STG Presents DANCE THIS, 7/8-9

Seattle Theatre Group (STG) presents DANCE This on Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9, 2011 at The Moore Theatre at 7:30pm. The performance brings together teen artists from diverse local communities and professional choreographers to collaborate and to share their culture through the art of dance. This year's 13th annual DANCE This blends cultural dance traditions with contemporary styles, featuring a fusion of Tahitian, Afro-Brazilian, Hip Hop, Modern, Tap and Musical Theatre, set to live music.

Nationally acclaimed and visiting professional artists play an important role in raising the caliber and innovation of the performance, year after year. DANCE This 2011 special guest artists include Mark Morris Dance Group's Joe Bowie restaging Morris' modern masterpiece Polka, and legendary choreography by Jerome Robbins from West Side Story, reproduced by choreographer Joey McKneely, from the recent Broadway revival

DANCE This 2011 premiers the contemporary work, Headphones, choreographed by local teen choreographer, Sabina Smith-Moreland. This is Smith-Moreland's first dance work and is inspired by George Orwell's 1984, a book she was reading for her high school class assignment. The piece featuring six auditioned young dancers is a result of her participation in STG's Young Choreographer's Lab from October 2010-May 2011.

The DANCE This 2011 program includes 120 performers featuring:
AFRO-BRAZILIAN, featuring over 30 young dancers (selected by audition) with live professional percussion and vocals. The piece is a Brazilian Carnival style party with styles ranging from traditional Orishas to Capoeira (Brazilian martial art) to Samba choreographed by Dora Oliveira.
SABINA SMITH-MORELAND, is a teen choreographer from Orcas Island and she premieres "Headphones," a new contemporary piece developed at STG's 2010/2011 Young Choreographer's Lab. The piece will be performed by performed by auditioned teen dancers.
HIP HOP, danced by high-energy dancers from Daniel Cruz's, Cruz Control in an innovative new hip hop work from Daniel's latest "Battle of Seattle."
MODERN, featuring 18 teen and college dancers performing dance legend Mark Morris' [link to: http://markmorrisdancegroup.org/] piece "Polka", staged by former Morris principal dancer, Joe Bowie. "Polka" is one section from Morris' masterwork "Grand Duo" with live music (piano/violin) by composer Lou Harrison.
WEST SIDE STORY MUSICAL THEATRE MEDLEY, featuring original choreography by Jerome Robbins, reproduced and directed by choreographer Joey McKneely, from Broadway's revival of West Side Story, performed by young auditioned dancers.
SHORECREST HIGH DANCE TEAM, award winning and nationally ranked hip hop dance team from Shoreline perform a piece choreographed by Director, Rex Kinney.
TAHITIAN performed by local dance group Te Fare O Tamatoa, featuring over 10 young dancers and family musicians performing traditional Tahitian dance and music.
TAP, directed by Melba Ayco and performed by soloist LaTwon Allen, long-time DANCE This performer from Northwest Tap Connection, set to James Brown's "It's a Man's World" with live vocal performance by Devin Carter, from STG's More Music @ The Moore program.
A COLLABORATIVE FINALE, celebrates the power of cross cultural dance with an explosive group performance featuring all the DANCE This artists and styles, staged by Daniel Cruz, local choreographer and former Dance Captain for the Broadway tour of IN THE HEIGHTS.
Since 1999, youth dance groups representing the cultural diversity of the greater Seattle region are invited to participate in three performances - a matinee for community youth groups and two evening public performance. The performance features young dancers in collaboration with professional artists performing cross-cultural dances-both traditionally rooted and contemporary in form. Cultural dance groups are selected by a curated process, recommendations and/or group submissions. Individual dancers are selected by audition for guest artist works each year.

The DANCE This program receives support from Andrew Conru, Starbucks, BECU, ArtsFund, Seattle's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, 4Culture, Norcliffe Foundation, and The Paramount Hotel.

DANCE This has grown into a multi-faceted program that includes performances at The Moore Theatre (youth matinee on July 8, 2011 at 1:00pm, and evening public performance on July 8-9, 2011 at 7:30pm), a two-week summer dance training intensive in diverse styles, June 20 - July 1, 2011, and the DANCE This Camp at Centrum, August 7 -13, 2011. Further, DANCE This provides year round opportunities to participate in master classes and attend performances at the Paramount and Moore Theatres. For registration and more information visit http://www.stgpresents.org/education/dt.asp.

TICKETS: DANCE This performance tickets are $20.00 for adults and $12.00 for students, in advance, and $23.00 and $15.00 respectively, on the day of (not including fees). Tickets are available online at www.stgpresents.org, by phone at (877) 784-4849, in person at The Paramount Theatre box office, Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm and The Paramount and Moore Theatre venue kiosks, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, powered by Tickets.com. The Paramount Theatre is located at 911 Pine Street and The Moore Theatre at 1932 Second Avenue - in downtown Seattle.
About STG: Our mission is to make diverse performing arts and education an integral part of our region's cultural identity while keeping three historic venues, The Paramount, Moore and Neptune, alive and vibrant. STG presents a range of performances from Broadway, off-Broadway, dance and jazz, to comedy, concerts of all genres, speakers and family shows - at these three iconic theatres in Seattle and venues throughout the Puget Sound region and in Portland, Oregon.

Based on Pollstar, the Concert Hotwire Hagazine's 2010 Mid-Year Worldwide Ticket Sales, STG ranked #43 of the Top 100 promoters and The Paramount (ranked #12) and The Moore (ranked #44) were placed very well among the Top 100 Theatre Venues.

STG is the 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization that operates the historic Paramount and Moore Theatres in Seattle, Washington.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.