BC BEAT Features New Work by John Carrafa, Jon Rua, Patrick McCollum, Karla Garcia, Ephraim Sykes and More!

As night comes quicker and cold sets in, getting into BC BEAT tonight, December 10th, 7pm sharp seems like the best thing going. Walking into Cielo's warmly lit interior with Declan Bennett spinning music as the evening's dancers and choreographers glide around the room conversing and playing on the dance floor, it's easy to order a hot toddy from the bar and say hello to old and new friends. BC BEAT has become a staple for the Broadway community. It's an access point to new work, new people, and an inspiring sense of possibility.

BC BEAT returns to Cielo (18 Little West 12th Street) tonight, December 10, 2012. With online ticket sales benefiting New York Cares Hurricane Sandy Relief Projects, tickets are now available at www.BCBeat.net. Sponsors, LaDuca Shoes and dirty sugar Live, are also sharing discounts and raffles with online ticket buyers.

BC BEAT is a Broadway choreography showcase and dance party for curious people in the know. Set on a sunken stage surrounded by the audience with a pulse and breath propelled by the best sound system in New York City, BC BEAT features exhilarating new work by established and highly anticipated Broadway choreographers.

The program will take place tonight, December 10, 2012 at 7pm at Cielo (18 Little West 12th Street, NYC). Tickets are $8 on Brown Paper Tickets & $12 at the door. Please visit www.BCBeat.net for more information. Also check out the BC BEAT Sizzle Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPHdAIPs0o&feature=player_embedded

BC BEAT brings Broadway downtown by taking up residence at Cielo (18 Little West 12th Street, NYC). Doors open at 7pm and the entrance ticket ($8 online, $12 at the door) provides access to the BC BEAT showcase, dance party and the opportunity to mingle and connect with BC Beat choreographers and performers in an intimate setting. Guests can grab a drink and join the cast and creatives as they dance the night away to beats by Declan Bennett. BC BEAT is proudly sponsored by LaDuca Shoes, Broadway Connection with Kendallen Design and media sponsor dirty sugar.

BC BEAT choreographers for tonight's December 10th include John Carrafa, Erin Gottwald, Jon Rua, Patrick McCollum, Ron Todorowski, Karla Garcia, Ephraim Sykes, Michael Mindlin and Jennifer Jancuska.

For BC BEAT, John Carrafa and Erin Gottwald are performing a duet from their company, Erin + John Dance. John is the two-time Tony Nominated Broadway choreographer of URINETOWN and INTO THE WOODS with Vanessa Williams and has also received an Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Dora Award, as well as nominations for Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his work in the theater. He conceived and directed the original Broadway musical GOOD VIBRATIONS. He has choreographed over 25 feature films including SOMETHING BORROWED, THE OTHER GUYS, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, BRIDE WARS and THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004 Media Choreography Honors) For television: ROYAL PAINS, BLUE BLOODS, THE BIG C, BIG LOVE and UGLY BETTY. At the Nokia Center in Los Angeles, he was director/choreographer for the groundbreaking dark circus CIRQUE BERZERK. He served as Creative Director for the NBA on NBC - creating and producing live televised arena shows with stars such as LL Cool J, Harry Connick Jr. and Mary J. Blige. Commercial choreography includes Justin Bieber'S SOMEDAY PERFUME, BARNES AND NOBLE WITH Jane Lynch, AT&T, SPRINT, MCI, GOT MILK, TRUTH ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN, PROPEL WATER, and LAYS POTATO CHIPS WITH EVA LONGORIA.

He is currently choreographer on the new television series NASHVILLE, starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panetierre, on ABC and 1600 PENN starring Josh Gad, Jenna Elfman and Bill Pullman. Oct 16, 2012 : Winner of the 2012 WORLD DANCE AWARD - OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN FEATURE FILM

Erin Gottwald has performed throughout the United States, most notably at the Boston Ballet, Dance Theater Workshop/ New York Live Arts, St. Mark's Church, Dance Unlimited in Juneau, Alaska, Conduit Dance in Portland, Oregon, The Cowell Theater in San Francisco, California, Dancer's Workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Bates Dance Festival and the National Dance Institute in Santa Fe, NM. She has performed in numerous companies throughout the country including David Parker & The Bang Group, Sokolow Theatre Dance, Digby Dance, Hole Dance Films, Nicola Hawkins Dance Company, Prometheus Dance, Paufve Dance and Dandelion Dance Theatre. She holds a BA in Theater from Bates College and a BA Hons from the London Contemporary Dance School.

Jon Rua is originating the role of 'Jesus Pena' in the Broadway-Bound new musical HANDS ON A HARD BODY opening spring of 2013. He has starred as 'Sonny' in the Tony Award Winning Broadway musical IN THE HEIGHTS. Jon has performed with the likes of Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Anthony Anderson, Keith Carradine, Norbert Leo Butz, Tyne Daly, Andrea Martin, Priscilla Lopez, Jordin Sparks and more. Additional theatre credits include: SOMEWHERE at The Old Globe (Craig Noel Leading Actor Nomination), BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL (World Premier), ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY (Second Stage- Pulitzer Prize nominated), DAMN YANKEES (Encores!), PIRATES! (MUNY). Workshops: HANDS ON A HARD BODY (La Jolla), Sundance Theatre LAB (Banff 2011), FLY, BARE, STARDUST BALLROOM, ALL FALL DOWN (Intar), KINGDOM (Public Theatre), Lincoln Center's AMERICAN SONGBOOK. TV: LAW AND ORDER. Jon has danced for such artists as Don Omar, Soulja Boy, and more as well as commercial credits including Target, Bill Board, Puma, IBM, Panasonic and more. As a choreographer, his work has been seen on the Brooklynettes, CBS, MTV, Broadway Bares, Award-Winning Webisode CHAOS THEAORY and Off-Off Broadway in UNION SQUARE. He has assisted on such projects: HANDS ON A HARD BODY, BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL, IN THE HEIGHTS, NYCC's Encores! THE WIZ, and INSANITY.

Patrick McCollum has had the privilege of working with choreographers and directors such as Steven Hoggett, Joe Mantello, Alex Timbers, Roger Rees, and Wayne Cilento among others. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from California State University, Long Beach. Credits: Broadway: WICKED (Dance Supervisor/Dance Captain/Swing), PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (Movement Associate). Others: ROCKY (Associate Fight Choreographer), WICKED (Los Angeles/Chicago), MYTHIC MONTANA (Carpenter Performing Arts Center), PLAYHING OUR SONGS (Westport Playhouse).

Ron Todorowski has had a diverse career in concert, musical theater & commercial dance. He recently closed the first national tour of COME FLY AWAY as the Resident Director along with playing two principle roles. Ron has been a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, The Parsons Dance Company, Mia Michaels Dance Company "RAW" among others. Broadway credits include COME FLY AWAY, THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN, MOVIN' OUT, WICKED, GUYS AND DOLLS and FOOTLOOSE. Ron starred in London's West End production of MOVIN' OUT as well as the First National tour where he received a Helen Hayes Award for Best Actor in a musical. Off Broadway and other theater credits include THE WILD PARTY, CHESS for the Actor's Fund with Josh Groban, COPACABANA, SPIRIT and CINDERELLA. Appearances on television include SNL, THE TODAY SHOW, THE VIEW, 3 appearances on the TONY AWARDS, and The VMA's. Ron was the Assistant Choreographer for the production of SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS at the Lyric Theater in Oklahoma City as well as Celine Dion's, A NEW DAY in Las Vegas. He recently created a new ballet for Wayne State University and is happy to be sharing another new work with BC Beat.

Karla Garcia has most recently been filming the NBC series SMASH. She was also a top 7 female on FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 5. A proud graduate of NYU's Tisch Dance Conservatory, she has been featured in works by Dwight Rhoden, Kyle Abraham, and Bridget Moore. Her stage credits include Broadway's WEST SIDE STORY and Hot Feet and the National Tours of WICKED and THE ADDAMS FAMILY.

Ephraim Sykes, a graduate of the Fordham University/Alvin Ailey BFA program, danced with Ailey II for two years before joining the Broadway casts of include NEWSIES (original cast), MEMPHIS (original cast), THE LITTLE MERMAID, and THE WIZ (Encores!). He also appeared in the off-Broadway production of RENT. TV and FILM credits include DANCE FLICK, LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR (Lead), 30 ROCK (Principal), NYC 2-2 (Principal) and SMASH.

Michael Mindlin is thrilled to choreograph for BC BEAT. As a choreographer: AWESOMER AND AWESOMER (The Triad, NYC), XANADU (Revision Theatre) BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Northern Stage), EVITA, and A CHRISTMAS EVE WITH CHRISTMAS EVE, a BC/EFA benefit concert. As a performer, he has appeared on Broadway in BRING IT ON, MAMMA MIA, 9 TO 5 and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.

Leading up to BC BEAT, Jennifer Jancuska worked with Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Vincent Marini on ZELDA: AN AMERICAN LOVE STORY, re-staging original work and adding new choreography to the Flat Rock Playhouse production. Over the past year Jennifer has also worked as associate choreographer and associate director at The Royal George Theatre, Trinity Repertory Theatre and the Merrimack Theatre; she was the lead flyer and assistant choreographer for Phish at Madison Square Garden, choreographed new work and taught master classes at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, performed with Beyonce, filmed a pilot for the new series DANCE MARATHON, and had the great pleasure of working with artists including Josh Prince, Lisa Shriver, Bradley Rapier, and Marcos Santana. Beyond the past year, Jennifer co-created Broadway Connection, a national and international performing arts education program and graduated from Cornell University.

Declan Bennett (DJ) experienced mainstream chart success in the UK by the age of 20, took on the lead role in the award-winning pop biography Taboo at 21, and extended his stay in America to star as Roger in Broadway's Rent and returned to Broadway to join the cast of Green Day's American Idiot. Declan's second full length album, An Innocent Evening of Drinking has been made into a multi-media based theatrical production which recently premiered at the Ars Nova's Ant Fest.