Cleveland Public Theatre Presents Annual Contemporary Dance Series DANCEWORKS 2017

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT)'s Executive Artistic Director Raymond Bobgan is proud to present DanceWorks 2017, an annual showcase of contemporary dance. DanceWorks 2017 features eight companies from the Northeast Ohio region and beyond, including local favorites Travesty Dance Group, Antaeus Dance, Verb Ballets (with BodyEDT of Taiwan), Inlet Dance Theatre, Elu Dance Company, Across the Board, MorrisonDance and Alpha.

Five weekends of performances will take place in Cleveland Public Theatre's newly renovated James Levin Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The full listing of company bios and show descriptions is available at www.cptonline.org.

Week 1: May 4 - 6 (DOUBLE BILL)

Travesty Dance Group & Antaeus Dance

Taking the Fall

Two companies join forces to present an evening of engaging and evocative dance, theatre, film and music. Choreographers Kimberly Karpanty and Joan Meggitt explore resilience, sacrifice and acceptance with a collection of original work. Taking the Fall pays homage to those who keep us safe, demand our honesty and serve as models for integrity and right action.

Week 2: May 11 - 13

Verb Ballets with BodyEDT (of Taiwan)

FUSE: Explorations from Taiwan and Cleveland

Following an international tour in Taiwan, Verb Ballets returns to feature a dynamic evening of bold artistry highlighting the company's unique style-with Ming-Cheng Lee, the artistic director and creator of BodyEDT. These performances will combine tradition, installations, digital, technology and instrumental music. Made possible by the Cleveland Foundation Creative Fusion Program.

Week 3: May 18 - 20

Inlet Dance Theatre

Springing Forth with New Life

Inlet Dance Theatre features three new works and, for the first time, presents a company member's autobiographical piece. This concert includes a collaboration with the residents of Judson Manor senior living community, a duet focusing on the need for male mentoring relationships in our society and a group work examining the ancient practice of wearing sackcloth and ashes.

Week 4: May 25 - 27 (DOUBLE BILL)

Elu Dance Company

Caught

Using visceral dance vocabulary and imagery, Elu Dance Company's evening-length work seeks to break through barriers of understanding as they explore the horrors of the ongoing refugee crisis. Caught is movement prose in search of light in this incomprehensible darkness.

Across the Board

Black Don't Crack

This piece is an intimate conversation through dance about the pride, pressure and presumption associated with race and cultural aesthetics. Black Don't Crack offers a window into the personal negotiation of these conflicts and raises questions about authenticity and value.

Week 5: June 1 - 3 (DOUBLE BILL)

MorrisonDance

In the Space of Dreams: Asleep and Awake

Using their signature mash-up of movement styles, MorrisonDance explores a powerful part of the human experience - dreams. Featuring live music composed by Braden Pontoli, the company examines the surreal visions, sensations and thoughts produced in R.E.M. sleep and the immeasurable aspirations we accomplish when we commit ourselves unwaveringly.

Alpha

Behind the Next Door

In this new work, Alpha journeys through the freshly opened doors of three individuals and their experience of peeking behind the ones left closed. Behind the Next Door investigates the "what if?," the "what could have been or could be?" and how these musings can hinder us from taking that leap of faith in a new direction.

Ticket & Show Information

DanceWorks 2017 is May 4 - June 3, 2017. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00pm in CPT's James Levin Theatre, located at 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102, in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District.

Tickets are $12 - $30. Students/Seniors receive $3 off on Friday and Saturday nights. All Thursdays are $12.

PURCHASE TICKETS at www.cptonline.org or call the CPT Box Office at (216) 631-2727 x 501. Group discounts are available - call the Box Office to inquire. (Reserve early! - CPT never charges any ticket fees, ever.)

The newly renovated James Levin Theatre is ADA compliant, featuring a newly-installed patron elevator and the addition of a gender neutral, wheelchair accessible restroom.

Every Friday is Free Beer Friday at CPT. Mingle with the artists after the show and discuss the performance in a lively, social atmosphere - your drinks are on CPT.

Photo credit: Dana Rogers