M U T N E M O M
2017-2018 SEASON
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE
THAT WE INTRODUCE CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN, DANCE PLACE’S NEW EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. We hope you’ll join the board and staff for special events throughout the year that welcome our new leader and help him take his place at the helm of our beloved Dance Place. Momentum is the theme of this season and speaks to Dance Place’s soaring trajectory into the future. There’s something for everyone in the season – you won’t find a more diverse, adventurous presentation of dance artists anywhere. Whether it’s a talented homegrown company from our region or a touring artist from Israel, New York, Japan, Cuba or San Francisco – the breadth is simply amazing. I look forward to greeting you in the theater or around the Dance Place campus! On behalf of the board, we invite you to enjoy new possibilities propelled by the spectacular vision that Carla and Deborah have put into motion.
Denise Rollins, Board Chair
IT IS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR TO SHARE WITH YOU THE 2017-2018 SEASON IN MY NEW ROLE AS DANCE PLACE’S EXECUTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. As Dance Place leaps boldly into the future, it is fitting that my time here begins with a season curated under the leadership of Directors Emeriti Carla Perlo and Deborah Riley. The future of Dance Place will always launch from the incredible foundation laid by Carla and Deborah as I work with the staff, board, artists, students and families that make up our community to propel us all forward. This season is filled with a rich and diverse array of artists, a season that matches my own curatorial vision. In line with Dance Place’s history, I will remain committed to presenting a full range of international, national and area choreographers that are a reflection of the unique global tapestry of the Greater Washington, DC community. Our momentum is strongest when the many different threads of who we are weave together. The future of Dance Place will be grounded in this vision, connected to its past, celebrating the present and embracing the future. I look forward to meeting all of you in the theater, the classroom, the 8th St Arts Park or in any of the myriad ways we can be involved in Dance Place together. For those of you I already know from my many years in the field and as a member of the Dance Place community, I look forward to deepening our relationships in my new capacity. Yours in dance,
Christopher K. Morgan, Executive Artistic Director
THANK YOU FOR EMBRACING OUR MISSION!
Founded in 1980, Dance Place builds a community of artists, audiences and students through high quality performances, commissions, training and educational programs. We are committed to enriching the field of dance locally, nationally and internationally. Our thriving arts campus serves as an anchor in the development of our Brookland / Edgewood neighborhood in Washington, DC.
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SUPPORT US!
EASY WAYS TO GIVE: 1. VISIT DANCEPLACE.ORG/DONATE 2. CALL US AT 202.269.1601 3. MAIL YOUR GIFT TO DANCE PLACE, 3225 8TH ST NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20017
TICKETS WHAT MEMBER OF THE DANCE PLACE FAMILY ARE YOU? We’ve organized our season to best suit your unique tastes. Not sure where you fit in? Take our quiz at danceplace.org! Take 50% off your total ticket purchase when you buy tickets before September 30 with the code PLACE! I AM A ROOKIE. You come to the theater to be entertained, to be wowed, to revel in the joy of human connection! You may not know all those fancy names but you know what you like. For you, we’ve chosen beautiful, stirring works of art that speak to the universal desires in us all. I AM A DANCE JUNKIE. Jetting between performances, installations and showings, you’ve seen it all! A true aficionado, you’re always open to new experiences and want to be delighted, challenged and surprised. Only the best will do for you – boundary-pushing premieres, underground artists and works on the cutting edge of the dance scene today. I AM GLOBAL. A worldly soul, you find inspiration in travel and experiences. With a flair for adventure and excitement, your wanderlust drives you to try new flavors and cultures with abandon. Lucky for you, we’ve brought the international stage right to your doorstep! Dive into the rhythms of Africa, the rich lore of Southeast Asia and the vibrant passion of the Americas. I AM PLUGGED IN. Not satisfied with the status quo, you want to jump in and get your voice heard. Dance, for you, is another way to look at the issues facing our world today. You’re inspired by social justice, current events and you never pass up a reason to tweet your mind! We’ve chosen engaging works that will challenge your intellect, inspire your creativity and stay with you long after you leave the theater. I AM THE NEXT GENERATION. Are you the student who can’t sit still in class? Do you dance to your own beat? Bring your brothers, sisters, parents and friends to see some captivating moves on our stage. Who knows, maybe you’ll be on our stage soon too! #NextGeneration FRONT COVER PHOTO: MK ABADOO IN DANCE EXCHANGE’S “NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE: THIS IS A PLACE TO…” By Ben Carver CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN By Brianne Bland
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BODYCARTOGRAPHY PROJECT By Gene Pittman
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DANCE PLACE FAMILY DAY September 9
Join your neighbors | Meet our teachers | Try a new class Get the Dance Place experience for FREE and introduce your child to their neighbors and to the arts. All of Brookland / Edgewood comes out for this annual celebration of our thriving, artistic community and you’re invited! Get the kids moving in sample classes, make something beautiful with guided arts and crafts and so much more!
BODYCARTOGRAPHY PROJECT Saturday, September 16 at 8pm Sunday, September 17 at 7pm
A cast of DC professionals join Minneapolis-based BodyCartography Project for closer. closer (group) lays bare the power of physicality through a series of duets that multiply into an expansive performance experience and dance party. Visit danceplace.org for public performances of closer (solo) on September 14-16. This presentation of BodyCartography Project is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Performance Network Creation Fund and Performance Residency Programs.
METRO MAMBO
Saturday, September 23 at 2:30pm For the third year, Jim Byers, host of WPFW 89.3 FM’s Latin Flavor, presents rare, live and unreleased recordings of Palladium Ballroom-era Latin music legends. Featuring archival gems from Tito Puente’s biographer Joe Conzo, Sr, the event culminates with an open dance floor and live Latin band. Co-presentation.
COQUITRUCOS
Saturday, September 23 at 8pm Directed by Quique Aviles, COQUITRUCOS or El Salvador meets Borinquen brings together four elders of the DC Latinx arts community in a multimedia performance. Puerto Rican bassist Pepe Gonzalez, Puerto Rican poet Sammy Miranda, El Salvadorian percussionist Ivan Navas and El Salvadorian poet Quique Aviles present an evening of music and poetry inspired by their lives in the heart of DC’s Latinx community.
DC CASINEROS
Friday, September 29 at 8pm World-renowned salsa company DC Casineros perform their signature blend of Cuban dance styles, including Rueda de Casino, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Cha Cha Chá, Mambo, Danzón and other Cuban Popular dances. With special guest performers and live music, the Casineros build healthy communities through the art and culture of Cuban dance. After the show, get up and dance with the company in a rollicking Cuban Social! Dance Place Resident Company.
ROY ASSAF DANCE
Saturday, October 7 at 8pm Sunday, October 8 at 7pm Israeli choreographer Roy Assaf brings his award-winning repertory to DC. Six Years Later shows a quiet meeting between two mysterious figures, their pasts unknown and their story told through gesture and evocative undulations. In a trio infused with meaning and insight, The Hill challenges three men to find the softer side of masculinity and fraternity. Roy Assaf Dance’s premiere US tour, with partnering performances at Baryshnikov Arts Center (NYC), CityDance (Bethesda, MD) and Dance Place (Washington, DC), is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
ARTWORKS FOR FREEDOM Saturday, October 14 at 8pm Sunday, October 15 at 7pm
ArtWorks for Freedom raises awareness of human trafficking in Strong in the Broken Places, an evening of dance featuring award-winning artists Holly Bass, Christopher K. Morgan, Erica Rebollar and PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER. Each artist crafts their unique perspective using the concept of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramic, as a metaphor for the trauma, resilience and courage of trafficking survivors. Co-presentation.
MOMENTUM SEASON GALA Saturday, October 21 at 7pm
Welcome new Director Christopher K. Morgan at our annual Gala and see Dance Place like you’ve never seen it before. Explore Dance Place’s campus with immersive art installations that merge performance, theater design and technology. Enjoy tasty libations and food, bid on our silent auction and end the night with our signature dance party!
LMNO3
Saturday, October 28 at 8pm Sunday, October 29 at 7pm New York City-based trio LMnO3 shifts identities in a kaleidoscopic pageant of status and femininity. B.A.N.G.S.: Made in America uses hard rap, body percussion and a game show to repurpose how we unapologetically wear our own “Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness and Size.” This presentation of LMnO3 is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the DC Special Presenters Initiative program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
LMNO3 By Whitney Browne
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THE DC CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE / EL TEATRO DE DANZA CONTEMPORANEA By Dave Cunningham
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JOY OF MOTION’S MIXED MOVEMENT
Wednesday, November 1 at 8pm Joy of Motion Dance Center brings you Mixed Movement: Entertainment in Motion, a series that mixes dance together with live music, poetry and theater. Join us for a humorous and eclectic night out that’s both thought-provoking and entertaining. Co-presentation.
METRO TAP ROOTS
Saturday, November 4 at 8pm Sunday, November 5 at 4pm* The third annual Metro Tap Roots celebrates the DC metropolitan area’s rich history of tap dancing with a premiere in collaboration with poet Nikki Giovanni. Directed by Baakari Wilder and Michael Anthony Williams, The Grasshopper’s Song revisits a classic Aesop Fable with a new twist! *Family Series – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult. Bloomberg Performance Weekend.
DANCE METRO DC
Saturday, November 11 at 8pm Sunday, November 12 at 4pm Dance Metro DC continues their commitment to supporting the local dance community in their fall presentation. Showcasing work from artists previously commissioned by Dance Metro DC, the concert highlights the rich breadth of creative productions in DC. Co-presentation.
WHAT’S GOING ON
Saturday, November 18 at 8pm Sunday, November 19 at 4pm Returning home after a sold-out nationwide tour, What’s Going On is Dance Place’s critically acclaimed producing debut that “offers the sweetest solace possible: people coming together” (The Washington Post). Artistic Director Vincent E. Thomas looks through the lens of Marvin Gaye’s transcendent music and finds a reflection of the world today. Taking inspiration from 1971’s inimitable “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye’s insights into life, love and social justice are given fresh perspectives with choreography by Vincent E. Thomas, Ralph Glenmore and Sylvia Soumah. What’s Going On is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Dance Place in partnership with The CenterStage at the Reston Community Center and NPN. The Creation Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org.
COYABA DANCE THEATER’S KWANZAA CELEBRATION By Jack Gordon
THE DC CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE / EL TEATRO DE DANZA CONTEMPORANEA Saturday, December 2 at 8pm Sunday, December 3 at 7pm
Founded in 1984 by Artistic Director Miya Hisaka, The DC Contemporary Dance Theatre / El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea builds DC’s rich foundation of multicultural repertory dance by providing quality programs as well as performance and training opportunities for outstanding young talent. The company’s work has spanned two continents and three decades, dedicated to excellence in concert dance and diverse, internationally recognized choreography. Co-presentation.
FIELDWORK FOR MIXED DISCIPLINES SHOWING Tuesday, December 5 at 7pm
This works-in-progress showing for all artistic disciplines culminates the Fieldwork artist workshop, a forum for artists to share developing works and exchange feedback peer to peer. A signature program of The Field, Fieldwork has provided objective, non-directorial feedback across the United State and Europe for more than 30 years.
DISSONANCE DANCE THEATRE Saturday, December 9 at 8pm Sunday, December 10 at 4pm
Under the Artistic Direction of Shawn Short, Dissonance Dance Theatre was named “one of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC” by Dance Spirit Magazine. Since its inception in 2007, Dissonance’s repertoire evokes emotional experiences in audiences with a blend of ballet and modern styles.
Saturday, December 16 at 8pm Sunday, December 17 at 4pm*
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KWANZAA CELEBRATION
Dance Place Resident Company. *Family Series – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.
WHAT’S GOING ON By Jonathan Hsu Photography & Video
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Join us this holiday season for Dance Place’s annual Kwanzaa Celebration, under the direction of Sylvia Soumah. Gather family and friends to join Coyaba Academy, Coyaba Dance Theater and special guests to celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
UNIT SOUZOU
Saturday, January 6 at 8pm Sunday, January 7 at 4pm Intricately weaving taiko, dance and theater, 88: Hachi Hachi is a bold theatrical performance investigating the space that exists between two people. Portland-based Unit Souzou Co-Directors Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe face each other through a rhythmic journey uncovering their entwined lineages and personal histories. Co-presentation.
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KANKOURAN WEST AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY Saturday, January 13 at 8pm Sunday, January 14 at 4pm*
Founded in 1983 to share traditional African dance with audiences of all ages, KanKouran West African Dance Company returns to Dance Place for their annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Under the leadership of Co-Founder and Artistic Director Assane Konte, this groundbreaking company presents its new work Bolo (Bridge of Togetherness). *Family Series – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.
DEVI DANCE THEATER By Chris Dane
CYNTHIA OLIVER CO. DANCE THEATRE Saturday, January 20 at 8pm Sunday, January 21 at 4pm
Virago-Man Dem is an evening-length, dance theater work by Cynthia Oliver navigating black masculinities. Oliver seeks to dismantle the term virago, which references characteristically male behaviors and female cultural transgressions. A nuanced study in Caribbean and African American masculinity, this stirring work is performed by men but funneled through the interpretation of Oliver’s female voice. TThis presentation of Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Performance Network Creation Fund and Performance Residency Programs and the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. This presentation of Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre is 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, with additional support form the National Endowment for the Arts. Inaugural artist of The Carla Fund for Choreography and Performance, established by The Howard & Gerladine Polinger Family Foundation.
DEVI DANCE THEATER
Saturday, January 27 at 8pm Sunday, January 28 at 4pm Devi Dance Theater of Sutradhar Insitute of Dance & Related Arts presents their new work Weaving Life, inspired by poems from three diverse cultures. Lyrics from Native American Navajo, South Asian and African American traditions unfold in tandem with a tapestry of movement, symbolizing a vast human family united through art.
CYNTHIA OLIVER CO. DANCE THEATRE By Chris Cameron
UNIT SOUZOU By YuenDesign
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10 HAIRY LEGS By Rachel Neville
10 HAIRY LEGS
Saturday, February 3 at 8pm Sunday, February 4 at 4pm New Jersey’s 10 Hairy Legs is an all-male repertory dance company performing existing and newly commissioned works by acclaimed dancemakers around the world. In Celebrating the Artistry of the Male Dancer, the company features works by Stephen Petronio, Doug Elkins, Doug Varone and more. This presentation of 10 Hairy Legs is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the DC Special Presenters Initiative program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.
KEI TAKEI & MAIDA WITHERS Saturday, February 10 at 8pm Sunday, February 11 at 4pm
Two international icons come together in an exchange of ideas and movement. Featuring solo performances and improvisational experiments by Tokyo-based Kei Takei and DC’s Maida Withers, these dance legends bring their unique voices beyond mainstream dance performance.
PROJECT CHARMA
Saturday, February 17 at 8pm Sunday, February 18 at 4pm Full Circle: Bridging the Gap uses a hip-hop lens to examine recurring cycles of violence in America, highlighting themes of community, race and gender. Project ChArma, led by Christopher and Ama Law, wields the “cypher” as a tool to enact social change, giving audiences a vantage point to see the dance on all sides. Co-presentation.
DANCE EXCHANGE
Saturday, February 24 at 8pm Sunday, February 25 at 4pm
MAIDA WITHERS By Shaum Scroth
Growing Our Own Gardens, conceived and directed by Dance Exchange Associate Artistic Director Matthew Cumbie, is a multidisciplinary, intergenerational performance project rooted in queer world-making. Queer people have always sought and created spaces to build what we now call the LGBTQ+ community. The work unearths hidden histories and personal stories to commemorate LGBTQ+ spaces and the people who inhabit them.
DANCE EXCHANGE By Zachary Z. Handler
H C R A M NANCY HAVLIK’S DANCE PERFORMANCE GROUP Saturday, March 3 at 8pm Sunday, March 4 at 4pm
Embarking on a coast to coast roadtrip, choreographer Nancy Havlik collaborates with composer Jessica Krash and poet Ellen Roche on a search for the heart of this uniquely American tradition. The show includes dialogue mixed up with improvisational dancing and music in an ongoing conversation between dancers and musicians. Evening includes a short film by Denaise Seals and a performance by Arts for the Aging’s Quicksilver senior dance company. Co-presentation.
DAHLAK BRATHWAITE Friday, March 9 at 8pm Saturday, March 10 at 8pm
Addiction, religion and the law intersect in a timely and personal exploration of the criminal justice system. Written and performed by Dahlak Brathwaite for Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s Living Word Project, Spiritrials takes its inspiration from the artist’s most recent album to create a play that blurs the lines between hip-hop and dramatic performance. Layering characters, poetic verse and dialogue over the songs, the piece chronicles Dahlak’s own criminalization and his struggle to be vindicated in the eyes of the law and society. This presentation of Dahlak Brathwaite is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
SPILLING INK
Saturday, March 17 at 8pm Sunday, March 18 at 4pm Spilling Ink premieres Srishti Layankari, a dance theater project capturing the creative and destructive forces of the Hindu goddess Durga. Drawing from the imaginative vocabularies and delicate nuances of classical South Indian dance forms Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, the work creates a vast canvas soaked in religious fervor and spiritual energy, where the performers dance as the gods and for the gods. Co-presentation. This presentation of Spilling Ink is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
CHRISTOPHER K. MORGAN & ARTISTS Saturday, March 24 at 8pm Sunday, March 25 at 7pm
Christopher K. Morgan & Artists presents an evening of mixed repertory featuring two world premieres and audience favorite, Rice. “Charming and poignant” (The New York Times), Morgan’s 2005 solo Rice takes a child’s look at race. Assistant Director Tiffanie Carson presents B.U.G. - [Backlight. Uplight. Glare.], a play on the technical lighting term and meditation on the symbolic resonance of light and dark. Into the Gloaming closes the evening, a premiere ensemble work by Morgan addressing the nature of grief and loss with original score by electric cellist Wytold. Co-presentation. This presentation of Christopher K. Morgan & Artists is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
NANCY HAVLIK’S DANCE PERFORMANCE GROUP By Brian Harris
DANZABIERTA
Friday, March 30 at 8pm Saturday, March 31 at 8pm Regarded as a key figure in Cuba’s avant garde dance scene, DanzAbierta is one of Cuba’s most compelling and innovative modern dance companies. The company presents their work MalSon, a love letter to Havana with traditional Cuban music and elaborate projections. This engagement of DanzAbierta is funded through Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
DANZABIERTA Courtesy of the Artist
UPROOTED DANCE
Saturday, April 7 at 8pm Sunday, April 8 at 7pm A series of poignant vignettes, Circling the Line fuses 2D design with 3D movement using printmaker Susan Goldman’s artworks as muse for movement invention. Under Keira Hart-Mendoza’s direction, the dancers offer movement ideas, creating original choreography in a collaborative laboratory. Hand-printed costumes and imaginative set pieces punctuate the movement with a whimsical, surrealist design aesthetic. Co-presentation.
JOY OF MOTION’S MIXED MOVEMENT Wednesday, April 11 at 8pm
Joy of Motion Dance Center brings you Mixed Movement: Entertainment in Motion, a series that mixes dance together with live music, poetry and theater. Join us for a humorous and eclectic night out that’s both thought-provoking and entertaining. Co-presentation.
CLANCYWORKS DANCE COMPANY Saturday, April 14 at 8pm Sunday, April 15 at 7pm
ClancyWorks Dance Company is an ensemble of professional, passionate artists with an interest in collaborative partnerships to serve the community. In a new work by Artistic Director Adrienne Clancy, Resilience investigates the complexities of our current world and how we understand ourselves, absorb the shock of a blow and learn to adapt.
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THE FEATH3R THEORY Saturday, April 21 at 8pm Sunday, April 22 at 7pm
Another F*cking Warhol Production Or Who’s Afraid of Andy Warhol? is an American docufiction performance. Directed by Raja Feather Kelly, recipient of the 2016 Solange MacArthur Award for New Choreography, the performance stars Kelly and his company in a post-ballet musical that reimagines the unrecorded, deleted and lost footage from Saturday Night Live’s 2015 episode on Love and War. This presentation of the feath3r theory’s Another F*cking Warhol Production was made possible with generous support from Lumberyard (formerly American Dance Institute) through its DC Metro Touring Initiative and is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
REVISION DANCE COMPANY Saturday, April 28 at 8pm Sunday, April 29 at 4pm*
ReVision dance company is a contemporary modern dance company committed to artistic excellence and community building led by Artistic Director Shannon Quinn. ReVision works with diverse populations of professional dancers and novice movers and is dedicated to involving everyone in the arts, dance and community. Dance Place Resident Company. *Family Series – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.
THE FEATH3R THEORY By Kate Enman
REVISION DANCE COMPANY By David Dowling
MA Y MK ABADOO
Saturday, May 5 at 8pm Sunday, May 6 at 7pm An evening-length dance theater work, Wake Up! takes inspiration from the music, dance and themes of Spike Lee’s 1988 film School Daze. Conceived and co-directed by MK Abadoo and Vaughn Midder, this update uses jazz, contemporary, funk, step, tap and West African dance to immerse the audience in a poignant social justice discussion.
DANCE METRO DC
Friday, May 11 at 8pm Saturday, May 12 at 8pm Selected by an independent panel of dance professionals from the DC dance community, Dance Metro DC presents their Spring Presentation Choreographic Grant Recipient. See how “diverse the DC dance scene is within one evening” with new dance works from the national capital region (DC Dance Journalism Project). Co-presentation.
SEAN DORSEY DANCE Saturday, May 19 at 8pm Sunday, May 20 at 7pm
Trailblazing transgender choreographer Sean Dorsey returns with Boys In Trouble – new dances about navigating queer and trans masculinities. As current events undermine LGBTQ+ communities across the US, Sean Dorsey Dance bites back with full-throttle dance, luscious queer partnering, highly-physical theater and storytelling that celebrates gender-expansiveness and rejects conformity. This presentation of Sean Dorsey Dance is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, the National Performance Network Creation Fund and Performance Residency Programs and the CenterStage at Reston Community Center.
SEAN DORSEY DANCE By Lydia Daniller
NEXTGENERATION SHOWCASE Sunday, May 20 at 4pm
At Hartke Theatre, Catholic University of America (3801 Harewood Rd NE)
Celebrate Dance Place’s excellent teaching staff and accomplishments of the NEXTgeneration at this uplifting and heart-warming recital. Showcasing the talent of Dance Place’s Kids on the Move students in African, ballet, tap, hip-hop, step and more.
*Family Series – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.
NEW RELEASES CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE
Dance Place’s annually curated showcase features some of the best new works by established and emerging choreographers. Performance features 2017 New Releases Commission recipient Tarik O’Meally and special presentation by Director Emeritus Deborah Riley.
This presentation of New Releases Choreographers Showcase is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Saturday, May 26 at 8pm
TARIK O’MEALLY IN NEW RELEASES CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE By Naku Mayo
DANCEAFRICA, DC 2018 May 29 – June 3
The 31st annual festival celebrating the dance, music and spirit of the African Diaspora! A week long celebration carrying on the tradition begun by our beloved Baba Chuck Davis (1937-2017). Featuring Mama Sylvia Soumah as Griot, outstanding African dance companies, a master class series, free outdoor activities and our signature African Marketplace, DanceAfrica, DC is guaranteed to inspire, invigorate, educate and entertain.
MASTER CLASSES: MAY 29 – JUNE 3
Performances and African Marketplace: June 2 – 3 Check danceplace.org in Spring 2018 for festival schedule and to purchase tickets. Select Family Series Performances – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.
CAPITOL TAP
Friday, June 15 at 8pm Saturday, June 16 at 8pm Capitol Tap is shaping the next generation of tap musicians, dancers, historians, improvisers, technicians, teachers and performers. Guided by Founder Lisa Swenton-Eppard and Assistant Artistic Director Baakari Wilder, today’s young tap artists show how they navigate the world in their newest work. Co-presentation.
REBOLLARDANCE
Saturday, June 23 at 8pm Sunday, June 24 at 7pm Shifting between the literal and abstract, Beauty and Decay: Stories of Baltimore highlights the beauty of forgotten Baltimore neighborhoods, their decline and rebirth. Erica Rebollar directs this collaborative evening-length work, taking inspiration from ethnographic research, 90’s hip-hop and storytelling to create empathy through stories and images of this urban landscape’s renewal.
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REBOLLARDANCE By David Dowling
DANCEAFRICA, DC © Enoch Chan 2016
DEVIATED THEATRE
Saturday, July 7 at 8pm Sunday, July 8 at 7pm
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DEVIATED THEATRE Artistic Directors Enoch Chan and Kimmie Dobbs Chan, acclaimed for their spellbinding choreography, utilize a mix of dance, acting and aerials to tell fantastical tales of other worlds. The world premiere of Beyond is a musing on interplanetary travel that measures the capacity of the human spirit amidst the vastness of outer space.
DAKSHINA / DANIEL PHOENIX SINGH DANCE COMPANY
Saturday, July 14 at 8pm Sunday, July 15 at 7pm
Dakshina presents Chakra, a hybrid dance that draws on Bharatanatyam, modern dance and martial art form Kalaripayuttu. Chakra tells of the princess Subhadra who elopes with her chosen love and pays the ultimate sacrifice for her courageous decision. By linking violence against women to the larger societal issues in mythology and classical Indian dance, these traditional stories speak poignantly to the politics of our present day.
HEART STÜCK BERNIE
Saturday, July 21 at 8pm Sunday, July 22 at 7pm
Snake Telegram is a soft and vicious solo, which unravels into an operetta of savage and coarse dimensions. Using both mystery and surprise, Sarah Beth Oppenheim weaves luscious movements from coil into cry. With a handmade sensibility, the work’s plucked and tarnished performance contrasts a soundtrack of cool jazz. Co-presentation.
PRAKRITI DANCE
Saturday, July 28 at 8pm Sunday, July 29 at 7pm Founded by Co-Artistic Directors Kasi Aysola and Madhvi Venkatesh, Prakriti Dance uses the movement vocabulary of Bharatanatyam to communicate inspirations from nature, philosophy and the human experience. By interweaving lyrics, dance and visual design, Prakriti Dance explores multifaceted performances that transcend cultural boundaries. Co-presentation.
PRAKRITI DANCE By Madhaviarts Photography
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S. J. EWING & DANCERS By Maggie Picard
ENERGIZERS CREATIVE ARTS CAMP CONCERT Thursday, August 2 at 7pm* Friday, August 3 at 7pm*
The culmination of six weeks of summer fun, this concert showcases the talent of our Energizers Creative Arts Camp students in dance, music and more. *Family Series – Get 1 free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.
S. J. EWING & DANCERS Saturday, August 11 at 8pm Sunday, August 12 at 7pm
Analog II melds the linear, digital experience of technology with the human experience of movement and touch in an immersive environment. A development of its first iteration in 2016, the performance exists inside animated projections that respond, interact and are manipulated by the dancer’s movements via motion capture technology. Co-presentation.
TICKETS Purchase tickets at danceplace.org or call 202.269.1600 Ticket prices range from $0-$30, including discounts for College Students, Seniors (55+), Artists and Dance Place Members. Take advantage of reduced Advanced Sale pricing when you book online a week in advance at danceplace.org!
Free tickets for neighborhood residents Four free tickets are available for Sunday performances to residents with a 20017 zip code. Call 202.269.1600 to reserve these tickets. First come, first served!
Groups save all year round! Groups of 10 or more save 20%. Call the Box Office Manager at 202.269.1600 to order group tickets.
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PERFORMANCES AND SO MUCH MORE! ADULT PROGRAMS ADULT DANCE CLASSES – From beginners to advanced professionals, everyone is welcome at Dance Place. Classes run year-round featuring: Salsa, Hip-Hop, African, Modern, Jazz and more! Drop in anytime for only $16! INTERNSHIPS – Get hands-on experience in arts administration with an internship at Dance Place. College students and recent graduates gain experience to shape sustainable, creative careers. VOLUNTEER & WORK / STUDY – Be part of our vibrant community! See our world-class season for free by becoming a volunteer usher. Or join the Dance Place family as a Work / Study student and receive unlimited free classes in exchange for helping out a few hours a week.
NEXTGENERATION YOUTH PROGRAMS
KIDS ON THE MOVE By Jonathan Hsu Photography & Video
KIDS ON THE MOVE DANCE CLASSES – Dance classes for ages 1.5-16 in Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Tumbling and more offered year-round.
ENERGIZERS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS – Including the Energizers Afterschool Club, Energizers Junior Staff and Energizers Creative Arts Camp, this year-round program offers young people from Northeast DC life skills, creative education, job training and cultural experiences.
OUTREACH / INREACH RESIDENCIES – Professional teaching artists and performances offered at area schools as well as field trips to our theater, enriching schools’ curricula and serving over 1,000 students annually.
BOOK DANCE PLACE ARTISTS & SPACES
RESIDENT COMPANIES – Book Dance Place’s artists -
and parties.
Coyaba Dance Theater, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, DC Casineros, ReVision dance company, Dance Place Step Team, POP (People, Objects, Play) - for performances, events
RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES – Our studios, theater and
Edgewood Arts Center serve as an inspiring venue for artists to rehearse and prepare works at affordable prices, as well as open space for your next special event!
Contact us today! • danceplace.org • 202.269.1600 DC CASINEROS By David Dowling
SERIES FUNDERS Dance Place is a Partner of the National Performance Network (NPN). Presentations of BodyCartography Project, Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre and Sean Dorsey Dance are made possible in part by support from the NPN Performance Residency Program. Major contributors of NPN include the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org. BodyCartography Project’s closer is a National Performance Network / Visual Artists Network (NPN / VAN) Creation and Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Legion Arts in partnership with Dance Place, City of Chicago Dept of Cultural Affairs and NPN. The Creation and Development Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org. This presentation of Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Performance Network Creation Fund and Performance Residency Programs and the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. This presentation of Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre is 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, with additional support form the National Endowment for the Arts. Inaugural artist of The Carla Fund for Choreography and Performance, established by The Howard & Gerladine Polinger Family Foundation. This engagement of DanzAbierta is funded through Southern Exposure: Performing Arts of Latin America, a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Sean Dorsey Dance’s Boys In Trouble is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund / Forth Fund Project commissioned by Bates Dance Festival in partnership with 7 Stages, Maui Arts and Culture Center, Highways Performance Space, Dance Place and NPN. The Creation and Development Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org. This presentation of Sean Dorsey is 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, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts. ®
Engagements of LMnO3 and 10 Hairy Legs are made possible through the Special Presenters Initiative program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Engagements of Roy Assaf Dance and Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre are made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. This presentation of the feath3r theory’s Another F*cking Warhol Production Or Who’s Afraid of Andy Warhol? was made possible with generous support from Lumberyard (formerly American Dance Institute) through its DC Metro Touring Initiative. What’s Going On is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by Dance Place in partnership with The CenterStage at the Reston Community Center and NPN. The Creation Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency). For more information: www.npnweb.org.
DANCE PLACE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Denise Rollins, Chair Jannes Gibson, Vice Chair Adam Weers, Treasurer Allan Rivlin, Secretary Carol Bradwell Joseph Gangloff Linda Harris W. Christopher Hollinsed
Makila James Janice Marks Nathaniel Russ, Jr. Erica A. Russell Wendy Shapiro Erin Skinner Amanda Sweet Michael Walton
Christopher K. Morgan, Ex Officio Carla Perlo, Founding Director Emeritus Deborah Riley, Director Emeritus
CONTEMPORARY PERFORMING ARTS
THANK YOU DANCE PLACE 2016-2017 SEASON FUNDERS $5,000 AND ABOVE From September 1, 2016 - July 20, 2017 Adam Weers Anonymous Bloomberg Bozzuto Group Carol & Willis Bradwell Carol Shuster-Polakoff Family Foundation Coleman Family Charities Corina Higginson Trust Dallas Morse Coors Foundation Daniel Hitchcock & Linda Arvin DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities DC Department of Energy and Environment Denise Rollins Dimick Foundation Edward Sherman Eugene Lang Foundation Fairfax County / The CenterStage at Reston Community Center Ford Foundation George Preston Marshall Foundation Graham Holdings Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation Janice Marks & Damien Agostinelli Jannes Waples Gibson Jared & Rachel Paul Jennifer Campbell & Jeff Munn Joseph and Joan Cullman Family Foundation Juan Carlos Rincones & Tom Pheasant LISC Mars Foundation Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Nancy Peery Marriott Foundation National Endowment for the Arts National Performance Network New England Foundation for the Arts North Star Fund Office of the State Superintendent for Education Stephen & Jeanette Bruce Sydney Polakoff Charitable Fund The Menkiti Group The Shubert Foundation United Way US Commission of Fine Arts / National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program Vincent Hurteau & Steve Henry Walter A. Bloedorn Foundation Wendy Shapiro & Charles Ferris
MARCH
3–4 9 – 10 17 – 18 24 – 25 30 – 31
8 – 10 16 – 17 23 23 29
7–8 11 14 – 15 21 – 22 28 – 29
Joy of Motion’s Mixed Movement Metro Tap Roots Dance Metro DC What’s Going On
7–8 14 – 15 21 – 22 28 – 29
3–4 10 – 11 17 – 18 24 – 25
2–3 11 – 12
Energizers Creative Arts Camp Concert S. J. Ewing & Dancers
FOR TICKETS & MORE INFO: 202.269.1600 OR DANCEPLACE.ORG
10 Hairy Legs Kei Takei & Maida Withers Project ChArma Dance Exchange
FEBRUARY
DEVIATED THEATRE Dakshina / Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company Heart Stück Bernie Prakriti Dance
AUGUST
JULY
Unit Souzou KanKouran West African Dance Company Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre Devi Dance Theater
MK Abadoo Dance Metro DC Sean Dorsey Dance NEXTgeneration Showcase New Releases Choreographers Showcase
UpRooted Dance Joy of Motion’s Mixed Movement ClancyWorks Dance Company the feath3r theory ReVision dance company
Nancy Havlik’s Dance Performance Group Dahlak Brathwaite Spilling Ink Christopher K. Morgan & Artists DanzAbierta
May 29 – 3 DanceAfrica, DC 2018 15 – 16 Capitol Tap 23 – 24 RebollarDance
JUNE
6–7 13 – 14 20 – 21 27 – 28
The DC Contemporary Dance Theatre / El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea Fieldwork for Mixed Disciplines Showing Dissonance Dance Theatre Kwanzaa Celebration
5–6 11 – 12 19 – 20 20 26
JANUARY
2–3 5 9 – 10 16 – 17
DECEMBER
1 4–5 11 – 12 18 – 19
NOVEMBER
MAY
APRIL
7–8 14 – 15 21 28 – 29
Roy Assaf Dance ArtWorks for Freedom MOMENTUM Gala LMnO3
OCTOBER
Be In Brookland / Experience Edgewood BodyCartography Project Metro Mambo COQUITRUCOS DC Casineros
SEPTEMBER
MOMENTUM
DANCE PLACE’S 2017-2018 SEASON
3225 8TH STREET NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017
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M U T N E M O M
2017-2018 SEASON