http://philadelphiadance.org/blog Making dance and dance writing in Philadelphia more accessible to everyone Tue, 21 May 2013 17:45:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/02/14/40-years-of-breathtaking-physicality-and-innovation-with-pilobolus-dance-theatre/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/02/14/40-years-of-breathtaking-physicality-and-innovation-with-pilobolus-dance-theatre/#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:16:35 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3733
The wildly popular Pilobolus Dance Theatre, the dance collective that defies categorization, returns to Philadelphia for a program that includes the Philadelphia premiere of three new works – Redline, The Transformation and “Hapless Hooligan in ‘Still Moving.’” Performances take place March 3- 6, 2011 and are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by [...]]]>
The wildly popular Pilobolus Dance Theatre, the dance collective that defies categorization, returns to Philadelphia for a program that includes the Philadelphia premiere of three new works – Redline, The Transformation and "Hapless Hooligan in 'Still Moving.'" Performances take place March 3- 6, 2011 and are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. Due to demand for tickets, a special 2 PM matinee has been added on Sunday, March 6. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street. Now entering its 40th year of existence, Pilobolus Dance Theatre continues to straddle the confluence of dance and human architecture. The company has created 100 choreographic works that are both visually stunning and challenge the limits of the human body. Grace, physical agility, and pure invention are Pilobolus trademarks. They are the recipient of the 2010 Dance Magazine Award, the first collective to ever be honored in the 54 year history of the award. The group has performed on stage and on television including popular appearances on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” The 2007 “Academy Awards Show” and the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Pilobolus Dance Theatre performances take place on Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 PM; Friday, Friday, March 4 at 8:00 PM, Saturday, March 5 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM, and Sunday, March 6 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $34-$52 (afternoon performances) $38-$58 (evening performances). Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration maintains its tradition of bringing Philadelphia audiences the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. Mr. Swartz notes, “Inventive, fun, surprising, creative, innovative and accessible – the adjectives go on and on for the most popular contemporary dance company on face of the planet. It is always a pleasure to share them with our audience.” Choreographed by the late Jonathan Wolken, Pilobolus co-founder and artistic director, Redline (2009) examines the beauty and futility of physical battle. Accompanied by a driving and seductive score, this full company work is both aggressive and graceful. In the shadow piece The Transformation (2009), created in collaboration with “SpongBob SquarePants” head writer Steven Banks, a young girl, beckoned by her giant lover, loses her head and is changed into a variety of animals. Employing cartoon, film, silhouette theater and live dance, "Hapless Hooligan in 'Still Moving'" (2010) is love story told in the style of early comics. The piece was created in collaboration with Art Spiegelman, the American cartoonist best known for his Pulitzer® Prize-winning comic book memoir Maus and his illustrations in New Yorker magazine. Other iconic Pilobolus works featured on the program included Untitled (1975), a Victorian, “Alice in Wonderland” fantasy featuring two women in gowns who give birth to two adult men in their birthday suits and a rare revival of the two-woman piece Duet (1992), choreographed by co-artistic directors Robby Barnett, Allison Chase and Michael Tracy in collaboration with dancers Rebecca Jung and Jude Woodcock. Pilobolus, named after a phototropic zygomycete, (a feisty, sun-loving fungus), took the dance world by storm with its unique weight bearing techniques and collaborative approaches. The company structures features four artistic directors and six dancers who contribute to the process. Presently, Pilobolus’ artistic directors include Robby Barnett, Michael Tracy, the late Jonathan Wolken and Associate Artistic Director, and veteran dancer and University of the Arts graduate Renee Jaworski. Recently, Pilobolus has embarked on a new series of collective projects with writer and illustrator, Maurice Sendak; the Israeli choreographic team, Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak; the remarkable American puppeteer, Basil Twist; and, in 2009, a full-length movement-theater piece, SHADOWLAND, with Steven Banks, head writer for “SpongeBob SquarePants” and singer-songwriter David Poe as well as Pulitzer Prize® winner cartoonist Art Spiegelman and the Grammy®-winning American composer and musician Dan Zanes. In addition to performances, all three companies will offer outreach activities including a master class as part of the Artist to Artist Series and a special school performance as part of the Annenberg Center’s Student Discovery Series. For more information about the Artist to Artist Series call 215.636.9000 ext. 110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org.  For more information about the Student Discovery Series, call 215.898.6789 or visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org/studentdiscovery.]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/02/14/40-years-of-breathtaking-physicality-and-innovation-with-pilobolus-dance-theatre/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/01/20/dance-celebration-presents-the-philadelphia-debut-of-two-of-new-york%e2%80%99s-hottest-choreographers/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/01/20/dance-celebration-presents-the-philadelphia-debut-of-two-of-new-york%e2%80%99s-hottest-choreographers/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:18:59 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3658
Monica Bill Barnes and Kate Weare – in a shared evening of contemporary dance February 10-12 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Inventive choreography, humor and eclectic music are just a few things audiences can expect when Dance Celebration presents the Philadelphia debut of two of New York’s boldest troupes lead by today’s [...]]]>
Monica Bill Barnes and Kate Weare – in a shared evening of contemporary dance February 10-12 at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Inventive choreography, humor and eclectic music are just a few things audiences can expect when Dance Celebration presents the Philadelphia debut of two of New York’s boldest troupes lead by today’s up and coming women choreographers, Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company. The companies will combine forces for a shared evening of contemporary dance works that are both original and theatrically striking – Bill Barnes’ witty parody Another Parade and Weare’s Bright Land. Performances take place February 10-12, 2011 and are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street. Performances by Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company take place on Thursday, February 10 at 7:30 PM; Friday, February 11 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, February 12 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM. Tickets are $24-$42 (afternoon performances) $28-$48 (evening performances). Monica Bill Barnes’ Another Parade showcases the many different things performers do on stage to engage an audience. Using theatricality, intelligence, humor, physicality, the troupe of four all-female dancers, wearing conservative skirts and turtleneck sweaters, attempt every conceivable mode of entertainment through symbolic actions, poses, gestures, mugging and miming. Another Parade features a soundtrack that alternates Bach with Burt Bacharach and James Brown and a variety of other popular music including Barbara Streisand, Tina Turner and Elvis. Originally planning on pursuing a career in law, Monica Bill Barnes began her career as a company of one in 1995 in New York City and rapidly began building a reputation with a series of evening-long works, cabaret numbers and inventive site-specific pieces. Of Barnes, The Village Voice has said, “Barnes is one of the wittiest young choreographers around…she can stir your heart as well as make you laugh.” In Kate Weare’s Bright Land, a series of dances set to a score of old time music by the San Francisco-based bluegrass band, The Crooked Jades, provides a stark yet complementary contrast to Another Parade. Featuring a quartet of dancers, two men and two women, the piece explores the cyclical nature of human experiences – kinship, belief, suffering and transcendence and between dances, Weare’s performers shed articles of clothing and layers of distance. “Weare gets under the skin of movement with almost surgical exactness, inflames it, and then makes it glow with a strange, yet familiar light. No one else is making work quite like hers” (The Village Voice). The core of the piece is a stunning duet for Leslie Kraus and Douglas Gillespie. As a choreographer, Weare has been commissioned by Jacob's Pillow and received the 2009 Princess Grace Award for Choreography. In the summer 2010, Kate Weare Company debuted at the Joyce Theater in a shared program with Monica Bill Barnes & Company. Randy Swartz, Artistic Director of Dance Affiliates notes, “We finally have new dance voices for a new century as the next generation takes the artistic reins in hand. Smart, witty, and casual with a fresh perspective on just about everything, it’s wonderful to watch.” This program replaces Dendy DanceTheater, originally scheduled for the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season. This presentation is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to performances, Monica Bill Barnes & Company will offer outreach activities including a master class as part of the Artist to Artist Series and a special school performance as part of the Annenberg Center’s Student Discovery Series. For more information about the Artist to Artist Series call 215.636.9000 ext. 110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. For more information about the Student Discovery Series, call 215.898.6789 or visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org/studentdiscovery.]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/01/20/dance-celebration-presents-the-philadelphia-debut-of-two-of-new-york%e2%80%99s-hottest-choreographers/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/01/04/dance-celebration-four-sought-after-choreographers-in-their-philadelphia-debuts-%e2%80%93-larry-keigwin-monica-bill-barnes-kate-weare-and-aszure-barton/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/01/04/dance-celebration-four-sought-after-choreographers-in-their-philadelphia-debuts-%e2%80%93-larry-keigwin-monica-bill-barnes-kate-weare-and-aszure-barton/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:12:18 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3560
The second half of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration Series presented by Dance Affiliates and The Annenberg Center highlights four sought-after choreographers in their Philadelphia debuts – Larry Keigwin, Monica Bill Barnes, Kate Weare and Aszure Barton – all poised to become the next generation of legendary dancemakers. Along with their companies, the choreographers will present [...]]]>
The second half of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration Series presented by Dance Affiliates and The Annenberg Center highlights four sought-after choreographers in their Philadelphia debuts – Larry Keigwin, Monica Bill Barnes, Kate Weare and Aszure Barton – all poised to become the next generation of legendary dancemakers. Along with their companies, the choreographers will present new work that reflects the current style, taste and beat of contemporary dance. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. or on line at www.annenbergcenter.org For a limited time, ticket buyers have the opportunity to purchase the NeXt Generation package and see all three performances in an orchestra level seat for only $60, a savings of more than $50! To purchase this special offer, call the Annenberg Center Box Office at 215.898.3900 or visit www.annenbergcenter.org Keigwin + Company (January 20-22, 2011) "If you miss this hoot of a performance, you only have yourself to blame." Metro New York Larry Keigwin and his seven-member dance troupe make their Philadelphia debut with the full-length piece Elements, a work comprised of four suites set to an eclectic score that ranges from Classical to New Wave to hip-hop and certain to have audiences laughing uproariously. Each suite is inspired by one of nature’s basic building blocks: Earth, Water, Fire and Air. The “Water” suite’s four dances – “Shower,” “Sea,” “Spa,” and “Splash” – feature white towel-clad dancers whose dancing ranges from campy to synchronized and lyrical while using props like water bottles. "Earth" is expressed through dances named after varying forms of lizards – “Gecko,” “Chameleon,” “Dragon,” and “Iguana” – with company members dressed in fall-colored, mixed plaid patterns flicking their tongues and leaping and crawling across the stage. The vignettes of the “Air” suite are “Fly,” “Float,” “Breeze,” and “Wind” and feature pilots, flight attendants and balloons. “Fire” thrills and sizzles with “Flicker,” “Simmer,” “Burn,” and “Flame,” set to music that ranges from Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” to the hip-hop song “Walk It Out” by Unk, with dancers mimicking the unpredictability nature of the element. Keigwin began dancing 20 years ago, playing himself - a dance-crazed teenager in Downtown Julie Brown's "Club MTV," a funky remake of "American Bandstand." He has choreographed not only for prestigious companies like Martha Graham, but also for the Rockettes and rousing musicals like The Wild Party. In 2010, Keigwin was named the Vail International Dance Festival's first artist in residence, during which time he created and premiered a new work with four of ballet’s most prominent stars. He most recently staged the opening event of Fashion Week: "Fashion's Night Out: The Show," which was produced by Vogue and featured over 150 of the industry's top models strutting in formation around the fountain and plaza at Lincoln Center.  He formed Keigwin + Company in 2003 and has performed with Dendy DanceTheater and Doug Varone and Dancers. Keigwin + Company performances take place on Thursday, January 20 at 7:30 PM; Friday, January 21 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, January 22 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM.  Tickets are $24-$42 (afternoon performances) $28-$48 (evening performances). Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company (February 10-12, 2011) Two of New York’s boldest troupes, Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company, take to the Zellerbach stage to present a shared evening of two contemporary dance works that are both original and theatrically striking – Bill Barnes’ witty parody Another Parade and Weare’s Bright Land. Monica Bill Barnes is “one of the wittiest young choreographers around … she can stir your heart as well as make you laugh.” The Village Voice Another Parade showcases the many different things performers do on stage to engage an audience. The troupe of four dancers attempt ever conceivable mode of entertainment through symbolic actions, poses, gestures, mugging and miming, performed to a soundtrack that alternates Bach with James Brown and a variety of other popular music by Barbara Streisand, Tina Turner and Elvis. Originally planning on pursuing a career in law, Bill Barnes began her company as a company of one in 1995 in New York City and rapidly began building a reputation with a series of evening-long works, cabaret numbers and inventive site-specific pieces. Weare’s Bright Land is "idiosyncratic, original, theatrically striking...  The New York Times Bright Land, a series of dances set to a score of old time music by the San Francisco-based band, The Crooked Jades, provides a stark yet complementary contrast to Another Parade. Featuring a quartet of dancers and a trio of musicians, the piece explores the cyclical nature of human experiences – kinship, belief, suffering and transcendence. “Weare gets under the skin of movement with almost surgical exactness, inflames it, and then makes it glow with a strange, yet familiar light. No one else is making work quite like hers” (The Village Voice). As a choreographer, Weare has been commissioned by Jacob's Pillow and received the 2009 Princess Grace Award for Choreography. In the summer 2010, Kate Weare Company and Monica Bill Barnes debuted at the Joyce Theater. Performances by Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company take place on Thursday, February 10 at 7:30 PM; Friday, February 11 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, February 12 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM.  Tickets are $24-$42 (afternoon performances) $28-$48 (evening performances). Aszure Barton & Artists (May 5-7, 2011) "A rare accomplishment in the world of contemporary dance.  Barton's alarmingly original voice resounds with a thwack." The Boston Globe Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton is already one of the most promising and consistently commissioned young choreographers in modern dance and ballet. At only 35, she has already created works for established groups like American Ballet Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, celebrated dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov as well as choreographed the Broadway revival production of Threepenny Opera. She is the Resident Choreographer for Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal and she has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) since 2005. In 2002, she formed Aszure Barton & Artists, presenting her first piece at a deli on 42nd Street in New York City. Barton’s 2009 work Busk, which recently received rave reviews and an extended run at the Jerome Robbins theatre in New York, is set to a soundtrack of Russian gypsy music by Russian violinist and composer Lev Ljova Zhurbin and performed by performed live by Ljova + the Kontraband as well as a powerful selection of world sound including choir music from Sweden’s Orphei Drangar. The word busk comes from the Spanish root word buscar, meaning "to seek"; buskers (another word for street performers) literally seek the fantasy of fame and fortune. Busk opens with video imagery of trees, which soon gives way to bare stage. In another poignant scene, the dancers wear hooded robes and pile in a clump to a chant-like chorus, moving their heads and hands in precise, witty choreography. Of Busk Barton has said that it is some of her most personal work, touching on her own insecurities onstage, but also exploring the need of performers to put themselves on display and explore the sources of self-worth: external group praise or our own internal affirmation. In addition to the 37-minute work Busk, Barton’s program with include another work from repertory. Aszure Barton & Artists performances take place on Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 PM; Friday, May 6 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, May 7 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM.  Tickets are $24-$42 (afternoon performances) $28-$48 (evening performances). Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration maintains its tradition of bringing Philadelphia audiences the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. This season, Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow, pays homage to the great masters of dance while exploring new voices who challenge the status quo and reflect the style, taste and beat of the 21st century. Mr. Swartz notes about the next generation of dance superstars. “It’s new, hot and happening but it is also unknown. Such is the difficulty in presenting new artists. If you take the time, you will be doubly rewarded with making a fabulous new discovery and having an extraordinary night in the theatre.” In addition to performances, all three companies will offer outreach activities including a master class as part of the Artist to Artist Series and a special school performance as part of Dance Celebration’s Student Discovery Series. For more information about the Artist to Artist Series call 215.636.9000 ext. 110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. For more information about the Student Discovery Series, call 215.898.6789 or visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org/studentdiscovery. The presentations of Keigwin + Company, Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Kate Weare Company, and Aszure Barton & Artists are supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Significant funding for the 2010-11 Dance Celebration season is provided by the William Penn Foundation and also in part by The Connelly Foundation, Samuel S. Fels Fund, Friends of Dance (Affiliates), Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Maurice Rohrbach Fund, Swiss American Cultural Exchange and the Virginia C. Mulconroy Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation.]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2011/01/04/dance-celebration-four-sought-after-choreographers-in-their-philadelphia-debuts-%e2%80%93-larry-keigwin-monica-bill-barnes-kate-weare-and-aszure-barton/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/12/04/remember-me-and-you-will-at-annenberg/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/12/04/remember-me-and-you-will-at-annenberg/#comments Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:59:53 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3455
By Merilyn Jackson For The Inquirer After two years of touring, choreographer David Parsons’ Remember Me finally landed in Philadelphia Thursday night at Annenberg Center. A brilliant hit, it slams at the highbrow expectations of New York critics who’ve labeled it superficial and more soap than rock opera. Some say it’s a pop-opera; the Village [...]]]>
By Merilyn Jackson For The Inquirer After two years of touring, choreographer David Parsons' Remember Me finally landed in Philadelphia Thursday night at Annenberg Center. A brilliant hit, it slams at the highbrow expectations of New York critics who've labeled it superficial and more soap than rock opera. Some say it's a pop-opera; the Village Voice's Deborah Jowitt called it a dansical. None of this matters to audiences, which erupt in applause at the end of each act and bolt from their seats to cheer before the finale's last notes fade. This is the kind of show that would have elicited flowers flung on the stage in another era. What puzzles me is that Twyla Tharp gets nary a raised eyebrow for her Broadway excursions with Billy Joel and her Sinatra syndrome..., while Parsons has his feet held to the fire for collaborating with the East Village Opera Company (EVOC) to create an uber-sexy, easy-to-follow narrative as entertaining as any opera from a century ago - a gorgeously performed work for our time. READ FULL STORY...]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/12/04/remember-me-and-you-will-at-annenberg/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/22/dance-celebration-brings-legendary-swiss-troupe-mummenschanz-to-philadelphia/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/22/dance-celebration-brings-legendary-swiss-troupe-mummenschanz-to-philadelphia/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:47:16 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3382
Perfect for both the young and the young at heart, legendary Swiss troupe Mummenschanz returns to Philadelphia after an ten year absence to perform 3 x 11, a retrospective piece that features the troupe’s most beloved, imaginative and humorous characters from over the years, as well as some newer original material. A unique alternative to [...]]]>
Perfect for both the young and the young at heart, legendary Swiss troupe Mummenschanz returns to Philadelphia after an ten year absence to perform 3 x 11, a retrospective piece that features the troupe’s most beloved, imaginative and humorous characters from over the years, as well as some newer original material. A unique alternative to the Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol, Mummenschanz is the perfect holiday outing for the whole family. Performances take place December 16-18, 2010 and are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street. Mummenschanz has captivated audiences worldwide with its groundbreaking visual theatre that transcends the traditional barriers of nationality and culture. The company creates a whimsical and wordless universe filled with eccentrically playful humour and fantastic shapes and creatures made from inanimate objects like wires, fabric, cardboard, garbage bags and toilet paper. Inventive use of forms, shadow and light are also used throughout each vignette to tell the audience a story. “Although unrecognizable as people, they powerfully engage the emotions with their silly, earnest and very human activities, supply revealing universal truths through simple interactions and transformation.” (The New York Times) Currently in its fourth decade of existence, Mummenschanz, which loosely translated means “masquerade,” remains one of the most successful theater groups in the world. Formed in 1972 by Swiss artists Bernie Schürch and Andres Bossard with Swiss-American artist Floriana Frassetto, the pioneering performance troupe revolutionized the world of mime and silent comedy by blending dance, mask-play, theatre and puppetry. The group had its breakthrough during an extended Broadway run at the Bijou Theatre in New York City from 1977-80. Never before and or since has a show without words or music succeeded on Broadway for three consecutive years. Since then, the group has toured continuously around the globe, performing in renowned festivals and theaters worldwide. U.S. TV appearances include Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. Since 2000, Mummenschanz has grown to a company of five, with original cast members Schürch and Frassetto now joined by featured performers Pietro Montandon and Raffaella Mattioli and technical director Jan Maria Lukas. Mummenschanz performances take place on Thursday, December 16 at 7:30 PM; Friday, December 17 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, December 18 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM. Tickets are $24-$42 (afternoon performances) $28-$48 (evening performances). These performances are part of a three-month, multi-city tour that marks the troupe’s return to North America for the first time since 2003 and are the only opportunity to see Mummenschanz in Pennsylvania. Mummenschanz last performed as part of the Dance Celebration series in 2001. Randy Swartz, Artistic Director of Dance Affiliates exclaims, “Magical mayhem abounds in this compellingly funny and touching movement theatre presentation. Memories are made here and we are thrilled to present this family friendly production during the holidays.” MUMMENSCHANZ Thursday, December 16 at 7:30 PM Friday, December 17 at 8:00 PM Saturday, December 18 at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 18 at 8:00 PM Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/22/dance-celebration-brings-legendary-swiss-troupe-mummenschanz-to-philadelphia/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/16/dance-celebration-presents-parsons-dance-in-the-philadelphia-premiere-of-remember-me/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/16/dance-celebration-presents-parsons-dance-in-the-philadelphia-premiere-of-remember-me/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:56:51 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3350
Internationally renowned contemporary dance company Parsons Dance performs the Philadelphia premiere of REMEMBER ME, a rock dance opera collaboration with the East Village Opera Company, December 2 – 4, 2010. Performances by Parsons Dance are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. REMEMBER ME is the most [...]]]>
Internationally renowned contemporary dance company Parsons Dance performs the Philadelphia premiere of REMEMBER ME, a rock dance opera collaboration with the East Village Opera Company, December 2 – 4, 2010. Performances by Parsons Dance are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. REMEMBER ME is the most ambitious production created by David Parsons, known as one of modern dance’s great living dance-makers. A modern day re-telling of the classic story of a tragic love triangle, REMEMBER ME features contemporary and aerial dance, digital projections and lighting design by Tony® Award winning lighting designer Howell Binkley. Austin Scarlett, featured on the first season of the hit Bravo series Project Runway, designed the costumes. The piece features the vocals and music of the Grammy-nominated rock opera band, East Village Opera Company, whose signature works re-imagine opera arias as popular songs. Lead vocalists Tyley Ross and AnnMarie Milazzo blend pieces by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Schubert with the sounds of rock and roll, pop and R&B, creating a truly unique musical experience. Parsons dancer Abby Silva Gavezzoli plays the main love interest, with Eric Bourne and Miguel Quinones as her two suitors. The story follows the typical trajectory of an opera which undoubtedly ends tragically in a powerful finale. REMEMBER ME first premiered to rave reviews at the Joyce Theater in January 2009, which led to a yearlong world tour and a PBS special. The New York Times has called it a performance that “won’t be easy to forget” and the Chicago Tribune said of the East Village Opera Company “nobody puts a friskier spin on opera’s greatest hits.” The program also features CAUGHT, Parsons’ unforgettable signature stroboscopic tour-de-force featuring a solo dancer defying gravity who appears to be caught or suspended in the air. The soloist performs more than 100 jumps. By use of strobe light, perfectly timed and coordinated with continuous jumping motions, the illusion of someone “caught” in mid-air is perceived by the audience. Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration maintains its tradition of bringing Philadelphia audiences the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. This season, Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow, pays homage to the great masters of dance while exploring new voices who challenge the status quo and reflect the style, taste and beat of the 21st century. Notes Mr. Swartz about Parsons Dance, “This multi-media extravaganza of sight and sound is the culmination of Parsons’ genius to both entertain and inspires and Caught’s nine minutes of theatrical magic will stay with you forever.” Parsons Dance performances take place on Thursday, December 2 at 7:30 PM; Friday, December 3 at 8:00 PM and Saturday, December 4 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM. Tickets are $24-$42 (afternoon performances) $28-$48 (evening performances). In addition to performances, Parsons Dance will offer outreach activities including a master class on Friday, December 3 at the University of the Arts as part of the Artist to Artist Series and a special school performance as part of the Annenberg Center’s Student Discovery Series. For more information about the Artist to Artist Series call 215.636.9000 ext. 110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. For more information about the Student Discovery Series, call 215.898.6789 or visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org/studentdiscovery.]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/16/dance-celebration-presents-parsons-dance-in-the-philadelphia-premiere-of-remember-me/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/03/luis-bravo%e2%80%99s-sizzling-tony%c2%ae-award-nominated-dance-spectacular-forever-tango-dazzles-philadelphia-audiences-for-seven-performances/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/03/luis-bravo%e2%80%99s-sizzling-tony%c2%ae-award-nominated-dance-spectacular-forever-tango-dazzles-philadelphia-audiences-for-seven-performances/#comments Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:38:35 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3298
Luis Bravo’s sizzling Tony® Award nominated dance spectacular Forever Tango dazzles Philadelphia audiences for seven performances, November 16-20, 2010. Performances of Forever Tango are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. Created and directed by Luis Bravo, Forever Tango features 14 world-class dancers, a vocalist, and a [...]]]>
Luis Bravo’s sizzling Tony® Award nominated dance spectacular Forever Tango dazzles Philadelphia audiences for seven performances, November 16-20, 2010. Performances of Forever Tango are part of the 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. Created and directed by Luis Bravo, Forever Tango features 14 world-class dancers, a vocalist, and a 9-piece orchestra, anchored by the bandoneón, the accordion-like instrument that is the mainstay of tango music. The Forever Tango orchestra boasts four of only 200 bandoneón players known worldwide. Through music, dance and vignettes, the production traces the tango's colorful history, from its beginnings in turn-of-the-century Buenos Aires bordellos to its acceptance into high society. Male dancers move in sleek black tuxedos with matching ties, fedoras and shiny black shoes, and female dancers dressed in stunning cocktail dresses, high heels and fishnet stockings seductively embrace, dip and lunge at lightning speeds. The dances, performed to original and traditional music, are the result of collaboration between each couple and director/creator Bravo. Called a “must see” production according to the New York Times and described as “a sensuous, seductive, pleasure” by USA TODAY, Forever Tango is the most successful theatrical dance show in history and has been seen by over six million people worldwide. According to Bravo, “tango represents so much more than just a dance: it is a music, a culture, a way of life.” Forever Tango debuted in San Francisco in 1994 where it played for an unprecedented 92 weeks. The production opened on Broadway in 1997 for what was originally planed as a eight-week limited engagement that Dance Celebration presents Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango into a fourteen month run that received multiple Tony® and Drama Desk Award nominations. Since then, the show has toured internationally and returned to Broadway on two separate occasions. Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration maintains its tradition of bringing Philadelphia audiences the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. This season, Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow, pays homage to the great masters of dance while exploring new voices who challenge the status quo and reflect the style, taste and beat of the 21st century. Notes Mr. Swartz about Forever Tango, “Luis Bravo took Tango from the clubs and brothels of Argentina to the bright lights of Broadway, forever changing the art of dance. A true dance pioneer, he helped create a cult following for this Latin dance style. Forever Tango represents the best of the best in Argentine music and dance.” Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango Tuesday, November 16 at 7:30 PM Wednesday, November 17 at 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 17 at 7:30 Thursday, November 18 at 7:30 PM Friday, November 19 at 8:00 PM Saturday, November 20 at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 20 at 8:00 PM Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Tickets: $34-$52 (afternoon performances) $38-$58 (evening performances). These performances are part of the Dance Celebration series, presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. Pre and Post Show Activities Audience members will enjoy special pre-show demonstrations by local dance studios and dancers including Amore Tango/Andrew Conway and Linda Chase, Dance Philadelphia Argentine Tango/Lesley Mitchell and Maly Fennell, Philadelphia Tango School/Meredith Klein, Tango Hop/Lori Coyle and Sam Wilson, Temple University Tango Group/Rhonda Moore, Vittoria Natale & Guillermo Elkouss, and University City Arts League/Kelly Ray. Following each performance, the audience is invited to a tango lesson led by a couple from the cast of Forever Tango. Pre and post show activities will take place in the Annenberg Center lobby. In addition to performances and demonstrations, the cast of Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango will present a special school performance as part of the Annenberg Center’s Student Discovery Series. For more information about the Student Discovery Series, call 215.898.6789 or visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org/studentdiscovery. Significant funding for the 2010-11 Dance Celebration season is provided by the William Penn Foundation and also in part by The Connelly Foundation, Samuel S. Fels Fund, Friends of Dance (Affiliates), Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Virginia C. Mulconroy Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation. Dance Celebration Founded by Artistic Director Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration is the Greater Philadelphia region's major contemporary dance series and a nationally-recognized leader in its field. For the past 28 seasons, Dance Celebration has been a collaboration between Dance Affiliates and Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The 2010/11 season, titled “Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow,” juxtaposes blockbuster dance companies with hot, new talent emerging on the dance scene.]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/11/03/luis-bravo%e2%80%99s-sizzling-tony%c2%ae-award-nominated-dance-spectacular-forever-tango-dazzles-philadelphia-audiences-for-seven-performances/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/10/07/dance-celebration-presents-paul-taylor-dance-company-for-season-opening/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/10/07/dance-celebration-presents-paul-taylor-dance-company-for-season-opening/#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:03:51 +0000 Steven Weisz http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=3186
Program features three works never before performed in Philadelphia The 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center opens with one of the world’s most honored dance companies – Paul Taylor Dance Company – in performance October 21-23, 2010, at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Two of Taylor’s classic [...]]]>
Program features three works never before performed in Philadelphia The 2010/11 Dance Celebration season presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center opens with one of the world’s most honored dance companies – Paul Taylor Dance Company – in performance October 21-23, 2010, at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Two of Taylor’s classic pieces new to Philadelphia audiences, Arden Court and Cloven Kingdom, open and close the program. A new work, Phantasmagoria, will also be performed. For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office located at 3680 Walnut Street. Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration maintains its tradition of bringing Philadelphia audiences the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. This season, Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow, pays homage to the great masters of dance while exploring new voices who challenge the status quo and reflect the style, taste and beat of the 21st century. Notes Mr. Swartz about Paul Taylor Dance Company, “Taylor represents the best in American dance and I can’t think of a better way to kick off our 29th season. With a program featuring three Philadelphia premiers including two Taylor classics, it is a dance enthusiast’s dream come true.” The program opens with Arden Court, set to the music of 18th-century English composer William Boyce. First performed in 1981, the piece became an instant hit with both audiences and critics. Twisting torsos and sweeping, upraised arms, forming an excited stream of X's and Y's, Arden Court showcases the beauty and athleticism of the body in motion. Phantasmagoria, Taylor’s newest work commissioned in honor of the choreographer’s 80th birthday, was given its official premiere this past summer at the American Dance Festival in North Carolina. Featuring an eclectic cast of characters – a Byzantine nun, Irish step dancer and a Bowery bum, to name a few – and set to Renaissance Dance Celebration presents Paul Taylor Dance Company Page 2 music, Phantasmagoria is a series of witty, surreal vignettes. The painting “Wedding Dance in the Open Air” by Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder served as inspiration for the piece. In Bruegel’s painting, every figure is frozen in a moment of action. Featuring men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns, Taylor’s Cloven Kingdom is an original and stirringly honest piece about mankind’s human instinct and the primal beast hidden behind a sophisticated exterior. Animalistic rhythms and beats are interspersed with classical music. The piece originally premiered in 1976. At 80 – an age when most artists’ best work is behind them – Paul Taylor continues to be acclaimed for the vibrancy, relevance and power of his current dances as well as his classics. Having choreographed his first dance in 1954, he has amassed an enormous repertoire of dances, now numbering 133. His company, now in its 56th year, has performed in more than 520 cities in 62 countries, and continues to be a major force in the advancement of contemporary dance. In addition to performances, Paul Taylor Dance Company will offer outreach activities including a master class on Friday, October 22 at the University of the Arts as part of the Artist to Artist Series and a special school performance as part of the Annenberg Center’s Student Discovery Series. For more information about the Artist to Artist Series call 215.636.9000 ext. 110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. For more information about the Student Discovery Series, call 215.898.6789 or visit www.AnnenbergCenter.org/studentdiscovery. Dance Celebration Founded by Artistic Director Randolph F. Swartz, Dance Celebration is the Greater Philadelphia region's major contemporary dance series and a nationally-recognized leader in its field. For the past 28 seasons, Dance Celebration has been a collaboration between Dance Affiliates and Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The 2010/11 season, titled “Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow,” juxtaposes blockbuster dance companies with hot, new talent emerging on the dance scene. Throughout its illustrious history, Dance Celebration has had ancillary series including the edgy NextMove Festival (1987-2003), the groundbreaking Monday Night Series (1986-1998), and numerous special events (1987-2006). Nikolais Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pilobolus Dance Theater and Murray Louis Dance Company launched the inaugural season at Annenberg Center in 1983, followed in subsequent years by modern dance legends Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Bella Lewitsky and Jose Limón. Paul Taylor Dance Company Thursday, October 21 at 7:30 PM Friday, October 22 at 8:00 PM Saturday, October 23 at 2:00 PM Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 PM Zellerbach Theatre at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/10/07/dance-celebration-presents-paul-taylor-dance-company-for-season-opening/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/05/18/dance-celebration%e2%80%99s-28th-season-superstars-of-dance-today-and-tomorrow/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/05/18/dance-celebration%e2%80%99s-28th-season-superstars-of-dance-today-and-tomorrow/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 18:56:28 +0000 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=2553
Dance Celebration’s 28th Season, “Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow,” features eight companies in 35 performances at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Season highlights include Philadelphia premieres, a Broadway dance spectacle, and a special holiday show. 20th century superstars and visionaries Paul Taylor, David Parsons, and Luis Bravo, as [...]]]>
Dance Celebration’s 28^th Season, “Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow,” features eight companies in 35 performances at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Season highlights include Philadelphia premieres, a Broadway dance spectacle, and a special holiday show. 20^th century superstars and visionaries Paul Taylor, David Parsons, and Luis Bravo, as well as the collectives  Pilobolus and Mummenschanz, brought new vision and meaning to dance through years of breathtaking  innovation and exploration.  These icons, masters, and magicians have raised both the standards of what is humanly possible and what dance can do and say to audiences worldwide. 21^st century rising stars Larry Keigwin, Mark Dendy, and Aszure Barton offer new perspectives, fresh energy, and tantalizing subject matter informed by today’s society, while honoring past traditions. Randy Swartz, artistic director of Dance Affiliates notes, “We wanted to celebrate iconic figures by presenting their newest works and bring to the forefront new talent who will carry on a tradition of continually reinventing dance.”  Dance Celebration, presented by Dance Affiliates and Annenberg Center, is one of the few remaining dance-only series nationally. This season also celebrates Randy Swartz’s 40 years as a presenter of world-class dance. Prior to productions at Annenberg Center, in the 1970s he directed the dance series at the Walnut Street Theatre. Swartz reflects on the early beginnings and how it was “a great privilege to work with the great legends – Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Alvin Ailey, Jose Limon, Erick Hawkins and Paul Taylor. It was also an added bonus to discover fresh new voices and provide an opportunity for the first tours of Pilobolus, Tharp, MOMIX, Parsons, Dance Theater of Harlem, BodyVox, and Iso.”  It is in this spirit of honoring our traditions and discovering new voices that we celebrate the “Superstars of Dance, Today and Tomorrow.” Paul Taylor Dance Company (October 21-23, 2010) kicks off the Dance Celebration series. In his early days, Paul Taylor danced with Graham and was a rebel known for creating avant-garde works such as Three Epitaphs, Big Bertha and Untitled Duet which was performed in silence and garnered him the infamous wordless review in the New York Times.  Now heralded as “the greatest living choreographer,” (San Francisco Chronicle) Taylor has set the bar for contemporary dance with his brilliant repertoire of 131 works and the skill and artistry of his sensational troupe. At 80 years of age, this MacArthur ‘genius award” winner is prolific, witty, and relevant.  His troupe returns performing his latest masterpieces, all Philadelphia premieres. Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango (November 16-20, 2010 – seven performances Tuesday through Saturday) ran for an unprecedented 92 weeks on Broadway. In keeping with the great folkloric traditions, Bravo brought the tango out of  its origins in Argentine nightclubs and onto the concert stage.  Tracing the evolution of the tango’s 19^th century roots, Forever Tango consists of a stellar cast of 14 incredible dancers, an 11-piece orchestra featuring a bandoneon player, and live singers. The two- hour spectacle takes the audience on a journey through the history, culture and passion of Argentina. Parsons Dance Company (December 2-4, 2010) premieres the full-length work Remember Me, a rock opera created in collaboration with the East Village Opera Company.  Hailed as “one of the great movers of modern dance” (New York Times), David Parsons was a soloist for a decade with the Paul Taylor Dance Company.  Recognized for his humorous, superbly danced and accessible works such as Caught, The Envelope, and Too Many Cooks, Parsons has captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. In 2000, he ended the Millenium with a 24-hour celebration aired globally from Times Square.  Back from a national tour, Remember Me is a classic love story between two brothers and the woman they both love featuring singers, lighting design by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley, and costume design by Project Runway’s Austin Scarlett.  The Village Voice exclaims, “Awesome dancing…. eye-popping visual effects… excellent showbiz savvy performers… perpetually  smoldering, lusty sensual movement.” As a special holiday event, the Swiss troupe Mummenschanz (December 16-18, 2010) has revolutionized the theatre world with a mix of acting, mime, illusion, dance, and magic. Mummenschanz’s newest show 3 X 11 (a 33-year retrospective) transforms recycled junk into astonishing shapes and forms resembling gigantic balloons and massive  potatoes,  huge slinkies, otherworldly pleated tubes, and colossal heads. Using cardboard boxes, foam, toilet paper, suitcases, and large white sheets, the actors bring inanimate objects to life.  These invisible masters of movement (founding members Bernie Schurch, Floriana Frassetto with Raffaella Mattioli and Pietro Montandon) convey a whole scale of emotions, from laughter to surprise to fear. For 33 years, Mummenschaz’s mission has been “to stage a play without words or linguistic or cultural borders.” The Age Melbourne exclaims “the company’s work is a visual feast… the performers are fabulous and power their scenes with artistry and pace.  Whether you are 8 or 80, Mummenschanz is a night to remember.” Keigwin + Company makes its Dance Celebration debut (January 20-22, 2011) with the Philadelphia premiere of the full-length Elements. Considered by many as the latest choreographic find, Keigwin grew up watching MTV.  Known for his pop sensibilities, outrageous slapstick approaches and unflinching showmanship, Keigwin has danced with downtown New York superstars Mark Dendy (for which he won a Bessie Award for his performance in Dream Analysis),  Jane Comfort, John Jasperse, and Doug Elkins, as well as The Metropolitan Opera’s production of Doug Varone ‘s Le Sacre du Printemps.  With music ranging from Mozart to hip hop to Perry Como, Elements explores the themes of earth, fire, water and air. Metro New York exclaims, “If you miss this hoot of a performance, you only have yourself to blame. “ After a 10-year hiatus from the concert stage to pursue a career in musical theater, OBIE and Bessie award winner Mark Dendy returns with his troupe Dendy DanceTheater (February 10-12, 2011).   A legendary downtown New York performer recognized for his “wild, mad, beautiful and extraordinarily energized choreography” (The New York Post), Dendy has danced with Pooh Kaye, Ruby Shang, Pear Lang, and the Martha Graham Ensemble. His semi-autobiographic program will include his famously uproarious reinvention of Martha Graham, as well as the brilliant Afternoon of the Faunes, a male duet (originally danced by him and Larry Keigwin) to Debussy channeling twin Nijinskys.  Working Class Heroes, a tribute to the American do-or-die spirit, will make its premiere. ***Photo by John Kane Pilobolus Dance Theatre (March 3-5, 2011) exploded onto the scene 40 years ago shocking audiences with its imaginative weight-bearing techniques, breathtaking physicality and collaborative approaches.   Founders (Robby Barnett, Lee Harris, Moses Pendleton and Jonathan Wolken) met while taking Alison Chases’ dance class at Dartmouth College.  Untrained as dancers, they created a new movement vocabulary based on physical humor and gymnastics that interconnected body parts into unfathomable shapes. Early works include Walklyndon (1971)  an hilarious work based on walking; Monkshood Farewell (1974)  a group work featuring unusual balances and revolutionary body connections;  and  Day Two (1981), showcasing dancers in nude-colored thongs skimming and tumbling through a water slide set the stage for international success. Recipients of Berlin’s Critic Prize, the Scotsman Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, Pilobolus has appeared on CBS’ 60 Minutes, The Academy Awards, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and the 2002 Olympics. Making its Dance Celebration debut, Aszure Barton & Artists premieres the full-length work Busk (May 5-7, 2011). Awarded the City of Edmonton’s prestigious Ambassador for Contemporary Choreography Award, rising star Aszure Barton has created works for Hubbard Street, American Ballet Theatre, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the National Ballet of Canada, Sydney Dance Company, and Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, as well as the Broadway production of Three Penny Opera. Inspired by what street performers (buskers) do to lure audience and a make a living, Busk features street hoofers, hooded monks, compelling video projections, and an evocative score by composer and violinist Lev Ljova Zhurbin. Using the idiosyncratic movement of her virtuoso dancers, Barton creates a psychological portrait riveting with humor, pathos, zaniness, and unpredictability.  Dance View Times states, "I thought that the audience was going to explode from its seats... Aszure Barton, where have you been? Where are you going? The art of choreography needs you." All performances will take place in the Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia PA, 19104.  Subscriber benefits include unlimited exchanges on all subscription tickets, free ticket replacement, priority seating and other special promotional offers, including parking discounts and discounts at restaurants and shops around town. Subscribers have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets to any of the season’s Dance Celebration or Annenberg Center Presents shows at a 10% discount. Current subscribers may renew their subscriptions through July 23, 2010 and keep the same seats.  Single tickets will go on sale at the end of August.  Subscription prices range from $66-$266. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Annenberg Center Box Office at 215-898-3900 or by visiting www.AnnenbergCenter.org. Founded in 1983 by artistic director Randy Swartz, Dance Affiliates is one of the nation’s few remaining dance-only presenters.  Its Dance Celebration program, Philadelphia’s most acclaimed and longest-running series of world-class contemporary dance, has presented 175 companies in 1,500 performances. In addition to its original production of Thank You Gregory: A Tribute to the Legends of Tap, in 2005, which was revised for a national tour in 2009-2010,  Dance Affiliates also conceived and produced The Music That Made Us Dance: From Lindy to Hip Hop in 2006, its first-ever commission for the series featuring Philadelphia’s most inventive choreographers and dancers.  Dance Affiliates partners with other nonprofit, educational and community organizations such as its symposium at The Philadelphia Museum of Art with the Merce Cunningham and Trisha Brown dance companies; The Mann Center for the Performing Arts to develop extensive outreach activities for its Royal Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Bolshoi Ballet engagements; the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation to present the play Forbidden Christmas or The Doctor and The Patient at Prince Music Theatre; the University of the Arts and The Rock School to sponsor on-site visits with students by Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi and George de la Pena; the Merriam Theater to bring Mikhail Baryshnikov’s PASTForward with White Oak Project; and Kids Dancing for Kids showcasing  some of America’s most talented young dancers in  joint production with the Prince Music Theater benefiting its outreach program The Rainbow Connection. In addition to performances, the Dance Celebration 2010-2011 season offers outreach activities by all the touring companies for the local community. These programs include master classes, workshops, residencies and special projects as part of The Artist to Artist Series and full production performances in The Student Discovery Series.     For more information call 215-636-9000 ext.110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. Significant funding for the 2010-11 Dance Celebration season is provided by the William Penn Foundation and also in part by The Connelly Foundation, Samuel S. Fels Fund, Friends of Dance (Affiliates), Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Virginia C. Mulconroy Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation. ]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/05/18/dance-celebration%e2%80%99s-28th-season-superstars-of-dance-today-and-tomorrow/feed/ 0 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/04/28/momix-premieres-botanica-a-visual-tour-de-force-closing-dance-celebration%e2%80%99s-season/ http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/04/28/momix-premieres-botanica-a-visual-tour-de-force-closing-dance-celebration%e2%80%99s-season/#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:12:23 +0000 http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=2470
MOMIX premieres Botanica, a visual tour-de-force, closing Dance Celebration’s Season, May 20-23, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Due to demand for tickets, a special Sunday, May 23, 2 pm matinee has been added. Known for conjuring up worlds consisting of surrealistic images and unfathomable beauty using props, light, shadow, [...]]]>
MOMIX premieres Botanica, a visual tour-de-force, closing Dance Celebration’s Season, May 20-23, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Due to demand for tickets, a special Sunday, May 23, 2 pm matinee has been added. Known for conjuring up worlds consisting of surrealistic images and unfathomable beauty using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body, MOMIX has been sought after to collaborate in commercial ventures such as car ads (Fiat, BMW, Mercedes Benz), MAC cosmetics and Hanes underwear commercials, and Kohler fixture ads to promote water conservation. Ironically, it was in these ventures where the otherworldly Botanica took root. Conceived and directed by Moses Pendleton, the full-length work features ten sensational dancer-illusionists, Michael Curry’s large-scale puppet design (The Lion King), Pendleton’s  multiple camera eye-catching video projections, outlandish constructed costumes, sensual and expressive choreography, and an eclectic soundtrack ranging from bird song to Vivaldi, from new age to techno. The Daily Gazette notes, “All in all, it’s easy to see why MOMIX is such a favorite. MOMIX equals magic.” Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration presented by Dance Affiliates and Penn Presents, maintains the tradition of bringing to Philadelphia the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies.  This season’s The Magic of Movement pays tribute to American dance and showcases its diversity of styles: tap, Broadway, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, multimedia, and dance theater. Performances will take place on Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 pm; Friday, May 21 at 8:00 pm; Saturday, May 22 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Sunday, May 23 at 2 pm. Ticket prices are $48, $42, $38, $28 (evening) and $42, $36, $32, $24 (matinee). Tickets may be purchased by calling the Annenberg Center Box Office at 215-898-3900 or by visiting www.AnnenbergCenter.org Following every performance, there will be a post-performance chat with Moses Pendleton in the lobby. Botanica is a deepening of Pendleton’s 30-year fascination with nature through its seasonal changes and transformations evoking beauty, fear, humor, and excitement.  This four-part work opens in winter featuring a fantasy tree, a river of fluttering ice-blue silk and otherworldly snow creatures moving to Tuu’s “Frozen Land.”  Sections show man and nature inhabiting a dreamlike cosmos where dinosaurs roam, boulders swallow humans, centaurs battle, bulbs bloom, snakes crawl, birds fly, and tiny organisms mate and multiply.  Phoebe Katzin’s flamboyant costume designs – a dancer spinning with strings of beads, giant yellow and orange feathers resembling fans and sunflowers, fiery red feather tutu-like skirts, and a gigantic parachute fan - add grandeur while conveying a message of ecological connection and evolution.  Pendleton states, “You have got to use your imagination, and in our shows we try and create what I call ‘optical confusion’ designed to excite brain cells and stimulate creativity.” Moses Pendleton will be honored with an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of the Arts in conjunction with the commencement ceremonies on May 20 at The Academy of Music. One of America's most innovative and widely performed choreographers and directors, a founding member of the ground-breaking Pilobolus Dance Theater in 1971, he formed his own company MOMIX, in the early 80’s. Pendleton has worked extensively in film, TV, and opera and as a choreographer for ballet companies and special events.  He was a recipient of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Governor's Award in 1998, received the Positano Choreographic Award in 1999 and was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1977.  He received the 2002 American Choreography Award for his contributions to choreography for film and television. In addition to performances, MOMIX will offer outreach activities including a master class as part of The Artist to Artist Series and a special school performances for The Student Discovery Series.  For more information call 215-636-9000 ext.110 or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. ]]> http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/2010/04/28/momix-premieres-botanica-a-visual-tour-de-force-closing-dance-celebration%e2%80%99s-season/feed/ 0