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(2003, Octet, 20 minutes)

“I was struck with the idea that whenever we bid farewell to someone or something, we experience a disturbance of equilibrium which is measured in subtle physical and emotional changes. Growing up and apart, geography, unforeseen events, simple errands, death – all require us to relinquish, to let go while at the same time holding on. Separation anxiety sets in. I wanted to capture the nature of these changes by evoking the act of goodbye over and over again in simultaneously under-stated and overtly dramatic variations.” – Keely Garfield

Small and incidental encounters overlap extended passages of lucid dancing, creating a collage of athletically inclined and emotionally charged portraits. In duets, trios and group sequences, dancers impart their essence, imprinting scent and sense, before finally taking leave of one another. A selection of evocative songs ranging from popular World War tunes to jazz standards to sixties classics provide a sub-text for the dance.

““The challenging and diverse choreography teases out the physical prowess of each dancer, as they simultaneously excavate nuances and emotions…a theatrical work that treats serious subjects – patriotism, leaving for war and loss – with a charming, sometimes whacky innocence.” Star Tribune

Dancers: Zenon Dance Company, Denise Armstead, Amy Behm, Devin Carey, Christine Maginnis, Megan Flood, Tamara Ober, Stephen Schroeder, Gregory Waletski
Music: World War One songs, Dusty Springfield, Kitty Wells, Vera Lynn
Costumes: Keely Garfield
Premiere: Illusion Theater, Hennepin Center for the Arts (Minneapolis, MN), June 5, 2003.
Commissioned by Zenon Dance Company with support from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the McKnight Foundation, and the Jerome Foundation. Created during a three-week residency in Minneapolis with Zenon Dance Company under the direction of Artistic Director Linda Andrews.

What Zenon dancers had to say about the process of making Disturbing The Peace:

“In eleven years of dancing with a repertory company, I have had the opportunity to work with dozens of nationally and internationally known choreographers. If I was asked to pick just one as the person with whom I could work with again, my absolute first choice would be Keely Garfield. Keely's work challenges and engages me physically, intellectually and emotionally. Her belief that dancers are intelligent, creative human beings allows her to draw out the best in each one of us. In her creative process, she invokes a world which has its own rules and logic, and invites the rest of us to become fellow inhabitants of this world. Nothing feels arbitrary -- every detail matters. She is so passionate about, and committed to, the world of her piece that we, as dancers, only have to follow her lead to find ourselves completely invested in the creative process as well. It's exhilarating... as the piece unfolded in rehearsal, I kept wanting to know "what will happen next?" Finally, perhaps the biggest gift Keely brought to us was her desire to create, with us, a piece that mattered to her and that truly emerged from the people who were there, in the studio, at that particular time-- it never felt as though she was using a standard formula to whip out a certain number of minutes of choreography. It is impossible to say what a rare and amazing gift that is for a dancer to receive." – Megan Flood

“An unforgettable experience! Keely explains her ideas with clarity, allowing the dancers the ability to go further with what she intended. And if the ideas don't work, she easily side steps to another. I enjoyed her flexibility and how she maneuvered us into what she wanted as well as her steadfastness, presence, and humility. Also, her boldness and bluntness when it wasn't right, directly to the point, not wasting time on gray areas, unless that was the idea.” – Stephen Schroeder

“The experience of working on Disturbing The Peace was unique because it touched me on so many levels - happy, sad, funny, a sense of camaraderie, and loss. The piece feels like a completely different world and I really look forward to performing it. Plus it was great to get reacquainted with all the thrift shops around town on our costume hunts!” – Greg Waletski

“The part you created for me and Devin in the work is one of my favorite experiences in dance ever. I feel more emotional in that little part than I have ever felt performing. I love this dance! It all just hits home for me somehow. I love performing it!” – Tamara Ober

“It has been a while since I have felt such a deep connection to a dance…to the work. I always feel connected to what I am doing, but this process allowed a deeper level of exploration. It was a gift and I am thankful.” – Amy Behm