St Marks Church
(212) 674-6377
131 East 10th Street
New York,
NY
10003
40.7306
-73.9883
Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown
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Overview
Experimental dance found a home as early as 1911 with the arrival of William Guthrie. After the rector installed marble lions at the entrance, painted the church a lively pink and installed theatrical lighting, his first concert, entitled Ritual of the Zuni Cornmaidens, scandalized decent New Yorkers by presenting barefoot dancers in the church. In 1934, Ruth St. Denis performed her Gold Madonna upon Guthrie's invitation. Forty years later, the church solidified its commitment to dance with the establishment of Danspace, which programs modern dance regularly.
The Experience
This sanctuary is one of the few venues showcasing contemporary dance alongside 19th-century stained glass. Gracefully curving naval arches echo from floor to ceiling, even in the altar, which most choreographers incorporate into site-specific works. The acoustics are remarkable, and choreographers as diverse as Lucinda Childs and Dan Froot, have turned St. Marks into a nightly religious experience.
User Reviews
susanchenelle_citysearch
May 13, 2002
St Marks Church should be worshipped just for hosting Poetry Project's excellent readings and workshops. The annual New Year's Day poetry marathon is a New York cultural institution.
read full reviewThe Details on St Marks Church
Fun Fact:
From housing the Beats to Patti Smith's spoken word desecration of the temple in 1971 (complete with car crash noises simulated on the electric guitar) this hall has seen 'em all.
Know Before You Go:
It's very easy to imagine experimental theater pioneer Richard Foreman swinging from the belltower exclaiming, "It's alive!" Usually, he's simply staging shows upstairs.
