Mark DeGarmo Dance Hosts DANCE FOR DANCE Celebration; Preps for New Initiatives

Mark DeGarmo Dance held their festive Award Ceremony and Celebration on November 13 at The Clemente, to honor Oleg Briansky and Mireille Briane with the 2015 "Educational Visionary" Lifetime Achievement Award for their work as "visionaries who have promoted innovation in education through the arts." The celebrated couple were honored for their distinguished careers as dancers and choreographers as well as for their roles as founders and teachers at The Briansky Ballet Center.

As always, the Dance for Dance event was a joyous occasion, with Lori Klinger, Artistic and Executive Director of Rosie's Theater Kids, and former student of the Brianskys, making the award presentation, followed by music, food, and some very snazzy dancing to a hip DJ's music, all in the informal, friendly Clemente cultural center on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The Clemente is also home to Mark DeGarmo Dance and the organization's new initiatives:

MoveUP! DANCE ACADEMY: a series of dance and movement classes for all ages

The first 8-week session runs from Jan 11 - March 2.

Mondays: Introduction to Ballet at 4pm; Introduction to Jazz at 5pm

Wednesdays: FUNdamentals of Movement Level 1 at 4pm; Level 2 5pm

For students in Grades 1-5. Applications required. Scholarships available based on receipt of government benefits (with proof), such as Food Stamps or NYCHA lease.

Cost: $1 per class for scholarship awardees; $10 per class all others

Session 2: M-W March 7 to April 27

Session 3: M-W May 4 to June 22

Summer Dance Camp: Mon to Fri 9am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm. July-Aug. (dates to be confirmed)

Location: Studio 517, The Clemente, 107 Suffolk Street, Lower East Side, NYC 10002

Contact: info@markdegarmodance.org / 212-375-9214 / www.markdegarmodance.org

"LAS FRIDAS:" A Movement Installation by Mark De Garmo, Choreographer and Director

Marie Baker-Lee and Mark DeGarmo, Performers

Upcoming Previews run from December 16 - 20 at 7pm

Studio 517, The Clemente, 107 Suffolk Street, Lower East Side, NYC 10002

Tickets: $25 - $100 Reservations: LasFridas.eventbrite.com

Set in front of Kahlo's Blue House, "Las Fridas" is a 60-minute love letter to Mexico, an offering to Frida Kahlo, and an homage to women exploring life after 60. Posing the question, "What if Frida Kahlo had lived beyond her forties?" the work calls on audience members to examine their history, heritage, and assumptions about Kahlo, women and aging. This movement installation reflects Mark DeGarmo's longstanding passion for intercultural exchange. It will tour Mexico in 2016.

Mark DeGarmo was honored with The Martha Hill Dance Fund's 2015 Mid-Career Award on November 30 "in recognition of continued outstanding achievement and significant contributions in the field of dance and dance education." He is also the recipient of The 2015 Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth Foundation Award "in recognition for creating sustained dance programs for PreK-5 kids and their teachers in Title 1 public schools in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and across New York City." He combines a notable career as an innovative dancer/performer and choreographer/writer with serving as Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of Mark DeGarmo Dance, a non-profit charity.