisco. A preview of Construction (2019) is presented at The Downstairs at La MaMa in NYC. Marshall begins meeting with Dancing with Neuromotor Diversity—An Interdisciplinary Working Group. Company Manager Desirée van Rensburg passes the baton to Sophie Andreassi, and Sky Olson joins as Executive Director. Dancers during this time include Christopher Adams, Ching-i Chang, Kristin Clotfelter, Kristen Hollinsworth, Luke Miller, Pete Simpson, Edisa Weeks and Darrin Wright. 

2020: Studio Susan Marshall launches, with an expanded focus that includes Susan Marshall & Company’s new works and repertory; Performance-Installations, immersive contemporary art experiences created with artistic and community collaborators to be welcoming to all audiences; and Dancing with Autism, dance classes supporting those on the autism spectrum to experience self-expression, agency, freedom, fun and community. The first iteration of the Rhythm Bath project occurs at Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts. Arms (1984) is restaged on three different pairings and filmed for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s first-ever all-digital season. Managing Director Sophie Andreassi and Executive Director Sky Olson pass the baton to Managing Director Lila Hurwitz.