The Joyce Theater Presents NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER 2, Now thru 2/8

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Linda Shelton Executive Director,proudly presents Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT2), returning to the Joyce after five years, from today, February 3 - 8. The program will include three works by NDT2 house choreographers Paul Lightfoot, Sol León and Johan Inger, and one by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar of Israel. Tickets range in price from $10-$75 ($26-$37 for Joyce Theater members), and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or via the internet at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

One of the most revolutionary contemporary dance companies in the world, this ensemble was founded in 1978 as an internal training ground for the highly respected Nederlands Dans Theater. Its return engagement at The Joyce promises to be a spectacular one, featuring two works by NDT's house choreographers, Artistic Director Paul Lightfoot and Artistic Advisor Sol León: the witty Shutters Shut, a four-minute piece in which the dancers, using their own sign-language, interpret the words of an original Gertrude Stein recitation of her poem "If I told him"; and the beautifully expressive, emotional and award-winning (Zaan Award in 2003) Subject to Change, set to music by Schubert. Other works on the program include the energetic I new then, a fresh piece by NDT Associate Choreographer Johan Inger, who used the dancers' individuality as the influence for its movement; and Sara, a provocative work exploring dreams, memories, emotions and inspirations set to compositions by Ori Lichtik and created especially for the NDT2 dancers by Israeli choreographers Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar.

Nederlands Dans Theater 2 is the launching pad for young dancers, who are carefully selected through auditions. Founded in 1978, the company consists of dancers ranging from ages 17 to 22. The initial aim of NDT2 was to "feed" the main company (Nederlands Dans Theater 1) with its young dancers. It served as a "bridge-period" to mature the freshly graduated dancers from the various classical conservatories and schools and prepare them for a professional dance career. Today, over 70% Nederlands Dans Theater 1's dancers have started their career in NDT2. Led by Artistic Director Paul Lightfoot, NDT2 dances choreographies by the new generation of dance makers, like Alexander Ekman. The group performs all over the world. It is the company's breeding ground, where talented dancers grow up and young up-and-coming choreographers get the chance to develop.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, a non-profit organization, has proudly served the dance community and its audiences for three decades. The founders, Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, acquired and renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea, which opened as The Joyce Theater in 1982. The Joyce Theater is named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther's clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to build the theater. One of the only theaters built by dancers for dance, The Joyce Theater has provided an intimate and elegant home for more than 320 domestic and international companies. The Joyce has also commissioned more than 130 new dances since 1992. In 2009, The Joyce opened Dance Art New York (DANY) Studios to provide affordable studios for rehearsals, auditions, classes, and workshops for independent choreographers, non-profit dance companies, and the dance/theater communities. New York City public school students and teachers annually benefit from The Joyce's Dance Education Program, and adult audiences get closer to dance through pre-engagement Dance Talks and post-performance Dance Chats. The Joyce Theater now features an annual season of approximately 48 weeks with over 340 performances for audiences in excess of 135,000.

Nederlands Dans Theater 2 will be at The Joyce Theater from February 3 - 8, 2015. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Wednesday at 7:30pm; Thursday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday at 2pm. Dance Chat, a free post-performance talkback with members of the company, will take place on Wednesday, February 4. This enlightening discussion is open to all patrons attending that evening's performance. Tickets are $10-$75 ($26-$37 for Joyce members) and can be arranged by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street. For more info, please visit www.Joyce.org.