Centenary Stage to Welcome Art Of Motion Dance Featuring Breast Cancer Project, 4/5

The Art of Motion Dance Theatre (AOM) is a repertory company performing original works by Artistic Director Lynn Needle, Olivia Galgano, and guest artists. AOM is performing as part of Centenary Stage Company's Dance Fest on Saturday, April 5th at 8 p.m. at The Lackland Center in Hackettstown, NJ. This performance will feature a segment about Breast Cancer awareness using Centenary College Dance Students and noted experts in the field of dance, lighting, and music to create a memorable and touching event.

The Segment entitled "BRCA1/Genome" is named so after the gene mutation that has been found to lead to some forms of breast cancer. BRCA1-or breast cancer 1, early onset-is a protein-coding gene. Within families with cancer in multiple generations, it had been estimated previously that a woman with an alteration in the BRCA1 gene has about an 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer and a 44 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer by age 70.

Ruth E. Grauert, a graduate of Centenary College in 1935 when it was a preparatory school for girls, will be doing the lighting design for this project. Grauert is the recipient of the 2005 Martha Hill Lifetime Achievement Award and doctorates of humane letters from Ursinus College in 2009 and Centenary College in 2013. She studied with noted professionals in the field of dance such as Hanya Holm, Martha Graham, Alwin Nikolais, and many more throughout her professional career. She is the founder and director of Bearnstow, a summer arts facility, founded in 1946, and has authored numerous articles on general aesthetics, staging, lighting, and Alwin Nikolais. She also writes concert and book critiques and poetry.

A Centenary College Alumni reception will be held in Grauert's honor prior to the concert. Interested alumni can contact Deana Cynar at Alumni Relations at 908-852-1400 x 2250 or by e-mail at cynard@centenarycollege.edu.

"This project is an incredible opportunity for the students on so many levels," says Professor Lea Antolini-Lid, Assistant Professor of Dance at Centenary College. "I am so pleased that we are able to offer this experience to our students." The students are also responsible for partnering with a breast cancer survivor and learning his/her story. Those survivors will be included in the performance that evening and breast cancer survivors in the audience will also be acknowledged.

The music for "BRCA1/Genome" was written by Dr. Linda Marcel, Professor of Music at Bergen County Community College and Instructor for Tor Vergata through the University of Rome. "I first became interested in writing a piece in honor of the fight against breast cancer when one of my friends had the disease," says Dr. Marcel. "I wanted to unite science with music and have music be reflective of the Genome pattern in breast cancer patients."

Centenary College Senior Amanda Roy of Mahwah, NJ discussed her participation in the "BRCA1/Genome" project. "This is a very important piece showing Breast Cancer in way that it hasn't been shown before. It combines science with human emotions, focusing on the genome." She went on to say, "It has been an honor to work with [Art of Motion] and wonderful that they're involving students."

Each year, the New Jersey based Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has been instrumental in the movement to promote an appreciation for contemporary dance and supporting dance companies in New Jersey. Through their support, the Centenary Stage Company (CSC) is hosting its annual Dance Fest in the Lackland Center running March 30th through April 11th. This year's Dance Fest will also feature the talents of Lustig Dance Theatre on March 30th, and moe-tion dance theater on April 11th, which will also include a free workshop earlier in the day.

All Dance Fest tickets are $20 for adults, $17.50 for seniors/students, and $10 for children under 12. A Flex Pass to attend all three performances is available for $37.50. Dance Fest is sponsored in part by the North Jersey School of Dance Arts.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.centenarystageco.org<http://www.centenarystageco.org/>, at the CSC Box Office in The Lackland Center at 715 Grand Ave in Hackettstown, or by calling 908-979-0900. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday 1-5 p.m.

The 2013-14 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, and CSC sponsors, including Premier Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, The Holiday Inn in Budd Lake, and Fulton Bank, Bronze Sponsors The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and Wells Fargo Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.

Photo Credit Tab Butler

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