The Southern Theater Presents Shapiro & Smith Dance's WOMEN AND MEN

Shapiro & Smith Dance is known for performing tales of beauty and biting wit. Dancing with breathtaking physicality and emotional depth, the company has earned an international reputation for virtuosity, substance and pure abandon. This exciting weekend of dance delves into relationships or lack of a relationship between women and men.

The program features Bolero, a completely new reimagining of company classic, The Art of War. Bolero brings seven men and women together in Shapiro & Smith's renowned athleticism to explore the endless nature of physical struggle, from war to personal ordeal. Danced to a particularly driving version of Ravel's Bolero, the dance will take us on a journey that soars to crescendo as the dancers test the limits of endurance.

Betty's House, the next chapter of Shapiro & Smith's signature work George and Betty's House (originally danced by company founders and life partners Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith), finds Betty alone 23 years later surrounded by cats and still obsessed with fruitless housework.

The Gist brings together guest artists Carl Flink and Emile Plauche Flink in the couple's first performance onstage together since they left The Jose Limon Company in 1998. The evening will continue with a reprise of Medea Medea featuring guest artist Ananya Chatterjea; and the romantic Moonlight quartet for two women and two men.

Shapiro, who passed away in 2006, is "still very present as the company evolves," said Smith. "We look back for inspiration and find mountains. For instance, The Art of War used to be Danny's piece. Under my hand, the new Bolero has completely changed, to the point where all that is the same is the music! But Danny's fingerprints are everywhere."

Program:
Betty's House WORLD PREMIERE
Dancer: Joanie Smith
Choreography: Joanie Smith
Music: New score by Scott Killian based on the original by Joe Davidow

Medea Medea
Dancers: Megan McClellan, Kari Mosel, Laura Selle-Virtucio and special guest Ananya Chatterjea
Choreography: Joanie Smith
Music: Scott Killian

The Gist
Dancers: Guests Carl Flink and Emilie Plauche Flink
Choreography: Danial Shapiro & Joanie Smith
Text: Fred Schmaltz

Bolero WORLD PREMIERE
Dancers: Maggie Bergeron, Bryan Godbout, Cade Holmseth, Andrew Lester, Kari Mosel, Eddie Oroyan and Laura Selle-Virtucio
Choreography: Joanie Smith after The Art of War by Shapiro & Smith
Music: Ravel

Moonlight
Dancers: Maggie Bergeron, Bryan Godbout, Eddie Oroyan and Laura Selle-Virtucio
Choreography: Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith
Music: Beethoven

Performances: April 1-4, 2010
Thurs. at 7:30pm, Fri. & Sat. at 8pm, Sun. at 7pm
Opening night pre-show reception at 6:30pm sponsored by City Pages

Tickets: $22
Southern Theater box office: 612.340.1725
1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55454
www.southerntheater.org

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