White Bird
DANCE 2017-18
®
DISCOVERING A WORLD OF DANCE FOR 20 YEARS
Photo by Brian Mengini
Photo by Gareth Jones
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT January 25-27, 2018 | Lincoln Hall, PSU
MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP February 21, 2018 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
PHOTO BY CHRIS ROESING
TWO MAJOR NEW WORKS FROM TWO BRILLIANT CHOREOGRAPHERS Welcome to 2018. White Bird will be keeping you very busy over the next several months with a great diversity of dance. We are extremely proud to launch the tour of Rennie Harris’s major new work LIFTED! Rennie is widely regarded as the master hip-hop choreographer in the U.S. if not the world. It has been 10 years since we last brought his thrilling company. With LIFTED!, Rennie has created a multidimensional work, integrating dance and live gospel music, to tell a story of a young man’s spiritual path, inspired by Dickens’ Oliver Twist, yet enormously relevant to today. We are delighted that during
the extensive U.S. tour, Rennie will be incorporating singers and dancers from local communities. From Portland, he has enlisted gospel singers led by Alonzo Chadwick and dancers Donna Mation and Rashad Pridgen. On February 21, it is a true honor to bring back, after more than a 10-year absence, Mark Morris, with his new work Pepperland, co-commissioned by White Bird, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. I (Paul) had the great pleasure of traveling to Liverpool last May to attend the world premiere of Pepperland,
and I think that Mark has created one of his most exhilarating works, inspired by the classic Beatles songs as interpreted by gifted composer and musician Ethan Iverson. There is a lot more dance coming up during our 20th anniversary season—but now, in January and February, we hope you enjoy two major new works by two of America’s most brilliant choreographers, Rennie Harris and Mark Morris.
Paul King
Walter Jaffe
White Bird is proud to belong to Dance/USA, the national service and advocacy organization for the dance field. For more information, please visit danceusa.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE WHITE BIRD TEAM
Paul King, President Walter Jaffe, Secretary/Treasurer Kendall Acheson Sheryl Acheson Albert E. Chaffin, MD, FAAP Ann Edwards Ken Edwards Kim Allchurch Flick Fabian Genovesi Sandra Holmes Carol Ihlenburg Gary Nelson Minh Tran Vinh Wong
Walter Jaffe, Co-Founder, wjaffe@whitebird.org Paul King, Co-Founder, pking@whitebird.org Chelsea Bushnell, Director of Audience Services, chelsea@whitebird.org Christopher Roesing, Director of Revenue & Community Partnerships, chris@whitebird.org Hannah Luckow, Marketing Director/NEST Coordinator, hannah@whitebird.org David Nolfi, Director of Finance, david@whitebird.org Elizabeth Whelan, Communications Manager, elizabeth@whitebird.org Jeff Forbes, Technical Director Lauren Bayard, Volunteer Poster/Flyer Coordinator Karen Stahr, Manager of Merchandise, karen@whitebird.org Liz Sandoval, Volunteer Group Sales Coordinator Natalie Anthony, Graphic Design Dave Weaver, Web Designer Office Volunteers: Connie Guist, Morgan Meister, Stephanie Sussman, Jessica Vasi
Nancy & George Thorn, Founding Board Members Emereti
THANK YOU FLOCK MEMBERS.
YOU MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE! ESPECIALLY IN OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY! IF YOU ARE NOT YET CONTRIBUTING, PLEASE CONSIDER A GENEROUS GIFT TO WHITE BIRD. IF YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO HIGHER!
WHITE BIRD PLATINUM PATRONS XX In celebration of White Bird’s 20th anniversary this season, we have created a new donors circle Platinum Patrons XX (PPXX). We extend great thanks to those who have made a generous increased donation in honor of our milestone season. Please join PPXX. For more information on how to become a member, please contact Linda Twichell, Director of Revenue and Community Partnerships, at linda@whitebird.org Anonymous (2) Carole Alexander Tomas Ancona & Laura Tarrish Laurie Balmuth Terrence P. Bean Audry & Chris Bond Kathleen Bristow Mary Lou Cavendish & Michael Hughes Ed Clark & Janet Roberts Jack & Terri Duncan Carol & Jeana Edelman George Eighmey Kim & Gregory Flick Margaret W. Frank Kit Gillem & Deborah Horrell Christine & Robert Gilmore Valarie Grudier Ivan Gold & Grace Serbu Jamey Hampton & Ashley Roland Jan Hurst Lola Jaffe Becky Jones Norm Kalbfleisch & Neil Matteucci Clara & Martin Kubeja Gary Leavitt Barbara Lovre Gary Maffei & Marcus Lintner David Magilke & Butch Williams Erin and Christopher Manwaring Alice & Hal McCartor Sarah McNary Kathleen & James Meyer VeAnna Morgan & Pamela Town Phyllis Newmark McKay & Jay Nutt Marthel Porter Dean Richardson David Ritchie & LaJean Humphries Joanne & Steven Rizzo John & Marti Rosenthal Donna Silverberg & Charles Wiggins Jaymi & Francis Sladen Peter Vennewitz Ellen Walkley Sarah & Alan Wizemann Patricia & Jack Wong (List current as of January 10, 2018)
WHITE BIRD FLOCK
Our Flock List is current as of January 10, 2018. Contributions after this date will be reflected in the next program. Any questions, please contact Walter Jaffe, wjaffe@whitebird.org , (503) 245-1600, Ext. 202. Generous contributors to the White Bird /MKG New Works Fund since September 2008. PPXX Members of the new Platinum Patrons XX Circle TITANIUM PLUME ($10,000+) Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Ken & Ann Edwards Fred Fields Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation PPXX Lola Jaffe Walter Jaffe & Paul King Ronni Lacroute Hugh & Mair Lewis James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Gary Nelson & Minh Tran Gary Nelson & Minh Tran in Memory of Michael Magaurn Oregonian Media Group PGE Foundation Starseed Foundation Darci & Charlie Swindells Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation George & Nancy Thorn Wells Fargo Willamette Week Work for Art PLATINUM PLUME ($5000+) PPXX Anonymous
Sheryl Acheson/Bonhams Joan Cirillo & Roger Cooke Columbia Bank & Columbia Trust Robert & Mercedes Eichholz Foundation B. Fitzgerald Carol Ihlenburg The J and J Foundation Magaurn Video Media Neil Kelly Oregon Arts Commission Oregon Cultural Trust PosterGarden WESTAF TourWest GOLD PLUME ($2500+) The Autzen Foundation Albert Chaffin MD Chris Greenaway Enterprise Holdings Foundation PPXX Deborah Horrell & Kit Gillem Fund for Arts and Conservation of The Oregon Community Foundation Juan Young Trust Murray Koodish Dorothy Lemelson Trust PPXX Dave Magilke MD & Butch Williams DMD Reed College PPXX Joanne & Steven Rizzo Arlene Schnitzer Trust Susan & Jim Winkler Sarah Wizemann/ Lille Boutique
SILVER PLUME ($1000+) Anonymous PPXX Carole Alexander Association of Performing Arts Presenters PPXX Terrence Bean Jamie Beckland & Michael Pope PPXX Janet & Ed Clark Deanna Cochener Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest PPXX Gregory R. & Kim A. Flick PPXX Margaret W. Frank Ann & Edward Galen Fabian Genovesi PPXX Jamey Hampton & Ashley Roland Maryanne & David Holman Sandra & Stephen Holmes Christopher Johnson & Rex Bills PPXX Jessie Jonas Norm Kalbfleisch & Neil Matteucci Gary Leavitt Ellen Lippman & Steve Rosenberg PPXX Maffei/Lintner Advised Fund of Equity Foundation PPXX Barbara Lovre Jeff & Lynn Malzahn PPXX Phyllis Newmark PPXX The Nut House Fund Ronald & Shirley Pausig Janet & Frank Phillips Robert & Jane Reed PPXX Dean Richardson PPXX Jaymi & Francis Sladen Al Solheim Linda & Jon Twichell PPXX Peter J. Vennewitz Vibrant Table Catering PPXX Ellen Walkley Vinh Wong BRONZE PLUME ($500+) PPXX Anonymous
AJ Arriola & Alice Jacobson PPXX Tom Ancona &
Laura Tarrish PPXX Chris & Audry Bond
Robert Aughenbaugh PPXX Laurie Balmuth
Liz Bothwell & Gail Webb PPXX Kathleen Bristow
Richard & Marcia Bushnell PPXX Mary Lou Cavendish & Michael Hughes Debi Coleman Dennis Deming & Corky Cortwright PPXX Jack & Terri Duncan Friends of the Cultural Center Inc. PPXX Carol Edelman PPXX George Eighmey Ann Emmerson Leslye Epstein & Herman Taylor
Charles & Kyle Fuchs PPXX Jamey Hampton &
Ashley Roland PPXX Jan Hurst PPXX Christine & Robert Gilmore
Ivan L. Gold & Grace Serbu
PPXX PPXX Valarie Grudier
Karen Henell PPXX LaJean Humphries &
David Ritchie Dennis Johnson & Steven Smith PPXX Becky Jones Stephen & Marge Kafoury PPXX Norm Kalbfleisch & Neil Matteucci Anna S. King PPXX Clara & Martin Kubeja Kirsten Lee Mike & Bonnie Leiser Claire Lindsay PPXX Barbara Lovre PPXX Erin & Christopher Manwaring Keith & Bradley Martin PPXX Hal & Alice McCartor PPXX Sarah McNary Richard H. Meeker & Ellen F. Rosenblum PPXX Kathleen & James Meyer Michael Curry Design PPXX VeAnna Morgan & Pamela Town Alex Nicoloff & Lesley Otto Jennifer & David Nolfi Stanley & Susanne Penkin & Jean Krosner Por Que No Taqueria PPXX Marthel Porter PPXX John & Marti Rosenthal Carol Schnitzer Lewis Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation PPXX Donna Silverberg & Charles Wiggins David & Chris Sinner Aaron Tersteeg & Jessica Vasi UBS Brian & Nikki Weaver Western Partitions Sam Wheeler Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation PPXX Patricia & Jack Wong ANGEL ($250+) Anonymous Susan Agre-Kippenhan & Mike Kippenhan Sue Armitage Rebecca Boley Matthew Boyes & Frederic Koeleman Steve Buchert & Herb Trubo David Cassard Deborah Correa & Mark Wilson Yvonne De Maat & Kenneth Murphy Elizabeth Eckstrom
Meredith English Stuart Farmer Chris Gauger & Lee Leighton Bruce Guenther & Dr. Eduardo Vides, MD Hollywood Lights Inc. Ava & Charlie Hoover Illinois Tool Works Foundation Judy Jacobson Tom Kane & Donna Shu Paula Kanarek & Ross Kaplan Karen Kemper Paula Levinrad Judith Bieberle Marks JS & Robin May Monique’s Boutique Martin C. Muller Ken & Colleen Murray Steven Neighorn New England Foundation for the Arts Nielson Insurance Robert Olsen Steven P. & Eileen O’Neill Odum Oregon Children’s Theatre Elizabeth B. Pearce Cheryl & Dave Pfaff Judith E. Posey & Edward J. Doyle, MD Bonnie & Pete Reagan Sarah & Nathan Roe Jone Sampson Carol Smith-Larson Leah Swetnam Jane Unger Kim Ziebell FEATHERED FRIENDS ($100+) Anonymous Steve Albert & Janie Goldenberg Markus Albert Hagen & Emily Amen Marlene Anderson Ruby Apsler Elizabeth Arch Jan & Winston Asai Bill Bard & James Donder Nila Baker Kathie Bayer Dr. Diana Bell Bernard Schmidt Productions, Inc. Toni Berres-Paul Joanna Bonime Phil Brady & Pat EvensonBrady Martin & Diane Brandt Dennis Brown Marianne Buchwalter Sarah Byrne Amy Campbell Claire Carder & Jim Scherzinger Don Caniparoli and Sarah Ken Carraro
Suzi Carter & Michael Weaver Lisa Chickadonz Nancy Clement Pam Greenough Corrie Bradley Coffey Aaron Creurer & Fred Ross Charles Curb & Janne Stark Susan Cyganiak Susan Dale Deborah Danielson Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Davids Tomika Anne Dew Kathleen Diack Anne Driscoll Kent Duffy & Martha Murray Robin J. Dunitz Earl Dyer Anne Egan & Tim McNichol David Fanger & Martin Wechsler Edward Feuerstein Carolyn & Ruthie Ferguson Nick Fish & Patricia Schecter The Fishbein Family Barabara Fishleder & John Wolfe Jerry Fong Eileen & Arlene Fromer Jerome & Mary Fulton John Gadon Lucile Gauger Laraine Gladstone Arthur Glasfeld & Susan Mikota Benjamin Gerritz Nancy Goodwin & Albert Horn Deborah & Sid Green Connie Guist Debra Gwartney & Barry Lopez Evelyn Hamann John Hamer & Kirsten Chapman Darlene Hardie Gary & Lynne Hartshorn Terry Hasegawa Jeff Hawthorne Jennifer Heilbronner Hewlett-Packard Stephen Hillis Bill Hogsett Mark Holloway Meghan Hoopes & Nicholas Nelson Martha Ireland Rachel Jacky Bob & Jill Jaffe Michael Johnson Becky Jones & Barbara Gardner Alan T. & Sharon Y. Jones David Jensen Daphna & Iddo Kadim Mary Kane John Kellerman Kathryn King-Goldberg Peter Kost Richard & Jann Leeuwenburg Matt & Rachael Lembo Drs. Dolores & Fernando Leon Jerry & Judith Lesch John Light & Patricia BarnesLight Andrew Lintz & Brian Stief Lydia & Derek Lipman Joyce Lozito Holly Macfee, Lookout Co. David Maier & Kaye Van Valkenburg Bel-Ami and Mark Margoles Phillip Margolin Anna Marti Pamela Matheson Carolyn McFadden Kristen & Justin Monahan Laurence Morandi & Karen Pazucha
Billie Moser Patricia Navin & Bill Poleson Rowena & Luke Norman Daniel & Kathy Norton Robert Olds Christine & Paul Omara Robert & Carolyn Palanuk Toni Parque Judith & Jerry Paul Sondra & Gordon Pearlman Lake Perriguey Peter Corvallis Productions Heriberto Petschek Scott Philips Laurie Pino Kathy & Art Placek Christina Pratt Judy Renzema Sarah & Rhys Quinn Sheila Ford Richmond Von Roberts Ruth Robinson Charles & Judith Rooks Zach Ruhl Saif Corporation Dan Saltzman Virginia Sewell Hope Shaw Roger & Janice Shea Jon & Ann Sinclair Stefanie Silverman Joyce Skokowski Alix & Mark Smith Valarie Smith Carl Snook Susan Sorensen Wendy Squires The Steinfelds Jim & Nita Stell Kathleen Stephenson-Kuhn Laura F. Stockwell Stephanie & Stephen Sussman Gary Taliaferro Christine Tarpey & Richard Yugler Kathy Taylor Beverly Trover Lyle M. Tucker Jenny & Tony Vaught William Wells Beth & Gary Westbrook Patricia Wetzel Carolyn Wieden Christina Wiley Edyth Willard Margaret Willer in Honor of Anne Willer Robert Woods & Jeff Pittman Anthony Yeznach Gary & Kay Zimmerli FRIENDS ($50+) Anonymous Anthony Altucher & Collette Young Sona Andrews Naomi Angier Michele & Bill Bader Katherine S. Bang Susan Bard Claire Barnett Linda Barnwell Ann Bellman & Michael Woods Belinda Beresford Edward & Aimee Berg Kristi Bigio Amelia & John Bishop John H. Bourke Warren & Donna Brown Bill Bulick & Carol McIntosh Carol Bunten & Daniel Rosenberg Cynthia Chilton & Ed Abrahamson Richard Colman Eliza Crockett
Eloise Damrosch & Gary Hartnett Helen M. Daltoso & James Wilcox Brian Diehl Robert Dodson Jessica Duke & Scott Urbatsch Lucile Gauger Nona Glazer Andreanne Gingras David Goldberg Ignacio Gonzales-Reyes & Stacie Hall Todd Guenzburger & Bill Kline Connie & Greg Korn Don Hagga Constance Hammond J. Benjamin Havris-Brown Caroline Henry Maureen Herndon Joan Hoffman Brook & Ann Howard Jacqueline Hoyt Mark Huey & Wayne Wiegand Georgia Lee Hussey James Hutchinson Mary James Faith Jennings Sharon Johnson Peggy Kavka Janice Kettler Daniel Kirk & Eric Skinner Carol Kneeshaw Cheryl Kolbe The Kroger Co. Joni Kutner Fuchsia Lin Grant Lindquist Jonathan & Vida Lohnes David Lewis & Liz Sandoval Sidne Lewis Martha Logan Frances Lynch in mem. of Marion Jenks Mimi Maduro Katherine MacKenzie Sue D. McCulloch Katherine McKearnan Gary McLaughlin Michael McManus Cassandra Mercer Bonnie Merrill Max & Lori Miller Kristen Minor & David Corser Amy Monroe Sara Nosanchuk Margaret Olney & Steve Marsh Kathleen O’Reilly Vicki Perrett Pfizer Foundation David & Kay Pollack David & Nancy Pribnow Naomi Price Denise Reed Michael Reper Meredith & Bill Savery Beth & Amy Segal Bruce Simmons Amelia Simpson Robert Simpson Cassandra Scholte Penelope Schott & Eric Sweetman Suzanne Silverstein Betty Smith Judith Sobol Connie Speros-Literal Laura Stepp Harriet Stiller Erica Swartz David Threefoot Robert Welsh
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS White Bird extends great thanks to the following foundations and government agencies for their support of the 2017–18 twentieth season.
The Regional Arts & Culture Council, including support from the City of Portland, Multnomah County and the Arts Education & Access Fund, Work for Art, including contributions from more than 75 companies and two thousand employees, and Starseed Foundation
OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS artistic directors jamey hampton + ashley roland
artistic directors jamey hampton + ashley roland
OUR GENEROUS RESTAURANT PARTNERS
WHITE BIRD IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BRINGING EXCELLENCE IN DANCE TO PORTLAND, OREGON.
JANUARY 25–27, 2018 LINCOLN HALL, PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT AMERICAN STREET DANCE THEATER
LIFTED! DIRECTED, CHOREOGRAPHED & WRITTEN Lorenzo Rennie Harris SOUND DESIGN, MUSICAL DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Darrin M. Ross NARRATOR/POET Wadud Ahmad
LIGHTING DESIGN Bob Steineck
MUSICAL COMPOSERS Raphael Xavier Darrin Ross
SET DESIGN Ben Levine
PROJECTIONS & VISUAL DESIGN David Dowling
MASTER CARPENTER David Knepper
CHOIR Alonzo Chadwick & Friends
LIFTED! was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. THE COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO THANK: Joan Myers Brown and The Philadanco Dance Company who remain a continued supporter major contributor and sponsor of Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater. VERY SPECIAL THANKS: White Bird for their continued support and to Portland’s very own Renee Mitchell, Mariecella Divine, Alonzo Chadwick & Friends, LaRhonda Steele, Rodney S. Mason, Rashad Pridgen, Donna Mation and a host of Portland natives who looked out for me (yet again). I want to thank you all for your patience and trust.
AMERICAN STREET DANCE THEATER
WHITE BIRD UNCAGED 2017–18 IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM
White Bird’s presentation of LIFTED! is supported by WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation), the NEA and Oregon Arts Commission. Also it is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
MEDIA SPONSOR
The use of photography is prohibited. Please silence your cell phones.
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM PLAYERS Joshua Culbreath.............................................. Joshua Carl Robinson Jr................................................Rev CJ Tatianna Desardouin................................ Aunt Tah-tah Phillip Cuttino Jr.............................................. Unc XO Rodney Mason............................................. Big Poppa The Hood Lockers........................... Ushers/40Thieves
FEATURED DANCERS: The Hood Lockers RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT: Phillip Cuttino, Joshua Culbreath, Katia Cruz, Samantha Shepherd, Mai Le Ho-Johnson, Tatianna Desardouin. ASSOCIATE DANCERS: Millie Heckler, Danzel Thompson Stout. THE HOOD LOCKERS: Marcus Tucker, Andrew Ramsey, Richard Evans and Josh Polk. LOCAL DANCERS: Rashad Pridgen and Donna Mation
GOD’S HOUSE MUSIC: Praise Him by Raphael Xavier DANCERS: Phillip Cuttino, Joshua Culbreath, Katia Cruz, Samantha Shepherd, Mai Le Ho-Johnson, Tatianna Desardouin. Millie Heckler, Danzel Thompson-Stout. Marcus Tucker, Andrew Ramsey, Richard Evans and Josh Polk. Rashad Pigeon and Donna Mation VOCALS: Local Choir
TESTAMONY MUSIC: Turn My Life Around DANCERS: Phillip Cuttino, Joshua Culbreath, Katia Cruz, Samantha Shepherd, Mai Le Ho-Johnson, Tatianna Desardouin. Millie Heckler, Danzel Thompson-Stout. Marcus Tucker, Andrew Ramsey, Richard Evans and Josh Polk. Rashad Pridgen and Donna Mation VOCAL: Carl Robinson Jr.
GET DOWN MUSIC: Dance Sucka (Edit & Mix Darrin Ross) DANCERS: Marcus Tucker, Ricky Evans, Andrew Ramsey, Joshua Polk and Joshua Culbreath
DOUBT & DOLO MUSIC: I Need You Now (Smokie Norful) DANCER: Joshua Culbreath VOCALIST: Carl Robinson Jr.
INTERMISSION
GET DOWN OR LAY DOWN MUSIC: Lost & Turnt Out (by Darrin Ross) DANCERS: Rodney Mason, Phillip Cuttino, Joshua Culbreath, Katia Cruz, Samantha Shepherd, Tatiana Desardouin, Mai Le Ho-Johnson, Marcus Tucker, Ricky Evans, Andrew Ramsey, Joshua Polk and Joshua Culbreath
SUNDAY MUSIC: Amazing Grace (duet) VOCALIST: Joshua Sommerville & Choir DANCERS: All Cast
WHO’S WHO & WHAT’S WHAT! RENNIE HARRIS (Artistic Director, Choreographer and Director) born and raised in an African-American community in North Philadelphia. In 1992 Harris founded Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater, a street dance company dedicated to preserving and disseminating hip-hop culture throughout. Celebrating 25 years of Street Dance Theater Harris’ first evening length work entitled “Rome & Jewels”, remains the longest touring hip-hop dance theater work in American history with 3 Bessie Awards, 2 Black Theater Alvin Ailey Awards, a Herb Alpert award and a nomination for a Lawrence Olivier Award (UK). “Rome & Jewels” has performed for sold-out audiences nationally and internationally. Harris has brought “social” dances and styles to the “concert” stage, creating a cohesive dance style that finds a cogent voice in the theater. Harris was voted one of the most influential people in the last one hundred years of Philadelphia history and has been compared to twentieth-century dance legend Alvin Ailey and Bob Fosse. Awarded the key to the city of Miami & the key to the city of Philadelphia he is currently featured in Rose Eichenbaum’s Masters of MovementPortraits of America’s Great Choreographers with dance legends such as Carmen de Lavallade, Judith Jamison, Fayard Nicolas and Gregory Hines. Rennie Harris was awarded a Master of African American Choreography Medal from the Kennedy Center/Washington (DC), was voted one of the most influential people in the last one hundred years of Philadelphia history and has been compared to twentieth-century dance legend Alvin Ailey and Bob Fosse. Harris was also nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award, is a United States Artists Rose Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow and has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Artist of the Year by Governor Rendell and toured as an ambassador of Hip-hop/Street dance for Presidents Reagan, Clinton and Obama.
JOSHUA CULBREATH Born and raised in Philadelphia, where he started dancing at the age of ten. During his middle school years Joshua joined a dance group called K.R.S. Ent., which won many talent shows and went on to perform on the TV show Showtime at the Apollo in the New York. While dancing with K.R.S. Ent., Joshua met B-boy Hannibal, owner and artist director of 360 Flava, and began to train with him. Joshua is currently a core member of ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater. KATIA CRUZ Born in 1992 in Camden, New Jersey and raised in Pennsauken, N.J., where she currently resides. Katia started dancing salsa at the age of nine with Barbara Capaldi at the Atrium Dance Studio. Two years later, she started training in hip-hop dance with Marcus Tucker, the co-founder of Face Da Phlave Ent., and India Hyman, also of Face Da Phlave. Katia is a leading member and choreographer of In Da Clutch Ent., owned by Kennith Thomas. She is co-director of In Da Clutch Jr. Division, a children’s hip-hop program. Katia has been a core member of ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater since 2012. PHILLIP CUTTINO JR. A Philadelphia native hip-hopper from birth, is skilled in breakin’, graffiti, DJ-ing, and rapping. His first performance was at age four with his father, a prominent MC and B-Boy in the Philadelphia hip-hop scene. He started in a crew called the X-men doing local talent shows and learned from some of Philadel-
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT | BIOGRAPHIES phia greats. He has toured throughout the United States and internationally, and currently is a core member of ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater.
SAMANTHA SHEPHERD is a Philadelphia based dancer. She has performed with 213 Productions, Chosen Dance Company, Loose Screws Contemporary Tap, Monster Squad, and Group Motion. Samantha has choreographed for the Philadelphia 76ers dancers and Bearded Ladies Cabaret Company of Philadelphia. She has performed throughout the US and overseas in places such as Mumbai and New Delhi, India. She danced in Rennie Harris RHAW (training company) and eventually became a core member of ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater. On staff at the University of the Arts, Samantha also appeared as Hunyak in Media Theater’s regional premiere of Chicago and was Assistant Choreographer on the 2013 feature film “Christmas Dreams”.
MAI LÊ HO-JOHNSON Hailing from France, Mai Lê is an arts educator, dance choreographer and deejay who relocated to New York City in 2009. Through her passion for dance, Mai Lê has had the opportunity to perform and/or teach in France, Democratic Republic of Congo, the UK, Vietnam, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Slovakia, Holland, Russia, Belgium and throughout the United States. In 2012 she joined Rennie Harris RHAW and soon after became a core member of ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater. Driven by her talents, Mai Lê has been relentlessly promoting underground Hip-Hop & House cultures locally and internationally, helping bring awareness to their positive impact on the community. She also strongly advocates for the harmonious marriage of dance and music, primarily through her event “LayeRhythm, A Jam Session of Music & Dance”, created in March 2015 in NYC, and now expanding to other cities. Follow her journey at @MaiLeGrooves.
TATIANNA DESARDOUIN Originally from Switzerland, now based in NYC, Tatiana has won many notorious street dance competitions such as “Juste Debout” in Marseille (France); “Just for Laughs” in Montreal (Canada); Clash in
Session in Copenhagen (Denmark). She has taught & judged competitions in Lima, (Peru) “Pura Calle Festival”, across Europe, “Who’s That Lady” in Italy, “Urban Steady Groove” in France, “ReprezentYourself ” in Switzerland, “Flavourama” in Austria. In the USA, New York “ladies of Hip-Hop” (Detroit, Philadelphia). She is also the co-founder of the the first hip-hop company in Switzerland “Continuum”, co-founder of the Hip-Hop dance school in Geneva, “Le Centre HipHop”, member of JAIA non-profit who promotes the Hip-Hop culture in Switzerland (battles, sessions, dance camps & parties) and founder of the Hip-Hop theater dance company “Passion Fruit Dance Company”. She is also part ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater and teaches hip-hop and house at EXPG NYC.
RASHAD PRIDGEN Performance artist, creative entrepreneur and creator of GSDMQ8 The Global Street Dance Masquerade: a site specific dance ceremony that presents Afrofuturist full body masquerade suits in urban environments. Rashad’s works span dance, theater, music video, fashion and creative project making (soulnubian. com) . Performances include: Dying While Black & Brown at Harvard Law School, choreographed by Joanna Haigood/Zaccho Dance Theater. (Conceptual director & performer): Ethos de Masquerade with A.C.T & Strand Theater San Francisco and The Black Lives Masquerade a short film, Bay Area tour 2017. He is a guest lecture at Stanford University’s Immersion in the Arts Living in Culture and Adjunct faculty at University of San Francisco in the social justice and performing arts department. Rashad is honored to work with RHAW in Portland, Oregon, where he first saw the company perform in the 90s.
DONNA MATION Performance artist, choreographer, and educator, is the artistic director and choreographer for Axé Didé Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Music and Dance Co., Bang Bang Boogie, and co-director Up Jump as well as the owner of Center Space Studio. Donna Mation specializes in club and street dances from the USA including, House, Popping, Hustle, and Hip Hop as well as sacred and secular dances of Cuba and Brazil. She has performed and taught in various places around the world. In Portland, she has developed a university-level course “From Mambo to House” that investigates the connection and lineage from Cuban
Rumba through salsa, hip-hop and house dance. When she is not on the road teaching, learning, or performing, Donna offers fulllength themed production’s and small shows as well as classes at her studio, Center Space, in Portland, OR and credited courses at local colleges and universities.
MILLIE HECKLER Originally from Vermont, Millie graduated with an undergraduate B.F.A. degree in Dance from University of Colorado at Boulder, where she received numerous scholarships for her passion and dedication to dance. Recently becoming a founding member and principle dancer of Rennie Harris Grass Roots Project, she toured with Harris nationwide throughout the U.S. Millie has also assisted Harris in the creation of Rennie Harris’ last work Exodus for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company. Currently teaching at University of Texas at Austin, Millie is excited about the future with ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater.
MARCUS TUCKER Marcus “Epic” Tucker is well-rounded in every style of hip hop and funkstyle dance and has much experience on the theatre stage as a director, choreographer and performer. He is also a very inspirational teacher and workshop leader. The summer of 2001, Marcus was introduced to Clyde Evans Jr., founder of Philadelphia-based Chosen Dance Company. In 2003, Clyde Evans was asked to chose three of the best dancers in Philadelphia to do a hip hop theater tour in England with Kompany Malikhi’s “Hip-Hop Story”. Marcus was one of the three chosen. He directed and performed in his own theater show, Heroes, which toured the UK in 2004 and 2005. Following his tours, Marcus became a member of Funkstylerz UK and performed with numerous artists such as singer Pixie Lott, one of UK’s biggest international pop sensations. Marcus returned to America to create the dance company, “Face da Phlave Entertainment”, alongside partners Andrew Ramsey and Kennith Thomas. Around the same time, Marcus was blessed to fulfill his original professional dream to perform for the world leading Street Dance Theatre Company, ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater.
‘Dru’ is the co-founder of “THE HOODLOCKERS”, a funkstyle crew based out of Philadelphia/New Jersey and member of “Phresh Select Dance Crew” of MTV’s ‘Randy Jackson presents
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT | BIOGRAPHIES Americas Best Dance Crew. Dru has trained and learned from some of the world leaders, originators and pioneers of hip hop dance, amassing 15 years of dance training specializing in Hip Hop, ‘Funk’ styles and House dance (involves a mixture of locking, break dance, popping, hip hop), as well as performance training. Dru has worked alongside artist such as Nas, Madonna, Asher Roth and Nick Cannon. He has appeared on BET’s 106 and Park, SYTYCD, and six VISIONS on ABC. He is currently working with Philadelphia’s own, world-renowned ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street dance Theater.
JOSHUA POLK Entertainer, educator, and innovator, J. Lee Polk is the embodiment of the modern Hip Hop artist: a student of the culture, an advocate for the preservation of the culture, and in the vernacular of the times, “a sick-wit-it” dancer! A performer in high demand, J. Lee has graced the stages of The Victory Theater in New York City, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, PA, and he is a consistent performer at The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He has been seen internationally on the small screen as a guest performer on BET’S hit show 106 & Park. J. Lee strongly believes in preserving the art form of Hip Hop dance. As a keeper of the flame, he is constantly involved in facilitating lecture/demonstrations at high schools, colleges, summer camps, and after school programs. If youth want to learn about this art form, J. Lee makes the time share! When J. Lee dances the showmanship of such historical iconic performers such as Stump & Stumpy, Sammy Davis Jr., and James Brown come to mind. He dances with his spirit, he dances like no one is watching, and he dances for life! Experience the man who is proclaimed by those in the Hip Hop world as the one and only ‘He Locks’!
RICKY EVANS is a dancer, choreographer, and instructor from Southern New Jersey. Currently residing in Philadelphia, he uses his talents to give back to the community by teaching the youth and adults at various dance studios within the tri-state area. His professional career started at the age of 18 with the dance crew, Face Da Phlave Entertainment, and from there opportunities opened up for him as a performer and instructor in many different settings. Ricky became a member of The Hood Lockers and
represented this group on stage and off stage in numerous battles and workshops throughout the world. Ricky’s first opportunity to dance under the direction of Rennie Harris came in 2013 in his play, LUV American Style, and he has been taking on different roles for ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater ever since.
DANZEL THOMPSON-STOUT
(ASSOCIATE DANCER)
Originally from Allentown, PA, is a BFA graduate from Temple University. He is now a Philadelphia-based hip-hop artist that is versatile in various styles of dance, including African and Modern dance techniques. He has trained under artists and companies such as Dominick Boyd (BIA), Stafford Berry and Kemal Nance (Berry & Nance Dance Project), Kariamu Welsh and Shaness Kemp (KC Traditions), Kyle and Dinita Clark (Just Sole: Street Dance Theatre), and Rennie Harris (Rennie Harris Puremovement) In his own time, he runs his own dance company D2D: Dare to Dance which creates a space for dancers to find their own artistic voices as they discover themselves as people.
RODNEY S. MASON Transplanted to Portland, from South Philly, Rodney is a Song and Dance man who won the starring role of Tony Sinclair for the Tanqueray worldwide campaign beating out the Wayans brothers, and 800 candidates in the US and UK for this sophisticated Black Brit. Rodney has become a celebrated character in commercials, print/editorial, billboards, interstitials and live guest appearances at major events. Rodney has served his country, and is a Gulf War Veteran. His experience defending his country as a Marine has colored his work and his performance message. He is also a theatre and performance artist, utilizing his hip-hop dance skills, his spoken word poetry and rap to create a myriad of unusual and original characters for film, television, commercials, and stand-up comedy appearances. He has worked with the Groundlings and Second City in Chicago; toured the world with ‘Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater Company out of Philadelphia, and is known for his Bessie award-winning role in ROME & JEWELS. Rodney is currently working on an urban take on Richard III called, Dick A Hip Hop Tragedy.
WADUD AHMAD
(NARRATOR/POET)
An accomplished lawyer, poet and activist, Wadud has performed throughout the world and has appeared on recordings with the likes of The Roots, Jill Scott, Ornette Coleman, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Jeff Bradshaw, The late great Grover Washington Jr., Marcus Miller, Gerald Veasley, and The Last Poets to name a few. “I try to create art that’s felt within the core and fertilizes understanding.”
CARL ROBINSON JR.
(REVEREND)
With a voice that has resonated since the age of 10, Carl Michael Robinson, Jr. has always followed the gift of singing that has been in him. A graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music Arts and Performing Arts, he has been a part of major productions such as the 20th anniversary of Mama I Want to Sing. Carl has been a background singer for artists such as Jasmin Sullivan, Shania Twain, Lil’ Mo, Karen Clark-Sheard, Donald Lawrence, Richard Smallwood, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Wynton Marsalis and several others. In addition, Carl has been a part of Bishop Nathaniel Townsley’s ‘NightSongs’ and ‘Brooklyn to Bethlehem’. For the past 10 years, Carl has been musical director for Alvin Freelands Harlem Christmas in Vienna, Austria. He is prolific in his presentation, has a refreshing and expansive range for a man, and has skills that span beyond his musical capabilities.
COLLABORATORS BOB STEINBECK
(LIGHTING DESIGNER, PRODUCTION MGR) is currently resident lighting designer for Texture Contemporary Ballet, Pgh Playwright’s Theatre, Mercyhurst Univ. Dance Dept., ‘Rennie Harris PureMovement and RHAW, Pgh. Festival Opera and Raphael Xavier Company. Mr. Steineck has toured throughout the US and abroad with both Rennie Harris Companies—PureMovement & RHAW, Reed Dance, Squonk Opera, the Lyon Opera Ballet, Sankai Juku, Phoenix Dance Company, Kirov Ballet Academy and the “America Tour” for Stars on Ice. Television/ Video/DVD credits include A Gathering of Sons for Pgh. Festival Opera, the DIZZY GILLESPIE Allstar Big Band for A&E Cable,
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT | BIOGRAPHIES the Spyro Gyra concert for PBS, and Johnny A Trio by Warner Bros. Publications. He has designed for several corporate events including Mon Valley Sizzles at the Historic Carrie Furnace. His most recent lighting designs include: the world premiere: A Gathering of Sons commissioned by Pgh. Festival Opera; two nationally touring productions: Point of Interest for Raphael Xavier and Lifted for Rennie Harris PureMovment. Other designs include Boundless for Texture Contemporary Ballet, In the Company of Ghosts for Adrienne Wehr & Frank Ferraro, Xerxes and Sweeny Todd for Pgh. Festival Opera.
DARRIN M. ROSS
(OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, COMPOSER, SOUND DESIGNER AND ENGINEER) has been producing and engineering songs since 1984 with Jam On Productions. He has recently completed the score for Suzan Lori Parks Top Dog/ Underdog He is also the recipient of a 2001 New York Dance & Performance Award (BESSIE) for his music composition for Rome & Jewels. Ross has worked with and established many artists in the industry such as, PM Dawn, Newcleus, Aphillyation, Ram Squad, Tuff Crew, Doug E. Fresh, King
Britt, ZHANE, Helen Bruner, Jungle Brothers, Kim Waters, Todd Terry, The Roots, Bahamadia, Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, No Question, AZ YET, Victor Duplaix, Bowser, Rampage, Brother Peace, Major Figgas, Grisha Coleman, Leon Evans, Mike Knox, and more. In 1992, he formed I.Q. Records and is now directing his own production company, KIA-TIFF. Past collaborations with Rennie Harris include the 1990 Coproduction of television segments for “Dance Party USA” and “1 House Street”, scoring and composition efforts for works set on The Pennsylvania Ballet and The Memphis Ballet and various movies.
RAPHAEL XAVIER is an award winning artist from Wilmington, Delaware, credited for the resurrection and growth of the breaking community in Philadelphia since 1996. He is currently an active alumnus of Rennie Harris Puremovement. As a professional breaker/dancer for the last 15 years, he also works in a variety of fields including music, photography and film, of which he incorporates into is choreographic works and dance. His work has been presented and performed at the Kennedy Center in Wash-
ington DC, Dance Theatre Workshop in NYC, The Wilma Theatre, Painted Bride Arts Center in Philadelphia,, Lithuania, UK and Brazil to name a few.
ALONZO CHADWICK & FRIENDS Vocalist, songwriter, composer, actor, Social Justice Activist, talent scout/recruiter and artist consultant has left his mark on the community of Portland. As the former director/vocal teacher of Self Enhancement Inc. Alonzo has brought together some of Portland’s finest voices from its Gospel community as part of Rennie Harris’ vision to include the community of Portland in his artistic sharing with the community that has supported his artistic voice. Currently the manager of Black Parent Initiative and Zoulful Music. Alonzo looks forward to the future and what God has in store for him.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Rodney S. Hill Company Manager, (267) 236-4097 | rodneyhill39@yahoo.com rhill@RHPM.org | www.RHPM.org
P O R T L A N D S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y O P E R A P R E S E N T S
t r e b l A g n i r r e H in b y b e n ja m
b r it t e n
His May Day flop is the last straw!
APRIL 20-29, 2018
Lincoln Performance Hall TICKETS: $15-$30
pdx.edu/boxoffice or 503.725.3307
Photo: Gareth Jones
BIOGRAPHIES
Helping our community comes with the territory. Around here, “business as usual” means giving back to the community. It means leading by example. Paying it forward. And doing good, where good is needed most. Our commitment to local philanthropy is as important as our commitment to our clients. We are proud to support White Bird and the performing arts.
Katharine Coakley, CWS®, CTFA, President 503-279-3189 • kcoakley@columbiatrustcompany.com Views of Columbia Trust Company are as of the date published and are subject to change based on market conditions and other factors. These views should not be construed as a recommendation for any specific security. Products and services are offered by Columbia Trust Company, an affiliate of Columbia State Bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Banking System Inc. The professionally managed investments of Columbia Trust Company are: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC-INSURED • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY • NOT GUARANTEED BY COLUMBIA STATE BANK • MAY GO DOWN IN VALUE
FEBRUARY 21, 2018 ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL
MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP MICA BERNAS SAM BLACK DURELL R. COMEDY RITA DONAHUE DOMINGO ESTRADA, JR. LESLEY GARRISON LAUREN GRANT SARAH HAARMANN BRIAN LAWSON AARON LOUX LAUREL LYNCH DALLAS MCMURRAY BRANDON RANDOLPH NICOLE SABELLA CHRISTINA SAHAIDA* BILLY SMITH, NOAH VINSON *apprentice
MMDG MUSIC ENSEMBLE CLINTON CURTIS COLIN FOWLER JACOB GARCHIK ETHAN IVERSON SAM NEWSOME ROB SCHWIMMER VINCENT SPERRAZZA ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MARK MORRIS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NANCY UMANOFF
Pepperland is a Mark Morris Dance Group production in association with White Bird, Portland, Oregon; American Dance Festival, Durham, North Carolina; BAM, Brooklyn, New York; Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity with the Sony Centre, Toronto, Canada; Cal Performances, UC Berkeley, California; Celebrity Series of Boston, Massachusetts; The City of Liverpool, England, U.K.; Dance Consortium UK; Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven, Connecticut; The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; La Jolla Music Society, La Jolla, California; Meyer Sound, Berkeley, California; Seattle Theatre Group, Seattle, Washington; Segerstrom Center for The Arts, Costa Mesa, California; and UCSB Arts & Lectures, Santa Barbara, California. Pepperland is supported in part by Friends of MMDG, the Howard Gilman Foundation, PARC Foundation, and New Music USA. Music commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. The premiere engagement was supported by funding from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation. The Mark Morris Dance Group is a member of Dance/USA and the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Costumes built by Eric Winterling, Inc. A Day in the Life, Penny Lane, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, When I’m Sixty-Four, With a Little Help from My Friends by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Within You Without You by George Harrison. Pepperland ©2017 Discalced, Inc.
SPONSORS
MEDIA SPONSOR
The taking of photographs and the use of mechanical recording devices are strictly prohibited. Program subject to change. Latecomers will be seated only during intermissions. Please turn off all pagers and cell phones during the performance.
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM
MUSIC: Original songs by The Beatles, arr. by Ethan Iverson* ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS: by Ethan Iverson† CHOREOGRAPHY: Mark Morris SET DESIGN: Johan Henckens COSTUME DESIGN: Elizabeth Kurtzman LIGHTING DESIGN: Nick Kolin ASSISTANT TO MR. MORRIS: Aaron Loux Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band* Magna Carta† With a Little Help from My Friends* Adagio† When I’m Sixty-Four* Allegro† Within You Without You* Scherzo† Wilbur Scoville† Penny Lane* A Day in the Life* Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band* Clinton Curtis ������������������������������������������Vocals Sam Newsome..............................Soprano Sax Jacob Garchik.................................... Trombone Rob Schwimmer ������������������������������� Theremin Ethan Iverson �������������������������������������������Piano Colin Fowler....................................... Keyboard Vincent Sperrazza ��������������������������� Percussion Mica Bernas, Sam Black, Durell R. Comedy, Domingo Estrada, Jr., Lesley Garrison, Lauren Grant, Sarah Haarmann, Brian Lawson, Laurel Lynch, Dallas McMurray, Brandon Randolph, Nicole Sabella, Christina Sahaida, Billy Smith, Noah Vinson
MARK MORRIS was born on August 29, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, where he studied with Verla Flowers and Perry Brunson. In the early years of his career, he performed with the companies of Lar Lubovitch, Hannah Kahn, Laura Dean, Eliot Feld, and the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble. He formed the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) in 1980, and has since created over 150 works for the company. From 1988 to 1991, he was Director of Dance at Brussels’ Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, the national opera house of Belgium. In 1990, he founded the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Much in demand as a ballet choreographer, Morris has created 22 ballets since 1986 and his work has been performed by companies worldwide, including San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Noted for his musicality, Morris has been described as “undeviating in his devotion to music” (The New Yorker). He began conducting performances for MMDG in 2006 and has since conducted at Tanglewood Music Center, Lincoln Center, and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). He served as Music Director for the 2013 Ojai Music Festival. He also works extensively in opera, directing and choreographing productions for the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, English National Opera, and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden, among others. He was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation in 1991 and has received eleven honorary doctorates to date. He has taught at the University of Washington, Princeton University, and Tanglewood Music Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and has served as an Advisory Board Member for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Morris has received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society, the Benjamin Franklin Laureate Prize for Creativity, the International Society for the Performing Arts’ Distinguished Artist Award, Cal Performances Award of Distinction in the Performing Arts, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Gift of Music Award, and the 2016 Doris Duke Artist Award. In 2015, Mark Morris was inducted into the Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York. Morris opened the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, New York, in 2001 to provide a home for his company, rehearsal space for the dance community, outreach programs for children and seniors, and a school offering dance classes to students of all ages and abilities.
THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM WILL BE PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION. Original music by The Beatles. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission from Sony Music Publishing. MAJOR SUPPORT FOR THE MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP is provided by American Express, Anonymous, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, LLP, Morley and Frederick Bland, Booth Ferris Foundation, Allan and Rhea Bufferd, Suzy Kellems Dominik, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, Judith R. and Alan H. Fishman, Shelby and Frederick Gans Fund, Isaac Mizrahi & Arnold Germer, Howard Gilman Foundation, Sandy Hill, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Elizabeth Liebman, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, Suzanne Berman and Timothy J. McClimon, McDermott, Will & Emery, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Meyer Sound/Helen and John Meyer, New England Foundation for the Arts, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Ellen and Arnold Offner, Sarabeth Berman and Evan Osnos, PARC Foundation, Poss-Kapor Foundation, Diane Solway and David Resnicow, Resnicow + Associates, Jennifer P. Goodale and Mark Russell, Margaret Conklin and David Sabel, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Iris Cohen and Mark Selinger, The SHS Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Jane Stine and R.L. Stine, The White Cedar Fund, and Friends of MMDG.
MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP | BIOGRAPHIES The MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP
The MMDG MUSIC ENSEMBLE,
was formed in 1980 and gave its first performance that year in New York City. The company’s touring schedule steadily expanded to include cities in the United States and around the world, and in 1986 it made its first national television program for the PBS series Dance in America. In 1988, MMDG was invited to become the national dance company of Belgium, and spent three years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Dance Group returned to the United States in 1991 as one of the world’s leading dance companies. Based in Brooklyn, New York, MMDG maintains strong ties to presenters in several cities around the world, most notably to its West Coast home, Cal Performances in Berkeley, California, and its Midwest home, the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. MMDG also appears regularly in New York, Boston, Seattle, and Fairfax. In New York, the company has performed at New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival, regularly performs at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Mostly Mozart and White Light Festivals, and collaborates yearly with BAM on performances and master classes. From the company’s many London seasons, it has received two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Critics’ Circle Dance Award for Best Foreign Dance Company. Reflecting Morris’ commitment to live music, the Dance Group has featured live musicians in every performance since the formation of the MMDG Music Ensemble in 1996. MMDG regularly collaborates with renowned musicians, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Emanuel Ax, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, and jazz trio The Bad Plus, as well as leading orchestras and opera companies, including the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, and the London Symphony Orchestra. MMDG frequently works with distinguished artists and designers, including painters Howard Hodgkin and Robert Bordo, set designers Adrianne Lobel and Allen Moyer, costume designers Martin Pakledinaz and Isaac Mizrahi, and many others. MMDG’s film and television projects include Dido and Aeneas, The Hard Nut, Falling Down Stairs, two documentaries for the U.K.’s South Bank Show, and PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center. In 2015 Morris’ signature work L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato had its national television premiere on PBS’ Great Performances. While on tour the Dance Group partners with local cultural institutions and community organizations to present Access/MMDG, a program of arts and humanities-based activities for people of all ages and abilities.
formed in 1996, is integral to the Dance Group. “With the dancers come the musicians…and what a difference it makes” (Classical Voice of North Carolina). The Ensemble’s repertory ranges from 17th and 18th century works by John Wilson and Henry Purcell to more recent scores by Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell and Ethan Iverson. The musicians also participate in the Dance Group’s educational and community programming at home and on tour. The Music Ensemble is led by Colin Fowler.
MICA BERNAS, originally from Manila, Philippines, received her training at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Dance School. She later joined Ballet Philippines as member of the corps de ballet, performing as a soloist from 2001–2006. Since moving to New York in 2006, Bernas has worked with Marta Renzi Dance, Armitage Gone Dance, Gallim Dance, Barkin/Selissen Project, and Carolyn Dorfman Dance (2007–2013). She was a guest artist with the Limón Dance Company, performing at the 2013 Bienal Internacional de Danza de Cali in Bogotá, Colombia; Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater; and at The Joyce Theater for the company’s 70th Anniversary in 2015. Bernas also teaches at the Limón Institute and has been on the faculty for BIMA at Brandeis University since 2011. She joined MMDG as an apprentice in January 2017 and became a full time company member in August 2017. SAM BLACK is originally from Berkeley, California, where he began studying tap at the age of nine with Katie Maltsberger. He received his B.F.A. in dance from SUNY Purchase, and currently teaches MMDG master classes and Dance for PD®. He first appeared with MMDG in 2005 and became a company member in 2007.
DURELL R. COMEDY, a native of Prince Georges County, Maryland, began dancing at the age of 6 with Spirit Wings Dance Company. He graduated from the Visual & Performing Arts program of Suitland High School in 2004 and magna cum laude from George Mason University, receiving his B.F.A. in dance performance in 2008. Since then, he’s worked and performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Troy Powell, and Kyle Abraham, among others. Comedy was a member of the Limón Dance Company from 2009–2015, performing principal and soloist roles. He’s also appeared as a soloist dancer
in Baltimore Opera Company’s Aida and worked with Washington National Opera from 2013–2014 as a principal dancer and dance captain. He was a former fellowship student at the Ailey School and a 2014 adjunct faculty member at George Mason University’s School of Dance. Comedy joined MMDG as an apprentice in 2015 and became a company member in 2016.
CLINTON CURTIS
(BARITONE) is a multi-genre singer, musician, and songwriter originally from Key West, Florida. As a choral singer he has worked with many of the world’s luminary conductors and orchestras, most recently including engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. March 2016 marked his operatic debut in Curlew River for the Mark Morris Dance Group. As a popular songwriter and frontman for The Clinton Curtis Band he has toured internationally as a cultural ambassador with the U.S Department of State. He has released five original studio albums available at music. clintoncurtis.com. RITA DONAHUE was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia, and attended George Mason University. She graduated magna cum laude in 2002, receiving a B.A. in English and a B.F.A. in dance. Donahue danced with bopi’s black sheep/dances by kraigpatterson and joined MMDG in 2003. DOMINGO ESTRADA, JR., a native of Victoria, Texas, studied martial arts and earned his black belt in 1994. He danced ballet folklorico through his church for 11 years. Estrada earned his B.F.A. in ballet and modern dance from Texas Christian University and had the honor of working with the late Fernando Bujones. During his undergraduate studies, he attended the American Dance Festival where he had the privilege of performing Skylight, a classic work by choreographer Laura Dean. He debuted with MMDG in 2007 and became a company member in 2009. Estrada would like to thank God, his family, and all who support his passion.
COLIN FOWLER (MUSIC DIRECTOR, KEYBOARD) began his musical study at the age of five in Kansas City and went on to study at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy. He continued his education at The Juilliard
MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP | BIOGRAPHIES School, where he received his Bachelor of Music in 2003 and his Master of Music in 2005. While at Juilliard, he studied piano with Abbey Simon, organ with Gerre Hancock and Paul Jacobs, harpsichord with Lionel Party, and conducting with James dePriest and Judith Clurman. A versatile musician and conductor, Fowler works in many areas of the music scene in New York City. He is a veteran of numerous Broadway shows, most recently performing in the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys. A seasoned church musician, Fowler is currently the organist at Marble Collegiate Church on Fifth Avenue and also leads services and concerts at Park Avenue Synagogue, where he has served as Music Director since 2012. As a classical soloist and collaborative artist, he has performed and recorded with many world-renowned musicians and ensembles, including Deborah Voigt and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He began to collaborate with the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2005 and has since then performed over 40 pieces with the company on almost every keyboard instrument possible, including the harmonium and toy piano, and has conducted performances of Mozart Dances, Acis and Galatea, and The Hard Nut. Hailed by the New York Times as ‘invaluable’ and ‘central to Morris’ music’, he was appointed music director in 2013.
JACOB GARCHIK
(TROMBONE), is a multiinstrumentalist and composer. Since moving to New York in 1994 he has been a vital part of the Downtown and Brooklyn scene, playing trombone with the Lee Konitz Nonet, Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow Sextet, Mary Halvorson Octet, and the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble. He has released 4 albums as a leader including The Heavens: The Atheist Gospel Trombone Album. He co-leads Brooklyn’s premiere Mexican brass band, Banda de los Muertos. Since 2006 Garchik has contributed dozens of arrangements and transcriptions for Kronos Quartet of music from all over the world. His arrangements were featured on Floodplain, Rainbow, and A Thousand Thoughts. He composed the score for Kronos for the documentaries The Campaign and Green Fog directed by Guy Maddin. He has created arrangements for vocalists Anne Sofie von Otter, Angelique Kidjo, Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens, kd lang, Natalie Merchant, Tanya Tagaq, and Alim Qasimov. As a trombonist Garchik has worked with many luminaries of the avant-garde, including Henry Threadgill, Laurie Anderson, Anthony Braxton, Anthony Coleman, Joe
Maneri, Frank London, James Tenney, Terry Reilly, and George Lewis. He has also played in ensembles led by emerging artists Mary Halvorson, Darcy James Argue, Dan Weiss, Miguel Zenon, and Steve Lehman, and has been named a “Rising Star” in the Downbeat Jazz Critic’s Poll.
LESLEY GARRISON grew up in Swansea, Illinois, and received her early dance training at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis, Missouri, and Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. She studied at the Rotterdamse Dansacademie in The Netherlands and holds a B.F.A. from Purchase College. She first performed with MMDG in 2007 and became a company member in 2011. Garrison teaches at The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center and for MMDG’s Dance for PD® program. LAUREN GRANT, honored with a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” award for her career with the Mark Morris Dance Group, has danced with MMDG since 1996, appearing in over 60 of Morris’ works. She stages Morris’ repertory on his company, at universities and conservatories, and teaches ballet and modern technique for the Dance Group, The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center, Jessica Lang Dance Company, Liz Gerring Dance Company, Ballet Preljocaj, and at schools and universities around the globe. Her writing has been published in the journals Dance Education in Practice and Ballet Review, and in Dance Magazine and InfiniteBody. She also serves as a panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts. Grant holds a BFA in dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is currently pursuing her MFA in dance at Montclair State University where she is also an adjunct professor and a member of the National Honor Society for graduate and professional students. She is a recipient of the prestigious American Association of University Women Career Development Grant, the Sono Osato Scholarship for Graduate Studies, and the Caroline Newhouse Grant—all in support of her academic pursuits. Originally from Highland Park, IL, she lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband David Leventhal (former MMDG dancer and current Dance for PD® Program Director) and their son, born in 2012.
SARAH HAARMANN grew up in Macungie, Pennsylvania and received training at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts under the direction of Kimberly Maniscalco. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A in dance from Marymount Manhattan College in 2012. Haarmann has had the pleasure of performing with Pam Tanowitz Dance, Jessica Lang Dance, Dylan Crossman Dans(ce), Pat Catterson, Denisa Musilova, and Bill Young. She joined MMDG as an apprentice in January 2017 and became a full time company member in August 2017. ETHAN IVERSON
(COMPOSER, ARRANGER, PIANO) was a founding member of The Bad Plus, a game-changing collective with Reid Anderson and David King. The New York Times called TBP “…Better than anyone at melding the sensibilities of post-60’s jazz and indie rock.” During his 17-year tenure TBP performed in venues as diverse as the Village Vanguard, Carnegie Hall, and Bonnaroo; collaborated with Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, and the Mark Morris Dance Group; and created a faithful arrangement of Stravinky’s The Rite of Spring and a radical reinvention of Ornette Coleman’s Science Fiction. Iverson also has been in the critically-acclaimed Billy Hart quartet for well over a decade and occasionally performs with an elder statesman like Albert “Tootie” Heath or Ron Carter. For almost 15 years Iverson’s blog Do the Math has been a repository of musician-to-musician interviews and analysis, surely one reason Time Out New York selected Iverson as one of 25 essential New York jazz icons: “Perhaps NYC’s most thoughtful and passionate student of jazz tradition—the most admirable sort of artist-scholar.” More recently Iverson has been writing about jazz for the New Yorker. In 2017 Iverson co-curated a major centennial celebration of Thelonious Monk at Duke University and in 2018 Iverson will be premiering an original piano concerto with the American Composers Orchestra and releasing a duo album with Mark Turner on ECM. Many years ago Iverson was the Mark Morris Dance Group’s musical director and is thrilled to be back in the pit for MMDG again!
NICK KOLIN (LIGHTING DESIGN) has designed Whelm, Words, A Forest, and Numerator for the Mark Morris Dance Group and tours with the Dance Group as lighting supervisor. Recent dance projects include new works for Philadanco!, Art of Fugue with Syren Modern
MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP | BIOGRAPHIES Dance, many collaborations with the Joffrey Ballet School, and lighting supervisor for Daniil Simkin’s Intensio, Wendy Whelan’s Restless Creature, the Apollo Theatre’s Get on the Good Foot, Dance Heginbotham, Lincoln Center Festival, and NY City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival. Other projects include productions with the Cincinnati Ballet, Gotham Chamber Opera, Asolo Repertory Theater, Castillo Theater, and Signature Theatre. Kolin is an adjunct faculty member at Hunter College, where he is the resident lighting designer for the M.F.A. playwriting program. He holds an M.F.A. from New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
ELIZABETH KURTZMAN
(COSTUME DESIGN) began
her career in the fashion industry after attending the Parsons School of Design. She has designed textiles and accessories for numerous New York design houses. She has added costume design and book illustration to her list of vocations, designing numerous pieces for the Mark Morris Dance Group including Dancing Honeymoon, Sang-Froid, The Argument, Greek to Me, Four Saints in Three Acts, Empire Garden, Visitation, The Muir, Crosswalk, Petrichor, and Pure Dance Items. She also designed L’Isola Disabitatafor the Gotham Opera Company, under Mark Morris’ direction. Kurtzman is currently active in providing art and music programs for children with autism in New York City, where she lives and works.
BRIAN LAWSON began his dance training in Toronto at Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre. There he worked with choreographers such as David Earle, Carol Anderson, and Michael Trent. Lawson spent a year studying at the Rotterdamse Dansacademie in The Netherlands and graduated summa cum laude in 2010 from Purchase College, where he was also granted the President’s Award for his contributions to the dance program. Lawson has had the pleasure of performing with Pam Tanowitz Dance, Dance Heginbotham, and Nelly van Bommel’s NØA Dance, among others. He joined MMDG as an apprentice in 2011 and became a company member in 2013.
AARON LOUX grew up in Seattle, Washington, and began dancing at the Creative Dance Center as a member of Kaleidoscope, a youth modern dance company. He began his
classical training at the Cornish College Preparatory Dance Program and received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School in 2009. He danced at The Metropolitan Opera and with Arc Dance Company before joining MMDG in 2010.
LAUREL LYNCH began her dance training at Petaluma School of Ballet in California. She moved to New York to attend The Juilliard School where she performed works by Robert Battle, Margie Gillis, José Limón, and Ohad Naharin. After graduation Lynch danced for Dušan Týnek Dance Theatre, Sue Bernhard Danceworks, and Pat Catterson. Lynch joined MMDG as an apprentice in 2006 and became a company member in 2007. Many thanks to Gene and Becky.
DALLAS McMURRAY, from El Cerrito, California, began dancing at age four, studying jazz, tap, and acrobatics with Katie Maltsberger and ballet with Yukiko Sakakura. He received a B.F.A. in dance from the California Institute of the Arts. McMurray performed with the Limón Dance Company in addition to works by Jirí Kylián, Alonzo King, Robert Moses, and Colin Connor. McMurray performed with MMDG as an apprentice in 2006 and became a company member in 2007.
SAM NEWSOME
(SAXOPHONE) works primarily in the medium of solo saxophone, an approach through which he gained world-wide critical acclaim with the release of his 2009 recording Blue Soliloquy: Solo Works for Soprano Saxophone, which received a five star review in Downbeat magazine. Newsome sees himself more along the lines of a visual artist who paints with notes and sounds rather than shapes and colors. “My music, “ says Newsome, “is a type of improvisatory art music in which jazz functions more as a resource than a musical genre to be interpreted with stylistic specificity. “ Even though Newsome’s approach is unorthodox, it has proven to be very fruitful—musically and critically. Newsome’s creative efforts have earned him such recognition as receiving the 2016 NYFA Artist’s Fellowship for the Music/ Sound category; being selected as a nominee for for Soprano Saxophonist of the Year by the 2016 Jazz Journalist Association (JJA); and placing #4 in the Soprano Saxophone category in the 64th Annual Downbeat Critics Poll.
BRANDON RANDOLPH began his training with the School of Carolina Ballet Theater in Greenville, South Carolina, under the direction of Hernan Justo. At age 14, he was accepted into the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where he studied with Stanislav Issaev and Bobby Barnett. Randolph received his B.F.A. in dance from Purchase College in 2012. There he had the opportunity to perform with Dance Heginbotham as well as repertory by Stephen Petronio, Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor, and George Balanchine. Randolph began working with MMDG in 2013 and became a company member in 2014.
NICOLE SABELLA is originally from Clearwater, Florida, where she studied at the Academy of Ballet Arts and the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School under Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff. In 2009, She graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, earning her B.F.A. in modern dance performance and the “Outstanding Performance in Modern Dance” Award. She was a performer with Zane Booker’s Smoke, Lilies, and Jade Arts Initiative. Sabella first performed with MMDG in 2013 and became a company member in 2015.
CHRISTINA SAHAIDA grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began her early dance training at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. In 2012, she graduated with honors from Butler University, receiving a B.F.A in dance performance. She has worked with Ballet Quad Cities, Texture Contemporary Ballet, and most recently the Big Muddy Dance Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Sahaida joined the Mark Morris Dance Group as an apprentice in July 2017.
ROB SCHWIMMER
(THEREMIN) is a composerpianist/keyboardist, thereminist, and Haken Continuumist. He has worked with Simon and Garfunkel, Wayne Shorter, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Bobby McFerrin, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Gotye, The Boston Pops, Chaka Khan, Laurie Anderson, Arif Mardin, Stevie Wonder, Adam Guettel, Paul Bley, T-Bone Walker, Sam Rivers, Christian Marclay, Matthew Barney, Ang Lee, Maria Schneider, The Klezmatics, Bernie Worrell, Annette Peacock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mabou Mines, Geoffrey Holder, John Cale,
BIOGRAPHIES Steve Buscemi, Iva Bittova, Theo Bleckmann, John Stubblefield, The Roches, Jack Quartet, Teo Macero, Hal Willner, Vernon Reid, The Everly Brothers, Kurt Vonnegut, Odetta, Joseph Jarman, Alwin Nikolai/ Murray Louis Dance Company, Marc Ribot, Frank London and Sammy Davis Jr. As a world class thereminist, Rob has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. A founding member and co-director of The NY Theremin Society, his credits as theremin soloist include The Boston Pops, The Orchestra of St. Luke’s (which included Rob’s theremin arrangement of Bernard Herrmann’s “Scene d’Amour” from Vertigo), Bobby McFerrin at Carnegie Hall, Gotye’s Ondioline Orchestra and Simon & Garfunkel’s world tours. In addition to his CD Theremin Noir (with Uri Caine and Mark Feldman), Rob played on Trey Anastasio’s CD Traveler, Matthew Barney’s epic movie Cremaster 3 and A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts.
BILLY SMITH grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and attended George Mason University under a full academic and dance talent scholarship. He graduated magna cum laude in 2007 and received achievement awards in performance, choreography, and academic endeavors. While at George Mason he performed the works of Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Doug Varone, Daniel Ezralow, Larry Keigwin, Susan Marshall, and Susan Shields. Smith’s own piece, 3-Way Stop,was selected to open the 2006 American College Dance Festival Gala at Ohio State University and his original choreography for a production of Bye Bye Birdie garnered much critical praise. An actor as well, Smith’s regional theater credits include Tulsa in Gypsy, Mistoffelees in CATS, and Dream Curly in Oklahoma!. Smith danced with Parsons Dance from 2007–2010. He joined MMDG as a company member in 2010. VINCENT
SPERRAZZA
(PERCUSSION) is a Brooklyn-
based jazz drummer. His first album as a bandleader and composer, Apocryphal, was released by Loyal Label in 2014. Originally from a small town south of Utica, New York, Sperrazza moved to NYC right after college, and he’s lived in Brooklyn almost long enough to say he’s from Brooklyn. He’s performed with many amazing musicians, but feels self-conscious about dropping names, so he’s not going to do it, save mentioning the late, great pianist Mr. James Williams, with whom Vin played many memorable concerts. He plays in several bands, spent a recent summer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
as an actor (he played a drummer- not much of a stretch), is on some cool records that have just come out (Dana Lyn/Vincent D’Onofrio Slim Bone Head Volt, Sperrazza/ Sacks/Kamaguchi Play Tadd Dameron, Jacob Garchik Ye Olde), and as of this writing, is listening to rough mixes of three new projects: Apocryphal II (with the returning cast of Loren Stillman, Brandon Seabrook, Eivind Opsvik, produced by Geoff Kraly), a quartet date with Chris Speed, Bruce Barth, and Peter Brendler, and an album of music by Lee Morgan for Fresh Sound Records, all for 2017 release.
NOAH VINSON is originally from Springfield, Illinois, and received his B.A. in dance from Columbia College Chicago. He was named a Dance Magazine “Dancer on the Rise” in 2009 and assisted Mark Morris in the creation of his most recent work for Houston Ballet, The Letter V, which premiered in May 2015. He began dancing with MMDG in 2002 and became a company member in 2004. MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP STAFF Artistic Director: Mark Morris Executive Director: Nancy Umanoff
PRODUCTION Director of Technical Production: Johan Henckens Music Director: Colin Fowler Lighting Supervisor: Nick Kolin Sound Supervisor: Rory Murphy Costume Coordinator: Stephanie Sleeper
ADMINISTRATION Chief Financial Officer: Elizabeth Fox Finance Manager: Natalia Kurylak Human Resources: Manager Rebecca Hunt IT Director: Aleksandr Kanevskiy Company Manager: Jen Rossi Associate General Manager: Geoff Chang Management Assistant: Julia Weber Archive Project Manager: Stephanie Neel Archive Project Associate: Sandra Aberkalns Archive Project Assistant: Regina Carra Retail Store Manager/Administrative Assistant: Marianny Loveras Intern: Carmel St. Hilaire
DEVELOPMENT Director of Development: Michelle Amador Manager of Institutional: Giving Sophie Mintz Individual Giving Officer: Tyler Mercer Development Associate: Makayla Santiago
MARKETING Director of Marketing: Karyn LeSuer Marketing and Communications Associate: Julie Dietel Marketing Fellow: Linda Diaz
EDUCATION Director of Education: Sarah Marcus School Director: Kelsey Ley Education Programs Coordinator: Rachel Merry
Community Education Programs Manager: Alexandra Rose Education Programs Assistant: Jessica Pearson Education Fellow: Alexandria Ryahl Outreach Director: Eva Nichols Dance for PD® Program Director: David Leventhal Dance for PD® Program and Engagement Manager: Maria Portman Kelly Dance for PD® Programs Assistant: Amy Bauman
DANCE CENTER OPERATIONS Operations Manager: Elise Gaugert Facilities Manager: Mark Sacks Rental Programs Manager: Annie Woller Operations Coordinator: Aria Roach Front Desk Manager: Tamika Daniels Front Desk Supervisor: Dominque Terreu Front Desk Associates: Mario Flores, Jr., Roxie Maisel, Tiffany McCue, Dominique Terrell, Zoe Walders, Kareem Woods Maintenance: Jose Fuentes, Hector Mazariegos, Orlando Rivera, Justin Sierra, Arturo Velazquez Booking Representation: Michael Mushalla (Double M Arts & Events) Media and General Consultation Services: William Murray (Better Attitude, Inc.) Legal Counsel: Mark Selinger (McDermott, Will & Emery) Accountant: O’Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLP Orthopaedist: David S. Weiss, M.D. (NYU Langone Medical Center) Physical Therapist: Marshall Hagins, PT, PhD Hilot Therapist: Jeffrey Cohen Thanks to Maxine Morris. Sincerest thanks to all the dancers for their dedication, commitment, and incalculable contribution to the work.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY The Amphion Foundation, Inc., Arnow Family Fund, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc., Bossak/ Heilbron Charitable Foundation, Con Edison, Joseph and Joan Cullman Foundation for the Arts, Inc., ConEdison, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Estée Lauder Companies, ExxonMobile Corporate Matching Gift Program, Google Matching Gift Program, The Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation, Guggenheim Partners Matching Gifts, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Marta Heflin Foundation, IBM Corporation Matching Gifts Program, Jaffee Family Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Leatherwood Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Materials For The Arts, Megara Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Harris A. Berman & Ruth Nemzoff Family Foundation, New Music USA, New York Life Foundation, Wilhelmina Parris, FLP, The L. E. Phillips Family Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, Rolex, Billy Rose Foundation, Inc., San Antonio Area Foundation, Schneer Foundation, SingerXenos Wealth Management, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Trust for Mutual Understanding, and Viad Corp. The Mark Morris Dance Group is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, Council Member Helen Rosenthal, the New York City Department for the Aging, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information contact: MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP 3 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217-1415 (718) 624-8400 | www.mmdg.org