Choreographer Nora Gibson of Nora Gibson Contemporary Ballet presents the premiere of 2^57,885,161 – 1 on February 27th and 28th at 8pm at The Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine St., Philadelphia. This half-evening length abstract ballet for four dancers is about the beauty and opacity of prime number theory. Live music and original score by noted electronic composer, Michael McDermott, AKA Mikronesia. Video by Lafayette College mathematics professor, Derek Smith. Gibson is known for her unique and progressive approach to ballet; her work hailed as “authoritative,” “laser-sharp,” and having “intellectual beauty.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Choreographer Bryan Koulman (NYC) presents selected works from his repertory accompanied by classical musicians Tatyana Shargorodsky, pianist; Sabrina Tabby, violinist, who will bring to life the richness of Beethoven, Ravel, Jolivet and Rouse, and who will highlight the elegance and musicality of Koulman’s neo-classical aesthetic.
Gibson is a graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts and Tisch at New York University. In 2009, she established Nora Gibson Performance Project, (now called, Nora Gibson Contemporary Ballet) with Philadelphia as its home base. Since that time, her work has been commissioned regularly, and has consistently received recognition for Gibson’s innovative treatment of the classical idiom. Gibson was awarded a 2009-10 Artist in Residence with the nEW Festival in Philadelphia, the CEC New Edge Residency for 2009-10, the Ellen Forman Memorial Award in 2011, and the PHL/Poland Artist Exchange Residency through Dance/UP in 2012. Gibson’s choreography has been presented by New Dance Alliance at Joyce SOHO in April 2010, at Dance Place in Washington DC, Summer 2012, and by Philadelphia Dance Projects in 2014. Gibson’s inaugural work was heralded by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “spellbinding” and “the most authoritative work in Philadelphia [this year].” Philadelphia Inquirer, 4.12.10, and her work has continued to receive consistent critical acclaim. In 2014, NGPP is delighted to be in residence at Lafayette College for the development of a new ballet that delves into prime number theory.
Mikronesia is the moniker of composer and electronic musician Michael Reiley McDermott. Through electroacoustic creations Mikronesia weaves sonic meditations as recordings, installations, applications and scores for dance and film. His work has been presented in major artistic centers around the world including New York, Berlin, London, Paris and extensively in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Bryan Koulman received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College, and Masters degree from Tisch, at New York University. He has danced with the Milwaukee Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre, and was a participant of the Carlisle Project, under the direction of Barbara Weisberger. Mr. Koulman is currently Ballet Master at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. His work has been performed in NYC, as well as by the students of the Academy.
Tatyana Shargorodsky was born in the former Soviet Union, where she received her elementary music education in the Ukrainian city of Lvov. Upon completing her education in Odessa, she was engaged as an accompanist with Vodnic, a prestigious rhythmic gymnastics school. In 1982, Ms. Shargorodsky immigrated to the United States where she began working as an accompanist for Margarita and John White, directors of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. To further her understanding of the Vaganova teaching method, she attended John White’s teacher seminar. She was offered the opportunity to teach and presently divides her work at the Academy between teaching and accompanying. In 2001 Ms. Shargorodsky joined Melinda Pendleton and Margarita White to form Whitefeather Productions. Their company produces high quality piano accompaniment for ballet classes and students at all levels. Their CD’s have received high praise from teachers nationally and internationally.
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2^57,885,161 -1
Nora Gibson Contemporary Ballet in concert with Bryan Koulman
February 27-28, 2015, 8pm
The Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine St., Philadelphia, PA 19130
Tickets available online at Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1049834
Ticket prices: $18 general/ $13 dance professionals/student/senior
Steven is currently the CEO of Delaware Valley on Line, one of the first regional Internet Service Provides that now focuses on business-class web hosting, design, and internet marketing. He is president and founder of Rainbow Promotions Inc., a special events and entertainment agency established in the late 70’s, that services corporate and retail accounts both locally and nationally.
Steven is the Founder of PhiladelphiaDANCE.org,the largest web presence and resource for the dance community in the greater Philadelphia region, and the Founder and Editor of The Dance Journal. His involvement in the dance community extends to being Director of Graffito Works, an international platform for dancers and performing artists to create site-specific work and to make it readily accessible to the public.
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