Remembering Remy Charlip: January 10, 1929 – August 14, 2012

Generous & gentle spirited.

Before Remy began working with SFArtsED, he and Artistic Director Emily Keeler had several experiences working with one another.

Among those times that they were in each others company as artists as a duet Remy created for her and Elina Mooney in a production at ODC Theater using Flowering Lilacs, one of his Mail Order Dances in 1983. Remy and Emily shared the bill as choreographers for Oakland Ballet’s 29th season in 1995 at the Paramount Theater. He created a ballet for the company entitled Ludwig and Lou to Lou Harrison’s “Suite for Cello and Harp,” and Emily choreographed Our Town: A Meditation with music designed by Richard Beggs and sets by artist Power Boothe.

1991

Remy choreographs a duet For Cecelia with music by Henry Purcell and Miguel Frasconi for our directors Emily Keeler and Camille Olivier-Salmon. The work premiers at ODC in a program that includes work performed by our Celebration team students.

 

1994-1996

Remy mentors our artists-in-residence, staff and Board of Directors helming a series of workshops funded by the Threshold Foundation that spans two years. The subject matter investigates creativity, collaboration, improvisation, teaching and interdisciplinary arts.

1995

Remy is the spark and guiding force for our book Ideas For Teaching the Arts to Children. The book is for many years included in the dance-teaching curriculum at Sarah Lawrence College.

1996

Remy adapts his book Harlequin Clothed in the Love of His Friends in collaboration with Danny Duncan and Emily Keeler into a children’s opera that is performed at our very first year of SFArtsED Summer camp. Bay Area composer Miguel Frasconi composes the music for this production.

 

1997

Remy expands the children’s opera that is now titled Harlequin and the Gift of His Friends to showcase over 300 SFArtsED children at our annual performance Event at Stern Grove. Guest artists performing at the Event include Luis Oropeza, Andrea Brembury, Michael Brown, Robert Henry Johnson and his dance company.

1998

Remy participates in SFArtsED’s Give and Take: Artists and Youth in Dialogue. He is given a problem to solve by students from Marina Middle School. The students give Remy four choices. Remy resolves all four of the challenges with the visual arts piece entitled: The Shy Ones, The Toilet Reader, The Fire, and The Fire Fighter. The work is exhibited at The Mills Building.

 

1999

SFArtsED is honored to program the entertainment component of the opening night of Remy’s retrospective Remy Charlip’s World at the San Francisco Public Library. Nine young performers from our summer musical theater programs perform excerpts from Harlequin and the Gift of His Friends.

2001

Remy invites male dancers from around the city including SFArtsED’s artists-in-residence to perform with him in the lighthearted romp A Moveable Feast at the Gay and Lesbian Dance Festival.

 

2006

SFArtsED Players perform excerpts from Wonderful Town at Every Little Movement: A Benefit for Remy Charlip at Theater Artaud.

Remy’s spirit lives on and informs the work
that we do every day with children.