CATALYST Runs 3/23-25 at University of Texas at Austin's B. Iden Payne Theatre

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents Catalyst, a collection of modern and classic dance works by nationally and internationally renowned choreographers Ohad Naharin, David Justin, Yacov Sharir, and Charles O. Anderson, March 23-25 at the B. Iden Payne Theatre. 
 
Ohad Naharin, artistic director of Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, has been hailed as one of the world's preeminent contemporary choreographers. The University of Texas at Austin’s presentation of Naharin’s famous Minus 16 marks a historic first; as the Department of Theatre and Dance is the only university program permitted to perform Minus 16 in its entirety. 
 
David Justin, co-artistic director of Catalyst explains, “Minus 16 is a great artistic challenge for Dance Repertory Theatre, our department’s award-winning student dance ensemble. The inclusion of Naharin’s ambitious and demanding work symbolizes the level of excellence we are aiming to achieve at The University of Texas.”
 
Breaking down barriers between performers and audience, Naharin’s Minus 16 captivates with dynamic movement and music, including traditional Israeli music, mambo, techno and Dean Martin. 
 
Other work in Catalyst includes the world premiere of David Justin’s Oblivion's Ink, a contemporary ballet created to the music of Jazz trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas. Oblivion's Ink was recently selected for invitation to the National American College Dance Festival, and will be presented at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in May. Justin is an associate professor at The University of Texas at Austin and serves as the artistic director of American Repertory Ensemble.
 
Yacov Sharir joins Justin as co-artistic director for Catalyst and Dance Repertory Theatre. His work, Too & Forexplores corporeality in the physical realm as well as the virtual domain. Sharir is the founder of American Deaf Dance Company and Sharir Dance Company. He currently serves as a professor of dance at The University of Texas at Austin.
 
Rite, choreographed by university associate professor of dance Charles O. Anderson, is an excerpt of a larger piece Anderson created for his company, dance theatre X. Inspired by the writings of the late American science fiction writer Octavia Butler, Rite captures the shifting social, economic and ecological climates of the 21st century. Anderson explains, “Rite is about being moved (both literally and metaphorically)...to action, to prayer, to make positive change…”
 
For more information on Catalyst, please visit http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/events/detail.cfm?calset=tad&id=3283. 
 
The B. Iden Payne Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.) is located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building on the University of Texas campus. For a map of the campus, please visit texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions.  

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