MSP 197: David Parker

Release Date: 3.19.26

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Making Dance Performance ‘Fun’ with David Parker

Episode 197: Show Notes.

In this episode of Movers & Shapers, we welcome the founder of the Bang Group, David Parker, to talk about his incredible career and how his life and dancing are entwined. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about David’s life, how a film about the Golden Age of entertainment sparked his love for dance, the training he received, and so much more! David tells us all about his time in New York, his love for tap dancing, and what it was like to experience ‘the Dance Boom’. We delve into his decision to start choreographing later in life and how his sexual awakening informed his work before discussing how he combined dancing and acting in his choreography. David goes on to tell us about how choreography became his passion and why he still sees the importance of being able to dance when he wants to, even in his 60s. We even talk about some of the challenges he’s faced in his career and touch on some of the highlights of his career. Finally, our guest tells us what he is working on now. To hear all this, and so much more, be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

Welcoming David Parker to the show.
Where David’s from and how he started dancing.
His time at Bard College and why he decided to leave.
David touches on his love for tap, in particular, and his rhythmic brain.
His experience of ‘the Dance Boom’ in New York.
Why David only started choreographing in his late 20s.
Creating work that conveys meaning: acting through dance.
David tells us about the personal revelation he had about his sexuality.
Why it is very important for him to be able to dance as well as create.
Some of the trials and peak moments he’s been through in his career.
What David is working on at the moment.

The Bang Group is a rhythm-driven, theatrical dance company based in New York City which spans contemporary and percussive forms. The company, founded and directed by Jeffrey Kazin and David Parker in 1995 tours widely throughout North America and Europe and is best-known for its comic/subversive, neo-vaudeville Nutcracker entitled Nut/Cracked, now in its 23rd season. The Bang Group performs regularly in New York City at Arts On Site, 92NY, New York Live Arts, Danspace Project, The Flea, Symphony Space, and many other venues. TBG has a second home in Boston which it developed through sustained partnerships with Summer Stages Dance, The Institute of Contemporary Art and The Dance Complex where its Dance Now Boston initiative is in its 12th season. It has also enjoyed 9 seasons at The Yard on Martha’s Vineyard and 16 years in residence at The West End Theater on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. As a teacher of Dance Composition, Parker has served on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Princeton University, Barnard College, Hunter College, Marymount Manhattan College, The Alvin Ailey School and SUNY Purchase. He has also taught several times for The Bates Dance Festival and served as an adjudicator for ACDA. Parker continues to perform in his own work and the work of other choreographers including Catherine Tharin, Sara Hook, Christopher Williams, Doug Elkins, Kelli Edwards, Sara Rudner, and as a guest artist with The New York Theatre Ballet. In addition to creating repertory for The Bang Group, he has created over 60 works for modern and ballet companies, colleges and universities, dance festivals, and soloists. He has written about dance for Dance Magazine, The Brooklyn Rail and other independent publications. Parker is a 2013 Guggenheim Fellow in choreography. www.thebanggroup.com