Flemish choreographer Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker gained international recognition in the early 1980s with her fresh take on post-modern dance, influenced by her time in the New York Tisch School of the Arts.  Shortly after entering the world dance arena, Anne founded her own permanent ensemble Rosas in Brussels, which continues today as a bridge between human movement and music, attracting collaborations through the worlds of contemporary composers, opera and film.

For NºD, Parisian photojournalist Gerard Uferas photographed Anne in her studio, dancing to her own choreography for the 1963 Joan Baez song ‘Once’. Dressed in a draped black dress from designer Anke Loh, she executes her movements in front of the studio mirror with precision and determination, to the exacting standards of her own drawings (featured below).

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‘Once’ by Joan Baez

Once I had sweetheart, and now I have none,
Once I had sweetheart, and now I have none,
She’s gone and leave me, she’s gone and leave me,
She’s gone and leave me to sorrow and moan.

Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see,
Last night in sweet slumber I dreamed I did see,
My own precious jewel sat smiling by me,
My own precious jewel sat smiling by me.

And when I awakened I found it not so,
And when I awakened I found it not so,
My eyes like some fountain with tears overflow,
My eyes like some fountain with tears overflow.

I’ll venture through England, through France and through Spain,
I’ll venture through England, through France and through Spain,
All my life I will venture the watery main,
All my life I will venture the watery main.

Once I sweetheart, and now I have none,
Once I sweetheart, and now I have none,
She’s gone and leave me, she’s gone and leave me,
She’s gone and leave me to sorrow and moan.