Travel to Findhorn, Scotland to commission a solo dance from legendary choreographer, performer, and dance thinker, Deborah Hay. For 11 days, Hay guides and coaches, but does not show, letting you find your own way. At the end of the residency sign a contract. It says that you will practice this solo every single day for at least three months before you perform it. Every day whether you feel like it or not, whether you’re sick or busy or….

Oh, and you can’t pay for the commission out of your own pocket, you have to raise the money from members of your community so that your whole dance community participates in the creation of your piece.

Portland’s most interesting dance duo, the riveting Cydney Wilkes and Ten Tiny Dances impresario Mike Barber have done just that. Together again, only not really, or we should say, not yet, Wilkes and Barber tonight present their solo adaptions of Deborah Hay’s “The Runner.” at Lent School Gymnasium (5105 SE 97th) at 8 PM.

It doesn’t end here. In July Wilkes and Barber go to Marfa, Texas where Hay makes a new duet for them based on their solo adaptations. They bring that duet home to Portland for performance in October 2008.

“Fence” Cydney Wilkes and Mike Barber.

Wilkes and Barber have performed at PICA’s TBA Festival, Seattle-based On The Board’s Northwest New Works, and Ten Tiny Dances, as well as doing Wilke’s “Penta,” a year-long performance on the banks of the Willamette River in the shadow of the Marquam Bridge, and most recently, the duo’s evening length “A Certain Facilitation of Impasse” at Disjecta.