SHARP Dance Company is a nine member modern dance company that enjoys not only strong technical dance but incorporating that with various collaborators. SHARP starts off its’ sixth season with new and exciting collaborative work from Guest Choreographer Steven Vaughn of Parsons Dance Company, Projection Artist Lauren Mandilian and Artistic Director Diane Sharp-Nachsin.
In “Armilla” SHARP will premiere four new works including the multi-media premiere of “Madness.” SHARP will also be saying farewell to original company member Patrick Korstange in his retirement piece “Everyday Boy.”
SHARP’s striking work investigates the gravitational support each person is able to call upon in life. Sexy and thought provoking, SHARP hopes to bring its kinetic energy to “Armilla.”
SHARP strives to bring together a company of strong dancers to perform work with a new vision. Their mission is to translate raw human emotion utilizing contemporary movement to connect the audience through individual interpretation.
This company and its theory of “meaning behind movement” is shown prominently throughout its work. SHARP feels that dance should be more than a performance, it should be an experience.
SHARP’s work was recently selected for The Phoenix Fringe Festival 2010, The Seacoast Fringe Festival 2010 & 2011, the Cool 2009 NY Festival, and The Fringe Wilmington Festivals in 2009, 2010 & 2011 and the 2011 Philadelphia Festival of the Arts (PIFA). Artistic Director Diane Sharp-Nachsin was selected as a New Edge Mix Artist Award recipient in Philadelphia, PA in 2008 and was commissioned to set work on the Mid-Atlantic Ballet in 2008- 2011.
Diane Sharp-Nachsin
SHARP Dance Company is led under the direction of Diane Sharp-Nachsin. After suffering from injuries that forced Diane to retire from performing, she founded SHARP in 2005 and premiered the company at the Delaware Dance Festival in March 2006.
Diane started her career in Pittsburgh, dancing with Pittsburgh based, Mary Miller Dance Company from 1992-1994. She returned to Philadelphia to dance on scholarship with Philadanco. Diane has also danced professionally with Juan Antonio and dancers, Trapezius Aerial Dance Company, Deborah Birrane, Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers, Convergence Dancers and Musicians/Dance Matrix and Amsterdam based company Jacqueline Knopps and dansers.
Diane has performed with Pennsylvania Ballet Theaters’ Principal dancers Leslie Carothers and Meredith Rainey and Dirk Platzik, formally of The White Oak Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Some of Diane’s teaching experience includes: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, The Governor’s School of New Jersey and Assistant Director of the Penn State University Abington Dance Company.
Her past musical choreography includes: Wizard of Oz, Secret Garden, Damn Yankees, Fame, Smile, How to Succeed in Business, Grease and Beauty and the Beast.
Some of Diane’s other original work has been showcased in Phoenix, Philadelphia, Laconia, Pittsburgh, Wilmington, New York, and at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington D.C.
Armilla
At The Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia PA 19130
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 8:00 p.m (Q&A following performance)
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 8:00 p.m (Reception following performance)
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets available at: http://www.sharpdance.org
Dancers: Joe Cicala, Sandra Davis, Janet DiCicco, Patrick Korstange, Roger Lee, Carolyn Marcinkiewicz, Megan Powell, Kate Rast and Jill Turanski
Collaborating Artists: Lauren Mandilian (Projection Artist), Brian Strachan (Costume Designer)
Guest Choreographer: Steven Vaughn (Parsons Dance Company Member)
Choreography: Diane Sharp-Nachsin
