METROPOLIS Choreography Showcase Set for This Weekend

Jessica DiMauro/DiMauro Dance, a fiscally sponsored modern dance company, presents an inaugural choreography showcase entitled 'METROPOLIS,' which celebrates the innovative movement of three contemporary dance companies from Miami and New York. The production features DiMauro Dance (NYC) under the artistic direction of Jessica DiMauro, PROJECT 44 (NYC) under the artistic direction of Gierre J Godley and Ana Miranda Dance (Miami) under the artistic direction of Ana Miranda. All three companies will premiere new work with lighting design by David Lovett. This program has been made possible in part through the sponsorship of The Field.

These two performances are part of an initiative prompted by Jessica DiMauro and Ana Miranda to bring together artists from differing cities with the common goal of sharing rich, artistic expression through movement. Although hailing from two exceptionally different urban landscapes, the three presenting companies are mutually concerned with engaging audiences through emotionally rich choreography that relies on a deeply rooted cultural foundation.

Jessica DiMauro's new work entitled They Told Me With Their Hands reveals the profound ability of hand movement and gesture to reveal emotional texture and social and cultural context. Exploring gestures taken from both performer and pedestrian, the choreographer explores the ability of gesture to initiate a full-body movement language. In collaboration with DiMauro, photographer Francesca Zerbo compiles photographs of pedestrians creating original hand movement, to be projected throughout the work. Live music composed and performed by percussionist Zach Marks will accompany the movement. The piece will be performed by dancers Davon Chance, Jake Deibert, Crystal Rodriguez, Alexandra Williamson and Francesca Zerbo.

Gierre J Godley's work Gandy Dancer is inspired by African American railroad workers of the early 1900s, who had a long tradition of using songs and rhythms to coordinate movement. With the historical ideas of a Gandy Dancer in place, Godley's work also explores the male bonding experience in regards to what many feel connect us as people: love, loss, movement, and music. Set to music by African American Spiritual and Ray Charles, this work will be performed by Gierre J Godley, Nik Owens and Aaron R White.

What is a southern state of being? Cuban born, Miami based choreographer Ana Miranda poses this question in Southern State. This is contemporary dance inspired by Mississippi Delta Blues and Flamenco. At the crossroads of these two traditions, we discover the essence of the south of Spain, the deep south of the US. In the interplay of work, play and worship, diverse movement languages are woven in the reconstruction of a new gospel. This multi-media work features the original music and guitar performance of Carl Ferrari. Dancers are Ana Miranda, Elana Lanczi, Toranika Washington and So You Think You Can Dance contestant Shane Garcia.