Media Contact: Mari Kraske, Communications Manager 215- 893-9456 x128(o) 410-960-2512 (c) [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December, 2013 “BalletX regularly conceives scintillating programs – mysterious, sexy, funny, and surprising.” –The Philadelphia Inquirer BALLETX WINTER SERIES 2014 TWO WORLD PREMIERES, 1 COMPANY PREMIERE AND THE RETURN OF DELICATE BALANCE Philadelphia, PA--BalletX, PhiladelpHia’s premier contemporary ballet and tHe Resident Dance Company of The Wilma Theater, announces Winter Series 2014 (February 12-16). From tHree distinguisHed cHoreograpHers comes a diverse program that will take audiences on a journey througH a myriad of landscapes set to an eclectic mix of world, pop and classical music. A compelling compilation of botH established work as well as two world premieres, tHis Valentine’s Day Winter Series will bring an astounding array of virtuosic contemporary dance to the Wilma stage. The program features the work of Joshua L. Peugh, James Gregg and Jodie Gates, all establisHed artists influenced by a variety of genres including classical, contemporary, modern and hip hop. A program designed to highlight the musical and technical prowess of the BalletX dancers, Winter Series includes a world premiere pas de deux by Peugh as well as the company premiere of his 2012 work Slump, the return of Gates’ Delicate Balance (BalletX world premiere 2012) and a world premiere by James Gregg. WINTER SERIES 2014 Joshua L. Peugh makes His BalletX debut witH the company premiere of his 2012 work Slump. Set to Klezmer, mambo and jazz music, Slump is “a comedy of frivolous, sexually provocative manners” (Dallas Morning News). PeugH was originally inspired by the formal dances he had seen on old episodes of 1950s variety TV show “The Lawrence Welk Show”. When PeugH began working on tHe piece tHat formality soon morpHed into wHat looked like a primitive mating dance filled witH grounded and comedic movement. PeugH will also be working witH BalletX on the creation of a world premiere pas de deux. This pas de deux, inspired by the simplicity and purity of Japanese animation, explores the various ways that a romantic relationsHip evolves. “Dance now is very pHysically loud,” says PeugH. “WitH tHis work I’m focusing on the understated and the subtle nuances found in simple movement.” PeugH comes to PHiladelpHia from Dallas wHere He is tHe Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, a company He founded in 2008. Peugh was formerly a dancer witH Universal Ballet Company in South Korea, performing soloist and featured roles in the works of OHad NaHarin, CHristopHer WHeeldon, Sungsoo AHn and otHers. He has created work for festivals all over Asia and NortH America. PeugH is also an Adjunct Lecturer of Dance at his alma matter, SoutHern MetHodist University. Originally from OklaHoma and now working in Canada, cHoreograpHer James Gregg explores the discovery and impact of love in His world premiere for BalletX. Inspired by a song written by Jon Brion, Gregg’s piece is comprised of 7 different sections, eacH of wHicH delves into tHe emotions surrounding tHe feeling of falling in love for tHe first time. Gregg’s work features a broad range of music, including Nat King Cole, Brion, and Vivaldi. WitH a style He describes as “raw emotion combined witH classical ballet technique,” Gregg is the resident cHoreograpHer for L’ecole Superieure de Danse de Quebec and a dancer witH RUBBERBANDance Group (RBDG). He was tHe winner of tHe 2011 International CHoreograpHic Competition at Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and Has choreograpHed works for River North Chicago Dance Company, Northwest Dance Project's Pretty Creatives Competition, Les Ballet Jazz Workshop, and for Springboard Danse Project. To conclude tHe Winter Series bill, BalletX is thrilled to bring back to the stage Delicate Balance, “a deeply emotional work” (NYC Dance Stuff) by renowned choreographer Jodie Gates. Set to tHe music of Arvo Part, Henryk Gorecki, Gavin Bryars, David Lang and Max Richter and centered on the notion that as one moves through life, there always remains a curious sense of wonder in a world filled with chaos, Delicate Balance originally premiered during Spring Series 2012 and was toured and performed for BalletX’s premiere at The Joyce Theater in New York in tHe summer of 2012. “It’s a joy to be able to perform Jodie’s Delicate Balance again, I absolutely love tHe intensity and dynamics in tHis piece. The movement Highlights tHe dancers’ physicality while at the same time stretches them emotionally.” says BalletX Co-Artistic and executive Director Christine Cox. A former principal dancer with Joffrey Ballet and The Pennsylvania Ballet, Gates Has spent tHirty years in tHe field of dance—as an innovative cHoreograpHer, director, producer educator and dancer. Praised by The Denver Post as one of ballet’s “most-admired dance makers,” she Has choreograpHed ballets for BalletWest, Staatsballett Berlin in Germany, American Ballet Theater II, Washington Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, among others. Performances run February 12-16, 2014 at The Wilma Theater on 265 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. Members of the press are invited to attend Opening Night on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 8pm. For press tickets, please contact Mari Kraske at 215- 893-9456 x128 or [email protected]. Winter Series Performance Dates/Times: Wednesday, February 12, 8:00PM, Opening Night Thursday, February 13, 8:00PM Friday, February 14, 8:00PM Saturday, February 15, 2:00PM Saturday, February 15, 8:00PM Sunday, February 16, 2:00PM Winter Series 2014 will see the continuation of The X-Process, an audience enricHment initiative. During eacH Series in tHe 2013-2014 Season, The X-Process will feature both an interactive lecture (A Pie, A Pint & The Process) and a Q&A event (Conversation with the Artists), both led by esteemed New York City based dance critic and author elizabeth Zimmer. A Pie, A Pint & The Process for Winter Series will explore dance from tHe perspective of tHe dancer. Several dance professionals from various PhiladelpHia area dance organizations will also be included as participants in tHis lecture. The X-Process is made possible through engaging Dance Audiences administered by Dance/USA with generous funding from The Doris Duke Foundation. The X-Process Events: Wednesday, February 12, 7:00-8:00PM- Conversation with the Artists (free) Saturday, February 15, 4:30-6:00PM- A Pie, A Pint & The Process ($5) BalletX’s 2013-2014 Season continues with Summer Series 2014 (July 9-13) featuring a full length ballet from BalletX Co- Artistic Director Matthew Neenan. _______________________ MORE INFORMATION About BalletX: BalletX unites world-class choreograpHers witH an outstanding company of professional dancers to forge new works of atHleticism, emotion, and grace. THrough tHe daring vision of its award-winning founders and artistic directors, Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan, BalletX challenges the boundaries of classical ballet by encouraging formal experimentation wHile preserving rigorous tecHnique. THe Company is committed to producing new works of the HigHest quality and integrity that bring the combined visions of choreographers and dancers to life and cultivate in audiences a collective appetite for bold new dance. Winter Series 2014 made possible by: William Penn Foundation, Comcast, Engaging Dance Audiences administered by Dance/USA, The Sporting Club at tHe Bellevue, The Shubert Foundation, The Barra Foundation, PhiladelpHia Cultural Fund and Pennsylvania Council on tHe Arts. Additional program support by the John S. and James L. KnigHt Foundation and the Jerome Robbins New essential Works (NeW) Program. BalletX 265 S. Broad Street •Philadelphia, PA · 19107 • 215-893-9456 • www.balletx.org Facebook/@BalletX • Twitter/@BalletX • YouTube/BalletXVideo• Tumblr/BalletXBlog .