Alden Announces Residency of Christopher K. Morgan & Artists/CityDance

The Alden in McLean has announced its first ever artist-in-residence, modern dance company Christopher K. Morgan & Artists/CityDance. The company will hold a series of educational and enrichment events leading up to the world premiere of Limited Visibility, choreographer Christopher K. Morgan’s first evening-length work.

While CityDance has a performing presence in Maryland and DC, as well as ties to the McLean community as the providers of dance training at Madeira and Potomac Schools, this will be its first venture onto a Northern Virginia stage. The Alden has a history of presenting modern and contemporary dance, including a performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company in April of 2011, but this is the theatre’s first artistic residency with a dance company. The two organizations hope to build a relationship with the community via opportunities to learn more about the creative process and to become involved in the work. The themes of Limited Visibility will also be a draw for audiences.

“Limited Visibility deals with the secrets, the hidden parts of our lives, and things usually only done in private,” says Sarah Schallern, Performing Arts Director of The Alden. “Given the proximity of the CIA to the Alden and the preponderance of government officials residing in Northern Virginia, we believe that the subject matter will resonate with our community and allow them to connect to an art form they may not normally find accessible.”

Choreographer Christopher K. Morgan’s work has been seen around the world at venues such as The Kennedy Center (DC), La Mama (New York City), Theater Artaud (San Francisco), The Maly Theatre (Moscow) the Hong Kong Cultural Center (China) and the South Lawn of the White House. In April of 2011, Morgan was profiled as one of six breakout choreographers by Dance Magazine. His first evening-length work, Limited Visibility, is eagerly anticipated by the dance community.

In addition to his accomplishments as a choreographer, Morgan is an engaging educator who is currently on the faculty of American University. He and his dancers will share their gifts at the Alden by conducting modern dance workshops, a hands-on open rehearsal and a pre-performance chat.

Residency activities will include:
Introduction to Modern Dance Workshops, conducted by Christopher K. Morgan and his dancers
Saturday, February 11, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Monday, March 5, 8–9:30 p.m.
For ages 14 and older. $15/$10 district residents

Open Rehearsal
Monday, March 19, 8 p.m.
In the open rehearsal of Limited Visibility, Morgan and his dancers will invite audience members to see a sneak peek of the performance. While learning about the work's creative process from the choreographer and the dancers, audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and play an interactive and creative role, controlling the unconventional lighting objects used for the performance. Free

Pre-Performance Chat
Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m.
Christopher will give an inside peek into the life of an artist, illuminate the genesis of Limited Visibility and give insight into its meaning and secrets. Free

Of the “Behind Closed Doors” residency, Morgan says, “The opportunity to interact with a community in so many ways, culminating in the performances, is greatly enriching for audiences and artists alike. Activities and dialogues such as these can give an audience a deeper understanding of the performance. Additionally, the creative team and performers are enriched by having to really think about and discuss their work. It makes for a better performance.”

The world premiere of Limited Visibility will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31 at 8 p.m. at the Alden, 12324 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA. Tickets are $25/$18 for tax district residents. Opening night will be followed by a reception hosted by the Friends of the McLean Community Center.

Tickets are on sale now. Discounts are available to seniors, students, MCC tax district residents and groups of eight or more. Tickets can be purchased online at www.aldentheatre.org. Workshop registration can be completed at www.mcleancenter.org. For more information, call 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, or visit: www.aldentheatre.org.

About Christopher K. Morgan & Artists
Christopher K. Morgan & Artists is the resident dance company of Washington, DC based CityDance, and is the Alden's first ever Artist in Residence. Profiled as one of six breakout choreographers in the United States by Dance Magazine in April 2011, Morgan’s work stems from a belief in the urgency of live performance art in an increasingly isolating, commercial, and digital world. His choreography has been said to be "charming and poignant" by The New York Times and has been presented in 18 countries on five continents. A respected teacher, Morgan is currently artist-in-residence at American University. He is also the recipient of a Maryland State Arts Council 2011 Individual Artist Award for Choreography and a 2012 Individual Artist Grant from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. For more information about Christopher K. Morgan & Artists visit christopherkmorgan.com.

About CityDance
CityDance, based in Washington, DC, seeks to increase public appreciation for and participation in dance through excellence in performance, education and artistic innovation. Founded 15 years ago, CityDance provides dance training and education throughout the DC metropolitan area including the Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md., where its Conservatory trains young dancers for professional careers; the Center at DC Dance Collective; The Madeira School in McLean as well as many other DC-area public, private and charter schools. CityDance’s community programs provide free performances, after-school programs and summer camps to over 15,000 students a year in the most under-resourced neighborhoods and schools in the DC-metropolitan area.

CityDance also presents professional dance in its new state-of-the-art Black Box Theater, and through hosting its resident professional dance company, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists.

About the Alden
Built in 1975, the Robert Ames Alden Theatre, The Alden, is a cultural resource for the citizens of McLean that presents interdisciplinary and high-quality performances, lectures and educational programs for audiences of all ages. The Alden is ADA-compliant and will make arrangements for accommodations. To request this information in an alternate format, call 711.