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09.23.08

Dance Unites with Science, Film, Chamber Music & More in 08-09 Emory Dance Season

The Emory Dance Program’s 2008-2009 season features an array of unique collaborations with Atlanta-based and guest artists including New York choreographer David Neumann (premiering a work commissioned by Emory); Jennifer Wood’s Houston-based company, Suchu Dance; and Emory’s Quartet-in-Residence, the Vega String Quartet. The intersection of dance and film will be highlighted in an evening of short films from The Dance Films Association and the fall Friends of Dance Lecture (open to public) with dance videographer, Dennis Diamond. The season also includes two Emory Dance Company concerts, the annual Women’s History Month Dance presentation and a spring Friends of Dance Lecture with Catherine Turocy, co-founder of The New York Baroque Dance Company. Details for each program follow.

The season begins with “Dance for Reel: An Evening of Dance on Camera,” on Thurs., Sept. 25 (8 p.m., Performing Arts Studio, 1804 North Decatur Road, free). “Dance for Reel” is an evening of short films from The Dance Films Association, based in New York City. Ranging in length from five to thirty minutes, the films reveal the moving body in new places, surprising contexts and from inspired viewpoints. Some of the evening’s films include: “Flying Lesson,” “Folies D’Espagne,” “Black Spring” and “It’s Aching Like Birds.” “Dance for Reel” is co-presented by Emory's Dance and Visual Arts Programs and curated by Emory dance alumna Blake Beckham.

The fall semester installment of the Emory Friends of Dance Lecture Seriesfeatures Dennis Diamond, an internationally known dance video pioneer, in “Dancing for the Camera” on Tues., Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. (Dance Studio, Schwartz Center, free). Diamond created the standard for archiving the art form of dance and translating it to television. For his outstanding contributions to the field, the New York dance and theater community honored him in 2001 with a highly coveted Bessie Award. Dance Program director Anna Leo will interview Diamond on the development of the dance/video relationship and his personal contributions to that trajectory.

Emory Dance Program faculty member George Staib teams up with bold, dynamic and witty choreographer Jennifer Wood to present “Together Again for the First Time: New Dances by Suchu and Staib,” Oct. 3-4, 8 p.m. (Performing Arts Studio, 1804 N. Decatur Rd., $12 suggested donation). Wood’s company, Suchu Dance, from Houston, Texas, has long been recognized for their adventurous spirit, engaging technicality and satirical focus. Together, Staib and Suchu will present new dances that will not only please the intellect, but tickle the senses with Wood’s imaginative themes and Staib’s growing interest in electronic music as a foundation for new work. This concert features Atlanta area professionals, as well as Suchu’s Georgia debut. This concert is funded in part by a grant from the Emory University Research Committee.

The Emory Dance Company Fall Concert (Nov. 20-21, 8 p.m., Nov. 22, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Dance Studio, Schwartz Center, $10 public; $6 Discount Category and Emory students) features choreography by Atlanta guest artists Blake Beckham, Susan Eldridge and Nicole Livieratos and regional choreographer Jennifer Wood. The concert will be performed by students of the Emory Dance Company.

Several Dancers Core co-sponsors the “Fieldwork Showcase,” concerts on Dec. 7, 2008 at 5 p.m., and April 5, 2009 at 5 p.m. (Dance Studio, Schwartz Center, $7 only available at the door) featuring new works created by community artists in various disciplines.

Boundaries are broken and relationships are forged in “Contemporary Dance-Vintage Music: George Staib and the Vega Quartet in Concert,” Feb. 12-14, 8 p.m. (Performing Arts Studio, 1804 N. Decatur Rd., $20; $15 Discount Category Members; all students free), a collaborative performance by the Vega String Quartet and Emory Dance Program faculty member and choreographer George Staib. This event will bring the music and dance audiences together for the all-too-rare opportunity to see incomparably played live music and dance. Staib presents new work that escorts the music to the foreground and delivers visceral connections, while the Vega Quartet plays music by Bela Bartok, Richard Einhorn, Ben Johnston and others. The evening will seamlessly integrate the Vega Quartet into the visual landscape of the dance and features Atlanta area dance professionals. It's two performances in one! This project is sponsored in part by a grant from the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts.

Faculty member Lori Teague and New York choreographer David Neumann present “The Evolution Project,” Feb. 26-28, 8 p.m. (Dance Studio, Schwartz Center, free), as part of the “Emory Evolving Arts: New Works Festival.” This faculty and guest artist dance concert showcases new works inspired by the evolution conference held at Emory in October of 2008. The artists will also host an open rehearsal/talk-back session on Feb. 26, 8 p.m. This concert was sponsored in part by commissions and grants from the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts funded by the University-wide Creativity & the Arts Strategic Initiative.

Catherine Turocy, Co-founder and Artistic Director of The New York Baroque Dance Company, presents the spring Emory Friends of Dance Lecture Series, “From the Noble to the Grotesque,” March 3, 7:30 p.m. (Dance Studio, Schwartz Center, free). Theatrical dance in the 17th and 18th centuries called for gods, sorceresses, pastoral folk, acrobats, fencers, harlequins and a panoply of comic characters. This lecture will reveal the secrets of the art of performing in such diverse styles from the Baroque period and shed light on its resonance in today’s dance.

The Dance Program will host its annual Women’s History Month Dance Presentation, a compelling showing of dance works celebrating Women’s History Month, on March 19, noon (Reception Hall, Michael C. Carlos Museum, free).

The dance season closes with the Emory Dance Company Spring Concert, (April 23-24, 8 p.m., April 25, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Dance Studio, Schwartz Center, $8: $4 Discount Category members and Emory students) an evening of new works choreographed and performed by Emory dance students.

For more information on Arts at Emory, visit www.arts.emory.edu. For tickets call 404-727-5050.

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