For Release: Immediately Upon Receipt Contact: Susan Davies, PS21 Administrative Director, 518.392.6121, [email protected]
PS21 Presents The Annual Chatham Dance Festival August Performances by Four American Dance Companies
[CHATHAM, NY] – This August PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century will present the Annual Chatham Dance Festival, a month-long celebration of American Dance at Columbia Countyʼs most picturesque outdoor venue. Festival highlights include performances by four exceptional dance companies, and dance workshops for kids and adults. It all takes place beneath the saddle span concert tent in PS21ʼs bucolic 100-acre country setting.
“We have put a great deal of effort into building our Chatham Dance Festival, with great results. This year we are bringing in three dance companies that are new to our audience, as well as Parsons Dance, who for the last ten years has been the cornerstone of our season,” said PS21 President Judy Grunberg. “This year in addition to performing Parsons will be in residence for a three-week residency at PS21. The dancers and choreographers will stay in a guesthouse with an adjacent dance studio and the PS21 stage only a short walk away.”
PS21 is located at 2980 Route 66, one mile north of the village of Chatham. Visit ps21chatham.org or call (518) 392-6121 for more information. To order tickets, please visit our website or call (800) 838-3006.
DANCE PERFORMANCES
Brian Sanders’ JUNK Friday-Saturday, August 7-8, 8:00pm Brian Sanders’ JUNK is known for their ingenious use of found objects and clever inventions that bridge the gap between dance and physical theater. Sanders’ choreography blends traditional dance theater with an inventiveness and physicality that gives reason for critics to hail JUNK as “Philly’s most imaginative perpetrator of dare-devilish physical theater.” Brian built his signature style by creating inventive, off- the-wall choreography with found objects and other discarded debris. “I like to find the dance inside these pieces of junk; something unique and unexpected that gives us a new and inspiring look on life,” says Sanders. Before founding JUN in 1998, Sander Sanders choreographed and performed with MOMIX worldwide in addition to choreographing and performing nationally and internationally for dance, television, theatre, and video.
“…accessible, technically flawless, and thrilling comic dance turns.” - Dance Magazine
Gallim Dance, Pupil Suite and excerpts from Fold Here! Friday-Saturday, August 14-15, 8:00pm Gallim Dance, a young New York-based contemporary dance company, creates and performs original work by artistic director and founder Andrea Miller. Founded in 2007,
Gallim captured the attention of fellow artists, presenters, and audiences with its award-winning work, ensemble of dancers, and a fearless physicality. Gallim Dance made its Brooklyn Academy of Music debut in May of 2013 with performances of Blush at the BAM Fisher Theater. In 2014, Gallim Dance performed a world premiere site- specific installation at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. In 2014, Miller was named a Guggenheim Fellow. Gallim has performed worldwide in premier venues including Guggenheim Works & Process, New York City Center, the Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the TANZ Bremen Festival in Germany, Madrid en Danza in Spain, and the Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris.
“voluptuously polyglot choreography”- New York Times
Keigwin + Company Friday-Saturday, August 21-22, 8:00pm Larry Keigwin is a native New Yorker and choreographer who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to downtown clubs to Broadway and back. He co-founded Keigwin + Company with Associate Director Nicole Wolcott in 2003. Keigwin's electrifying brand of contemporary dance reaches national and international audiences with dance that embodies a theatrical sensibility of wit, style, and heart. Keigwin has created dozens of dances for himself and his dancers, as well as for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Martha Graham Dance Company, New York Choreographic Institute, The Julliard School, and many others. Runaway (2008), a fashion-inspired choreographic ride, was proclaimed “a thrilling coup d’theater” by James Wolcott of Vanity Fair. His work in musical theater includes the new production of Rent, for which he received the 2011 Joe A. Callaway Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. “…reveals his deeply American affinity for space and exuberant athleticism…They looked like they could have danced all night; I certainly could have watched them.” The New York Times
Saturday, August 22, 10:00–11:30am. Keigwin + Company How to Make a Dance Class for Dance Omi Residents International dance artists who are in residence at Dance Omi will join Keigwin + Company for a class exploring Keigwin’s process for making a dance. The public is invited to view the class in process. Reservations are required.
“So You Think You Don’t Understand (Modern) Dance?” Works in progress by Dance Omi Alumni: Nicole Wolcott and other Omi alumni Sat, August 21, 2:00pm Dance Omi Director Christopher K. Morgan will facilitate a showing of works-in- progress by Alumni of the Dance Omi Residency Program, including 2009 Dance Omi Alumna, and Keigwin and Company Co-Founder Nicole Wolcott. Using his extensive
experience with the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process, Morgan will facilitate an exchange between the artists and the audience. PS21 is delighted to be continuing its collaboration with its neighbor and fellow arts organization in Columbia County. Since 2005, the Dance Omi International Dance Collective has brought together accomplished dance artists from around the world for three weeks of creative exchange each summer. A reception for the dance artists will follow the showing. “Ms. Wolcott has a gift for organizing space, but her sophisticated comedic abilities are probably her strongest suit…” - The New York Times Admission: Free
Parsons Dance Friday-Saturday, August 28-29, 8:00pm Parsons Dance returns for its tenth season performing at PS21! Parsons Dance is an internationally renowned contemporary dance company based in New York City. Under the artistic direction of David Parsons, the company presents uplifting contemporary dance to audiences around the world. “…dance at its most satisfying: no filler, no marking time or standing about; just perpetual motion and - always - remarkable dancing.” – Oberon’s Grove
DANCE WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS
DANCE FOR A VARIABLE POPULATION WITH NAOMI GOLDBERG HAAS Monday-Friday, July 7-11, 8:30am-10:00am Enjoy the wellbeing, community and expressive nature of dance. Experience moving in strong and creative ways. Full body warm-up from jazz and modern dance forms; multidirectional movements benefiting joint mobility; mental stimulation requiring focus on coordination and learning of basic movement patterns; body-mind connection through structured movement improvisation and collaborative partnership; an excellent cardiovascular workout and stretch. $55/$50 members/$40 students 18 and under (for the week)
DANCE WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS
WEST AFRICAN DANCE, DRUM and TEXTILE WORKSHOP Monday, August 11-Friday, August 15, 8:30am-1:00pm Jamal Jackson and members of his company will teach West African dance to children and teens, age 8-18. Workshop participants investigate traditional West African dance, a highly expressive, physical art which aims to create interconnectedness within the community. The workshops are accompanied by live drumming. Participants also learn about West African textile design from fiber artist Susannah White. Each day ends with a drumming lesson from the Companyʼs talented drummers. Workshop participants will present a public performance on Friday.
$175/$150 members for the weeklong day camp program. Generous scholarships are available. Pre-registration is required.
JUST FOR FUN - DANCE FOR KIDS Just for Fun is a series of performances presented especially for kids and their families and friends. Admission is free.
West African Dance and Drum Performance Friday, July 17, 1:00pm A high-energy performance of dance and drumming by the participants in the PS21 West African Dance and Drumming Workshop taught by dancer/choreographer Jamal Jackson and members of his company including drummer Frank Malloy III. This is the fourth year that we are offering this popular workshop and performance.
SKINK: Acrobatic Dance with Brian Sanders Friday, August 7, 1:00pm Brian Sanders’ dance company offers an amazing program of acrobatics combined with modern dance. Brian gets us laughing at his unexpected imaginative use of everyday objects in his technically amazing acrobatic dances.
Just for Fun is underwritten in part by New York State Council on the Arts, Stewartʼs Holiday Match Funds, Town of Chatham Crellin Park Rec Program, and PS21 members.
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PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century is a not-for-profit organization in Chatham, NY, dedicated to the performing arts and to serving a diverse community with concerts, programs and residencies by professional artists and ensembles, youth and children's programming and cultural education opportunities for all ages. PS21ʼs presenting programs are underwritten in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature
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