Guest Artist Series

Philadanco Performs in Cincinnati

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CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATER

PRESENTS

PHILADANCO

November 21 & 22, 2008, 8:30 pm
Jarson-Kaplan Theater
Aronoff Center for the Arts

"A veritable institution in dance terms."
- New York Times

Cincinnati, Ohio: Known for its technically superb dancers and enthralling choreography, The Philadelphia Dance Company, PHILADANCO, celebrates 39 years of providing extraordinary dance performances. Founded in 1970 by Executive Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown, the company has been recognized as one of the top four predominantly African American dance troupes in the country. PHILADANCO moves effortlessly from neo-classical to modern styles using music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Bobbie McFerrin, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich.

PHILADANCO presents a high-spirited, energetic program fusing ballet, modern, jazz and ethnic dance. In Cincinnati, the company will be performing works by internationally renowned choreographers Gene Hill Sagan, Christopher L. Huggins, and Milton Myers. Gene Hill Sagan’s neo-classical “Ritornello” is set to the music of Bach and romantic in nature. Christopher Huggins uses Bobby McFerrin’s music to accompany “From DAWN ’til DUSK”, and for a change of pace, Steve Reich’s music accompanies Mr. Huggins’ “Enemy Behind the Gates” in which Huggins looks at ‘enemies’ that live and work within our midst. Rounding out the program is a work by Milton Myers to the music of Philip Glass’s “Violin Concerto,” which responds to the sounds of Glass and reflects both lyricism and physicality.

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Photo by Lois Greenfield

PHILADANCO’s brilliant concerts light up the stage with spinning turns, graceful leaps, and gorgeous lines. PHILADANCO’s repertory includes romantic interpretations as well as aggressive, physical, and explosive works.

"PHILADANCO’s dancers are a miracle of skill and energy. They work in a range of idioms most companies don’t even try to possess… A company that can do more than just anything… it can represent the possibilities of human spirit through dance."
- Dance Magazine

Tickets to Contemporary Dance Theater’s presentation of
PHILADANCO are $32 & $27; $17 students & seniors;
$12 ETA/Start and may be purchased at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office at (513) 621-2787 or on-line at www.cincinnatiarts.org.

This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by the Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation."

Contemporary Dance Theater's 2008-09 season is sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. CDT receives funding from the City of Cincinnati (arts grant recipient) The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, the Fine Arts Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Charles E. Dater Foundation, the Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation, and the Louise Taft Semple Foundation, as well as individual donors.

CELEBRATING ITS 36TH SEASON!

Contemporary Dance Theater was founded in 1972 by Jefferson James and remains the only arts organization in the Tri-State dedicated to promoting and presenting contemporary dance. CDT operates a dance studio and performance space in the historic College Hill Town Hall, 1805 Larch Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224. For more information call (513) 591-1222.