presents

EZRALOW OPEN Choreographed by Daniel Ezralow

Conceived by Daniel Ezralow and Arabella Ezralow

PERFORMERS Kelly Allen, Chelsey Arce, Patrick Cook, Santo Giuliano, Isaac Huerta, Kelsey Landers, Re'Sean Pates, Vanessa Treviño, Anthea Young

MUSIC Khachaturian, Chopin, Beethoven, Ponchielli, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Prokofiev, Albinoni, Strauss and Bach

PROGRAM Opening AFGO Syrinx Hendersons Carmen Black and White Biz Men Three Fates Olympiads Kelp Dreams Grounded Stepping Stones Clean up Breathing Chroma

Ezralow Dance Company’s Open is performed without an intermission.

Lighting Design: Dan Weingarten Video Projection Design: Luca Parmigiani, Daniel Ezralow, Arabella Ezralow, Marc Rosenthal Costumes: American Apparel, Marsha Brady, Constance Hoffman Music Supervision: Fabio Martini Stage Manager: Garrett Crouch

April 29–30, 2016 at 8pm Bram Goldsmith Theater

22 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE EZRALOW DANCE DAN WEINGARTEN (Lighting Designer) Luminario , Hysterica Dance Co., Bodytraffic, Tapsounds Underground, To move… to jump… to dance… to escape gravity Edge PAC, Alex Magno, Liz Imperio, Westside Ballet, Channel Islands Ballet. Shows for Musical Theatre West, Rogue Machine Theatre, East West and the homogeneity of society and become yourself. Players, Bootleg, Ebony Repertory Company, Boston Court, Open Fist, Echo Life is a marvelous kaleidoscope of countless simple Theater Companies, Long Beach Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Ensemble Theatre of Santa Barbara, SBT, Actors Gang, 24th St. Theatre, Universal actions that are as unique as each and every one of Studios Hollywood. Awards include LADCC, LA Weekly, the Garland and us. The expression of life is in itself a dance… even the Dramalogue. Professor of Theatre Design at California State University the most imperceptible shiver can be beautiful. Northridge, MFA in Design and Production from CalArts. Thank you for joining us this evening. MARC ROSENTHAL (Projection Designer) Award winning Producer/Designer Marc Rosenthal specializes in Projection, – Daniel Ezralow Lighting and Show Control. Projects include: Raditatical: A Journey in Rhythm; SkyFire, a cirque performance troupe featuring Tesla Coils and fire dancing; jazz artist Susan Krebs; TADA’s Samantha Spade, Ace Detective: The Case of DANIEL EZRALOW (Artistic Director) the Maltball Falcon; LCDQLA interior design show cases; Annenberg Space Award-winning career has masterfully traversed the mediums of live for Photography; lighting and control system design for Interstellar Emissary, performance, film and television. With a directorial approach both visceral Earth Star art installation at BEquinox, Axayacoatl and other interactive art and imaginative, his unique style of physical expression has earned him a installations for Burning Man; Santee High School Aquaponics garden design distinguished international reputation as a groundbreaking artist worldwide. – yes, a garden. Of note: Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Bid; Casablanca, The Dance – Beijing, China, world premiere; Prince Super Bowl XLI Half-Time Show In 2015, Daniel Ezralow conceived, directed and choreographed the new light-up costume effect; Randy Newman’s Harps & Angels; Jazz Aviary; Gem of PEARL and original dance theater play , inspired by the life of writer and the Ocean; LA Opera; Ice, Direct from Russia – Las Vegas; Lightning Temple; humanitarian, Pearl S. Buck, which opened at Lincoln Center’s David H. Disneyland; Disney California Adventures; Carnival Cruise Lines; theme parks Koch Theater. The Huffington Post said, “a stunning collaborative spectacle in China and Jakarta; concert tours for Traffic, Ozzy Osbourne; Salt Lake City of dance, theater, film, music, multi media and history.ˮ To bring to life Olympics; Skypower – the largest sky show in the world; On Light, a one-act the legend of Pearl, Ezralow traveled to Zhenjiang, China to research her play featuring light and lighting instruments as characters, without any human extraordinary journey. In China he conducted intensive dance workshops, actors. He is the owner of international design and production company discovering new international talent to complement Ezralow Dance Personal Creations, Inc.; past Vice President of Themed Entertainment Company’s signature performers, in this new multi-cultural collaboration. In Association; featured industry writer, 2004 LDI Projection Designer of the 2015, Ezralow also transformed the Mariinsky Theatre (Saint Petersburg), Year. personalcreations.net, facebook.com/PersonalCreationsInc into a rolling wheat field, creating a striking visual spectacle, provocatively ‘Rite of Spring’. reinterpreting Igor Stravinsky’s In Tokyo, he conceived, GARRETT CROUCH (Stage Manager) directed and choreographed the critically acclaimed new show, ‘Flying Bodies, Hails from Kingsport, TN. He received his BFA from the American Musical and Soaring Souls’, in collaboration with legendary designer Issey Miyake. As a Dramatic Academy, where he studied acting, music theory, voice, combat, dance, director/choreographer, Ezralow has created fifteen original dance theatre film, musical theatre, as well as classical and modern theater. After having written plays, that have toured internationally to glowing reviews in addition to and performed an original score to Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, Garrett events at the Louvre Museum, Yankee Stadium, the Getty Museum (L.A.), continues to write and is currently working on a song cycle. This is Garrett’s first the Guggenheim Museum (NYC) and the Pompidou Centre (Paris). His project with Ezralow Dance, and he is beyond excited to join this wonderful latest commission took him to Russia, for the Opening Ceremonies of the production! All thanks belong to the Father, my family, and Mr. Ezralow! 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. As a choreographer, Ezralow has been commissioned for original works by Paris Opera Ballet, Batsheva, Hubbard Chicago and Philadanco amongst others. His PERFORMERS The Beatles LOVE and aerial creations are in by Cirque du Soleil, Broadway’s KELLY ALLEN is originally from central California, has been working in Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark Across the and the seminal musical film television, film, concert & theatre for almost ten years in Los Angeles. Her Universe. Chicago Tribune Hailed by the as “One of the best American dancer movement background includes jazz, contemporary, ballet, jazz-funk, theatre choreographers now working on an international scale, Ezralow is one and she is a versatile & athletic performer. Kelly is in her third year with Ezralow of the original dancer/choreographers to create MOMIX, a director and Dance, most recently performing in PEARL (Lincoln Center David H. Koch founding member of ISO Dance and the artistic director and founder of Theatre 2015), Ezralow Dance (Ford Theater 2014) Olympics (Sochi 2014) Ezralow Dance. In television Ezralow conceived and created award winning workshop and The Getty Center (Site specific work 2013). Other dance credits Windows Episodes in specials, (Bravo), (PBS) and include Glee (FOX), Bunheads (ABC), Natasha Bedingfield, Celebrat10n (Walt (PBS) and has choreographed music videos and staged shows for musicians Disney Concert Hall). including Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Sara Bareilles, Sting, David Bowie and U2. Ezralow’s work has earned him two American Choreography Awards for CHELSEY ARCE is originally from Guilford, Connecticut and received a BFA innovative and outstanding choreography, a Choreographic Media Honors in Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory. Some of her favorite Award, an Emmy Award, Emmy nomination, the Premio Positano (Italy), a credits include The First National Tours of Tony award winning MEMPHIS as Nijinsky Award, an Ischia Award and an NEA Choreographic Fellowship. well as EVITA. Chelsey recently finished honoring Rita Moreno at The 2015 This past fall he received the McCallum Theater Choreographic lifetime Kennedy Center Honors. She is in her 6th year performing with Ezralow Dance achievement award. and Ezralow Dance credits include: PEARL at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015, Ezralow Dance-WildUp at The Ford Theater 2014, Olympics (Sochi ARABELLA EZRALOW (Associate Artistic Director) 2014) workshop, the hit Italian television show AMICI and OPEN’s European Born in Gloucestershire, England, received her BA in Art from Pomona Tour (2012). Chelsey is truly grateful for every opportunity she has had in College (CA), and studied performance art and movement theatre at sharing a creative space with Mr. Ezralow. Riverside Studios (London). For the Montgomery Gallery (CA) she created PATRICK COOK is originally from Cary, North Carolina with training in tap, jazz, ‘Theatre of the Aconscious,' a multimedia installation combining photography, ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. Cook began working with Ezralow Dance in sculpture and sound. She has worked as a visual collaborator, writer and March of 2015, performing in PEARL at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015, performer with Daniel Ezralow since 1995, when they created ‘Mandala’, a and is excited to be part of the US tour of OPEN with Ezralow Dance. He has also multimedia extravaganza, that toured worldwide and was reviewed as a work had the pleasure of working on many television specials and award shows dancing of ‘modern genius’. Together they have conceived and created the dance alongside great talents. theater play PEARL, at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015, the touring dance theatre shows WHY (2005) and OPEN; danced a modern rendition SANTO GIULIANO is originally from Napoli, Italy. His movement of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ (2003) and performed Peter Gabriel’s opera ‘OVO’ background includes hip-hop, modern, ballet and aerial arts. He is in his 10th (2004), for the Todi Arts Festival, Italy. Arabella has been awarded the Mary year working with Ezralow Dance, performing and touring with Ezralow Drew Art Award and the Duane Michaels Award for her work in photography Dance’s premiere dance theatre show WHY (2005–2009) and then OPEN’s and sculpture and is a recipient of the Fleming Fellowship. As a performer, European Tour (2012). Other Ezralow Dance credits include EzralowDance- Arabella has also played lead and supporting roles in numerous films, mini- WildUp at The Ford Theater 2014, Sanremo Music Festival 2009–2013, TIM series and on stage, both in the US and the UK. Mobile commercial 2013, “Il Piu Grande Spettacolo dopo il week-endˮ television 2013, and the hit Italian television show AMICI.

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ISAAC HUERTA is a native Southern-Californian; born and raised in For Ezralow, doing ‘anything’ has also meant directing music tours for the town of Whittier. His training was developed by several institutions superstar tenor, Josh Groban, choreographing videos for the band -including Orange County School of the Arts. His movement is a fusion of U2 and Andrea Bocelli, as well as creating large-scale works for haute styles derived from his life experiences and art admiration. This is Isaac's couturier Issey Miyake. The ever-evolving multi-tasker even starred in a inaugural year with Ezralow Dance, recently performing in PEARL at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015. Like a rock propelled into space, Isaac 1986 Lina Wertmüller film. is attracted to many gravitational pulls; only to be guided by our words, the Italy has been good to Ezralow, who was once, he said, cast as that light of the stars, and destinies path. country’s “Dannon Yogurt Man,” fronting a campaign on television and KELSEY LANDERS is a 23-year-old native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who in print that lasted five years and for which Ezralow created a number started dancing at the age of five. She grew up training in contemporary, of memorable solos and duets. More importantly, Italy was where he jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, lyrical, modern, musical theatre, and acro. She is created Open in 2012. currently in her fourth year of working with Ezralow Dance, most recently “A dance-theater piece conceived and designed by Ezralow and his wife performing in PEARL at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015, Arabella with video projections by Luca Parmigiani....” Olympics (Sochi ‘14) workshop, The Getty Center-Site specific work 2013 and OPEN’s European tour. A dance-theater piece conceived and designed by Ezralow and his wife RE'SEAN PATES is from Mesa, Arizona. His movement background includes, Arabella with video projections by Luca Parmigiani, the work unfolds over hip hop, contemporary, modern, ballet, jazz, & gymnastics. Re'Sean is moving 15 scenes, and is set to beloved music by a bevy of classical composers, into his fourth year performing with Ezralow Dance and Ezralow Dance credits including Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Debussy and Tchaikovsky. include: PEARL at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015, EzralowDance- “We wanted to create a fun, accessible, easy-to-tour dance show,” WildUp Olympics at The Ford Theater 2014, (Sochi 2014) workshop, The Getty explained Ezralow, “that would also be inspiring. We use whimsy, irony Center-Site specific work 2013, and OPEN’s European Tour. and playfulness to open up peoples’ ideas of dance. VANESSA TREVIÑO is originally from Dallas, Texas, where she graduated “Why,” added Ezralow, “do I have to search out the most obscure Summa Cum Laude from SMU with a degree in dance performance. Her movement background includes ballet, jazz, modern, gymnastics, acrobatics, and composer to choreograph the most esoteric work? Why can’t I just do aerial work. Treviño is in her second year of working with Ezralow Dance, most something fun that also has depth to it—that has great dance in it?” recently performing in PEARL at Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater 2015 Ezralow pointed out that the show was born from different impulses and EzralowDance-WildUp at The Ford Theater 2014. he’s had over the years, then crafted into tiny, interwoven stories. ANTHEA YOUNG is a native of Kingston, JA, growing up in Washington, “Thematically,” he continued, “it’s a loose, abstract narrative. But there DC. She trained at Creative Dance Center, Dance Institute of Washington are themes—ecology, the intensity of the business world versus the and the DTH Residency. She received her B.F.A. from Marymount Manhattan calmness of nature, the playfulness of color.” College and is fluent in contemporary ballet and modern. Anthea is in her fourth year with Ezralow Dance, most recently performing in PEARL (Lincoln As Ezralow is also a multi-media master, he makes use of four mobile Center David H. Koch Theatre 2015), Ezralow Dance (Ford Theater 2014), panels that ingeniously hide and reveal the dancers, who continually Olympics (Sochi 2014) workshop, The Getty Center (Site specific work 2013) shape-shift. The screens also serve as backdrops for video projections, and OPEN’S European Tour. with the concert’s opening scene virtually colorless. Explained Arabella, the troupe’s associate artistic director: “You start out in this black-and-grey world in the 50’s, then the panels move to reveal PROGRAM NOTES an active city. The first transition happens when one of the businessmen By Victoria Looseleaf loses control and throws down his brief case. Everything comes out as the projections [turn to] water, and you hear a beautiful Chopin nocturne.” Los Angeles-born Daniel Ezralow is one of the most nimble, versatile and fascinating personalities working in the art form today. A former In other words, the workaday world morphs into a sea, replete with member of Paul Taylor Dance, Ezralow was also one of the original a delectable mermaid. Surreal? Decidedly, but it’s all a piece of the dancer/choreographers of the contemporary , MOMIX, Ezralow allure, as is the marriage vignette, “AFGO,” that unspools in, as well as a founding member of ISO Dance. His choreographic cred of all places, a boxing ring. Using Ponchielli’s instantly recognizable, includes notable collaborations with director , working “Dance of the Hours” (1940’s Fantasia featured the music with dancing with her on Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and The Green hippos), Ezralow makes joy palpable, the spirited number also a sly Bird, as well as on the 2007 film Across the Universe. Theirs is a long- metaphor. time partnership, with Ezralow even supplying moves for L.A. Opera’s “It’s about a marriage turning into a boxing match,” explained Arabella, 1995 production, The Flying Dutchman. Gracing the small screen, whose own union is still going strong at 16 years. Ezralow received an Emmy nomination for choreographing the 70th “It’s playful,” added Ezralow. “I think that dance is a duet – with what’s edition of the Academy Awards. Continuing to reach the masses, happening on the stage and the audience. Open was made to be a duet the in-demand artist directed no less than 800 dancers for the 2014 where the audience responds.” opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Indeed, Ezralow is not so much a multi-hyphenate as he is a seeker Victoria Looseleaf is an award-winning international arts journalist who of truth, the truth he finds and designs through movement in all covers dance, music, theater and the visual arts. Among the publications she Los Angeles Times New York Times, of its guises. With his nine-member troupe, Ezralow Dance, the contributes to are the , the KCET Artbound, Fjord Review and her blog, The Looseleaf Report. In addition, Looseleaf conducts maker/director is in full-throttle mode, bringing his vast history and pre and post-concert talks at the L.A. Music Center, The Wallis and at festivals boundless enthusiasm to bear on the 75-minute intermission-less around the world. Her book Isn’t It Rich? A Novella In Verse, is currently available work Open, which also marks the company’s debut at The Wallis. on Amazon. “My history is what it is,” exclaimed Ezralow, who has also made pieces CONTACT: for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Israel’s Batsheva and Paris Opera Ballet. During a recent interview, his long, grey-streaked hair framing www.ezralowdance.com [email protected] a distinctive face, his boyish grin complementing a neatly-trimmed Representation goatee, this magician of movement was animated, articulate and, most Rachel Cohen, Cadence Arts Network of all, adamant in his love for—and advocacy of—dance. [email protected] “Learning what it was to move my body after throwing a football and www.cadencearts.com running hurdles, and reaching my hand out, and understanding that it had OPEN was originally produced in Italy by Raw Zeal Productions and BaGS meaning, this [was my] life. Then landing in Paul Taylor and being immersed Entertainment in a company, meeting Moses [Pendleton, of MOMIX], and Special thanks to American Apparel and Marsha Brady, Antonio Gnecchi, Linda going, ‘Wow.’ Moses was a different world where you could do anything.” Catanneo, Giorgio Barbolini, Dvora Ezralow, Elijah Ezralow and Wendy Wilson.

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