Victor Alexander's LINE OF SIGHS Presented at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 9/5-9/8

Ruth Page Center for the Arts with The Chicago Dancemakers Forum (CDF) present Victor Alexander's Line Of Sighs Thursday, Sept. 5 - Sunday, Sept 8 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Included in Dance Magazine's prestigious "25 to Watch in 2013" list, Alexander's performance marks the culmination of his year-long choreographic work with the Dancemakers Forum Lab Artists Program. The performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, Sept, 5 - Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets to Line of Sighs are $20 or $15 for students/seniors. Saturday, Sept. 7 performance and post-performance reception tickets to benefit the American Cancer Society are $50. To purchase tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/435654 and for more information visit www.ruthpage.org or call 312.337.6543.

Alexander's evening length work, Line of Sighs, builds an arena where the smallest gestures-like the poignant moments one overlooks everyday-are magnified and prolonged so that the unseen strings of connection that tie us to people and place are experienced. The cords shoot outwards, interact, tangle and disengage. Dance and music intermingle and render visible the human longing for connection-whether existing or imagined, enduring or transitory, living or lost.

In 2012, Alexander was one of four choreographers selected for the Lab Artists Program, a one-year program of CDF that focuses on the development of new choreography. In addition to the CDF grant, he has also received a fellowship from the Illinois Arts Council for Line of Sighs. CDF is the only artistic programming forum of its kind dedicated to nurturing artistic advancement for new dance development in Chicago. Launched in 2003, CDF serves the ongoing need to support the research and development of new directions in dance. The program is designed to cultivate artistic exploration and growth by funding dance artists in their creative process.

About Victor Alexander

Alexander was recently named the new director of the Ruth Page School of Dance. Born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and trained at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Havana, Alexander has had an extensive performing and choreographic career in the United States. Alexander will work alongside Ruth Page School of Dance Associate Director Dolores Lipinski Long.

Alexander's keen insight, experience and a dedication come from an international dancing, choreographic and teaching career. A native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, he was trained from the age of six at the Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Havana, graduating in 1992 with a degree in Modern and Cuban folkloric dance. As a student, his exceptional talents were recognized in 1992 when he won first place for dance in the 4th National Union of Writers and Artists in Havana. He went on to be a principal dancer for the prominent Contemporánea de Cuba from 1992 to 2002, where both his technical talent and expressive dance style gained national prominence. Alexander has studied with distinguished teachers such as Donald McKayle, Chuck Davis, and Jeffrey Bullock and has performed throughout Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the United States. Since relocating from Cuba to Chicago in 2002, Alexander has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Hedwig Dances, CDI/Concert Dance Inc, and Luna Negra Dance Theater. His teaching experience is extensive, encompassing local, national and international dance institutions. Of particular importance to Alexander is teaching in outreach programs that bring dance to youth. Recent outreach programs include Dance Art (2007-2010) and the Elementary Dance Scholarship Program (2010-2011) within the Chicago Public Schools.

Included in Dance Magazine's prestigious "25 to Watch in 2013" list, Alexander is known for his riveting stage presence as he mixes formidable technique he gained in the rigorous training ground of Cuban dance schools with facility at theatrical interpretation.

About the Ruth Page Center for the Arts

An incubator of artistic energy and excellence and the center of Chicago's dance history, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the vision of international dance icon Ruth Page to make dance accessible to everyone, ensuring that children and dance artists have a place to study, work and perform at the highest level of excellence. Located at 1016 N. Dearborn Street, the Center serves the Chicago dance community by being an incubator, providing a home, office space, rehearsal space, performance opportunities, professional dance training and marketing support for the up-and-coming companies and artists of Chicago's vibrant dance scene. Founded by Chicago icon and internationally-renown performer and choreographer, Ruth Page, the Center reflects her vision of supporting dance excellence in Chicago. Emanating from the Illinois heartland, the visionary work of Ruth Page influenced the growth of theater design, opera-ballet and dance. She achieved worldwide recognition as a true pioneer of dance in America by creating at the forefront of social, political and artistic issues. As a prominent force in the Chicago arts community, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts continues that legacy through its initiatives and programs that nurture the art form of dance, and by being an arts incubator for emerging and established artists and organizations.

About the Ruth Page School of Dance

The mission of the Ruth Page School of Dance is to offer the highest level of training and personal development to each student. Through the Young Dancer's Training Program, the School also strives to prepare young dancers for the demands of today's world in dance. Providing the highest level of training and expertise, the Ruth Page School of Dance is considered to be one of the country's finest dance education centers.

The School's curriculum is grounded in a uniquely American Ballet Technique - functional athleticism coupled with elements of Vagonova, Checchetti, and RDA techniques. Through the Young Dancers Training Program, children between 3 and 20 years of age are able to excel and flourish within an environment geared so that a young dancer may progress from beginner to advanced technique levels in a systematic fashion.

The Ruth Page School of Dance reflects the legendary career and work of its visionary leader. Ruth Page's classical and iconic The Nutcracker displayed her grounding in ballet. But her collaborations with notable choreographers for example such as Harold Kreutzberg, a cutting edge modern dance expressionist, and her jazz-influenced work at the Music Box Theater in NYC speak to her dedication to exploring all forms and styles of dance. Ruth Page's school embodies her vision of the versatile, well-trained, and exceptional dancer.

To learn more about the Ruth Page Center for the Arts and the organizations additional initiatives such as the Ruth Page Civic Ballet, CDI/Concert Dance Inc., please visit www.RuthPage.Org.

Ruth Page Center for the Arts with The Chicago Dancemakers Forum (CDF), present Victor Alexander's Line Of SighsThursday, Sept. 5 - Sunday, Sept. 8 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Tickets to Line of Sighsare $20 or $15 for students/seniors. The performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, Sept, 5 - Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets to Line of Sighs are $20 or $15 for students/seniors. Saturday, Sept. 7performance and post-performance reception tickets to benefit the American Cancer Society are $50. To purchase tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/435654 and for more information visit www.ruthpage.org or call 312.337.6543.

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