MARCH 26 7:30pm MARCH 27 3:00pm
THE LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER PROUDLY PRESENTS TRISTIAN GRIFFIN DANCE COMPANY’S
THE BRIDGE Saturday March 26, 2022 7:30 pm
Artistic Director
Sunday March 27, 2022 3:00 pm
Tristian Griffin
Tristian Griffin Dance Company Collaborating Choreographer
John Malashock
Malashock Dance Company Composer & Musician Costume Designer Lighting Design
Philip Daniel Jamie Rene Urban Ian Vandusan
Special thanks to City in Motion and the board of directors for donating time in their beautiful studios!
TGDC SPONSORS
FOR OUR IN-PERSON AUDIENCE Patrons are required to show proof of full vaccination to enter performances and public events. Those without proof of full vaccination must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. In accordance with Kansas State Fire Marshal regulations, we request that you take a moment to identify two emergency exits closest to you. In case of emergency, pay close attention to any announcements about important safety information. Properly worn masks must be worn throughout the building at all times. As a courtesy to our other guests, as well as our performers, please refrain from talking and texting during the performance. Patrons who create disturbances will be asked to leave the theatre. All cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during performances. The use of photographic, video, or any other recording equipment is strictly prohibited. Our theater is cleaned regularly with state-of-the-art Tersano Technology. Air quality is maintained with needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI).
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your experience in our facility, please ask the House Manager. Our highest priority is keeping our audiences, performers and staff safe.
THE LAWRENCE ARTS CENTER THEATER IS EQUIPPED WITH A HEARING LOOP SYSTEM. A receiver sends the voices of our performers from the microphone directly into a hearing aid or cochlear implant. If you use a T-Coil or Telecoil Aid, enjoy as is; if you have another hearing device, please speak to an usher to obtain a headset and enjoy the show!
DIRECTOR’S NOTE Welcome! Thank you for coming to experience THE BRIDGE. Your support means so much to myself and the entire company. Today you will see my own as well as, Collaborating Director, John Malashock's, vision embodied by eight strong beautiful dancers who are the essential pieces of the Tristian Griffin Dance Company. TGDC is a young and small company composed of artists who value beauty, strength, storytelling, and passion. Those principles allow TGDC to challenge audiences with thought-provoking narratives and conceptually engaging choreography. THE BRIDGE has made its way to the Midwest! I had the privilege to cocreate with John Malashock and originally premiered THE BRIDGE in San Diego featuring John’s company, Malashock Dance Company. This time we are featuring my company as well as having the honor to have composer and pianist Philip Daniel with us to perform his original music live. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Philip, whose music adds depth to my creative process and complements my vision. Having him here to perform live is a special gift. Through our journey we have all grown in our individual crafts, but our works continue to complement each other’s visions. John and I cannot thank Philip and both company’s dancers enough for their support and dedication to THE BRIDGE. We would also like to thank the Lawrence Arts Center - especially CEO Margaret Weisbrod Morris, School of Dance Director Hanan Misko, and Lighting Designer Ian VanDusan - for hosting us and supporting my ambitions in such an amazing space. Thank you as well to TGDC sponsors. Your time, dedication, and donations keep us going and the arts alive. Last but not least: thank YOU. Without your support, we would be sharing THE BRIDGE with empty seats. We hope you enjoy the performance. Please visit our website and consider continuing to support TGDC and donate to the company.
Sincerely, Tristian Griffin Artistic Director, Tristian Griffin Dance Company
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ACT I Vessels of Memories Choreographer Composers Vocals Text Poems Costumes Dancers
Tristan Griffin Philip Daniel Kristopher Hilding Alex Haynes Excerpts from Shakespeare's ‘Hamlet’ Tristian Griffin Jamie Rene Urban Kaitlyn Gardner Ava Farley
Memories manifest in various ways and over time can transpire into our physical bodies. In “Memory Vessels”, the characters are falling victim to their past and their bodies begin to unravel. They must learn to rely on another and reconcile with their past. This piece is paying homage to two of my heroes, my grandmother Griffin and my great grandmother Rita.
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Swells & Child's Play Choreographer Composers Costumes Dancers
John Malashock Matthew McBane Philip Daniel Jemima Dutra John Swapshire Aspen Nell Emily Schumacher Justin Viernes
~ 15 MINUTE INTERMISSION ~
ACT 2 THE BRIDGE Choreographers John Malashock and Tristian Griffin will interweave their experiences, perspectives, and choreographic styles to form a cohesive, but contrasting, artistic narrative through original dance and music. Both will share equally in the conception and creation of THE BRIDGE, which will be set on members of both Malashock Dance (San Diego) and Tristian Griffin Dance Company (Kansas City). In a world of polarizing transitions, the characters of this dance drama are forced into revealing what lies between opposing perspectives. Perspectives arraying from political and generational differences, to starkly contrasting life stages and experiences. The participants must confront themselves, in an effort to balance their need to be heard, but also to understand different points of view. As THE BRIDGE unfolds, so will the characters’ decisions whether to pull together or draw further apart. Will they find a way across their deep divides, or remain forever on opposite shores? Will they be able to let their differences become water under the bridge?
BIOS ARTISTIC STAFF Tristian Griffin (Founder) A native of Kansas City, Tristian Griffin graduated from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Ballet. Following graduation, danced for Garth Fagan Dance Company for three years. More recently, he performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Company | E, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Springboard Danse Montreal, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and Owen/Cox Dance Group. He was also selected for the Charlotte Street Foundation's studio residency program. As a choreographer, Tristian has been commissioned by the University of Kansas, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and Malashock Dance Company. The Tristian Griffin Dance Company has appeared at KC Streetcar’s Storytelling on the Streetcar, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lawrence Arts Center, KC Fringe Festival, International Dance Festival, and Dance St. Louis. He currently teaches full time at University of Kansas as a Visiting Professor of Practice. Tgdancecompany.com
John Malashock (Collaborating Director) John Malashock brings 35 years of experience in dance, theater, and film to his current role as Artistic Director of Malashock Dance. He has created more than 70 choreographic works, dance/theater collaborations, theater and opera productions, and award-winning dance films. John founded Malashock Dance in 1988, after a distinguished performing career with Twyla Tharp’s company in New York, where he performed worldwide; appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus; was featured in numerous television specials and performed in numerous concerts with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Under John’s leadership, Malashock Dance has become one of California’s premiere dance companies, and his work has been presented throughout the United States, Central America, Japan, and Central Europe.
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Malashock has many notable collaborative credits to his name: he has choreographed productions at the La Jolla Playhouse and the Old Globe Theatre; his work has been commissioned by the San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Music Society, and San Diego Opera; and he has garnered six Emmy Awards for his dance films, which have aired on over 30 affiliate PBS stations nationwide. John has served as guest faculty for the American Dance Festival, Cal State Long Beach, Dance Space New York, ADF/Tokyo, Connecticut College, and the University of Utah, among many others. A leader within the local and national dance communities, Malashock has served on the Board of Trustees for Dance USA and is proud to have taken the leadership role in conceiving, developing, and establishing Dance Place San Diego at Liberty Station, where he teaches classes and workshops throughout the year. Malashockdance.org
Philip Daniel (Musician, Composer) From Lincoln, Neb., Daniel did his graduate work in Piano Performance at the UMKC Conservatory and his undergraduate studies at Hastings College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy. Philip has released six studio albums. His sole purpose as a composer is to create music that conveys unequivocal emotion and makes people truly “feel.” Philip works from his home studio in Lincoln, where he lives with his wife and dog. Philipdanielpiano.com
Ian VanDusan (Lighting Designer, Stage Manager) Ian VanDusen is a Lighting Designer from Kansas City and started their career in 2017 right after graduating High School. Over the years he has worked to build up career even more, starting as a technician and now recently moved towards the designer role. He has worked with Wylliams Henry, Faust Theater, Heritage Christian, Hope Chapel. Ian attended the University of Missouri Kansas City and graduated in May of 2021 with a degree in Lighting Design. Since graduating Ian has been working full time as a freelance Lighting Designer, Projections Designer, Photographer, Director of Photography, and Sound Designer. ianvdesigns.com
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Experience artistic growth and make connections through world-class instruction JUNE 6-17 Ages 12 to 18, Inter-Adv Level (equiv. to Arts Center Ballet level Vb-VII) CDLDI: M-F: 9 AM-4 PM, $800 ($720) $600 Scholarship Auditions for Summer Intensives In-Person Audition: SUNDAY, Mar. 27 | 1-2:30PM Video Audition: SUNDAY, MARCH 20
Join us this summer for remarkable dance experiences!
TRISTIAN GRIFFIN DANCE COMPANY MEMBERS
Caroline Dahm Rehearsal & Artistic Assistant
Ava Farley Dancer
Emily Schumacher Dancer
Aspen Nell Dancer
John Swapshire Dancer
Kaitlyn Gardner Dancer
Martez Mckinzy Dancer
Max Nelson-Steinhoff Dancer
Justin Viernes Dancer, Guest Artist Malashock Dance Co.
For company bios and more about the Tristian Griffin Dance Company, visit tgdancecompany.com
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PRODUCTION TEAM Stage Manager
Ian VanDusan
Lighting Design
Ian VanDusan
Sound Technician
Ben Knight
House Manager
Lisa Purdon
Video Technician
Ian Weaver
Light Board Operator Running Crew
Ezra Martinez-Haskins Krystin Arkeketa Tevin Mershon
SCHOOL OF DANCE STAFF
School of Dance Director School of Dance Coordinator Dance & Adult Education Coordinator Lawrence Ballet Theatre Artistic Director
Hanan Misko Claire Buss Justin Harbaugh
Cynthia Crews
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Come dance, paint, sculpt, film, act, draw, explore, and imagine with us. Enroll in a class at the
Lawrence Arts Center Theatre Jewelry Drawing Ceramics Digital Media
Dance Metals Painting Printmaking Photography
Classes for all ages.
Financial aid is available. www.lawrenceartscenter.org Facebook /lawrenceartscenter Twitter @LawrenceArtsCtr