Mordance Kicks Off 5th Anniversary Season with Works in Progress Showing 9/29

Mordance, in its mission to create modern, relevant movement that maintains the integrity of classical ballet, celebrates their fifth milestone year this 2017-2018 season. With a firm foothold in the New York dance community, the company will add three new world premieres to their repertory, continuing to shape the arc of female driven leadership and creation. With an evident mission to engage the community through the creation of new works, live performances and extensive outreach programs, Mordance at Five will offer audiences chances to help build upon the company's infrastructure through fundraising events and follow the trajectory of new works through in progress showings and residencies, culminating in an anniversary performance at Aaron Davis Hall this Spring (April 27-28).

Fall highlights include a Golf Fundraiser to kick off the season on September 27 at Dyker Beach Golf Course, followed by a works in progress showing and reception on September 29 at Martha Graham Studios. Here, audiences will be invited to peer into the inspirations and outlines of the new ballets being created this season and engage in a stimulating discussion with Artistic Director Morgan McEwen and her collaborators about the creative process. Mordance is also proud to be a recipient of a 2017-2018 CUNY Dance Initiative Residency (January 22- February 8), which will provide rehearsal and performance space, in addition to resources to realize their mission of community education.

"With so much conversation around the lack of female leadership in the ballet community I am honored to have been able to build an ensemble of trusting, dedicated and talented dancers to help to realize my creative visions. This anniversary season is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the path that helped us to gain sustainability in a constantly shifting dance climate, but to also provide our supporters with a more in depth look to consider who we are as artists and how we hope to use our voices to educate, inspire, and continue to push boundaries."

Lastly, in 2015 MorDance established a relationship with STEM from Dance, an organization that uses dance to grow the number of under-represented minority girls who are STEM college-ready. With the help of MorDance, they tackle key barriers by delivering a one-of-a-kind program weaving together dance and STEM to change the face of the next generation of scientists, engineers, and professions within the tech field. Through this continuing partnership, MorDance has brought ballet to the lives of students through performances and interactive workshops, inviting teamwork, creativity, accountability and confidence. This anniversary season will continue to build these bridges, cross generational, social and financial divides, and see the birth of younger dance enthusiasts.

MORDANCE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Wednesday, September 27 at 12:00 p.m., 1st Annual Chip in For MorDance Golf Fundraiser

Friday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m., Works in Progress Showing, Martha Graham Studios

Monday, January 22- Thursday, February 8, CUNY Dance Initiative Residency

Friday, April 27-Sunday, April 28, MorDance 5th Anniversary Season, Aaron Davis Hall

ABOUT MORDANCE

Morgan McEwen, ballerina turned artistic director, launched MorDance in January of 2013. This young company, with dancers from some of the world's most prestigious companies, has playfully leapt to the edge of the classical ballet world. MorDance explores athleticism as part of its aim to modernize and innovate, while honoring the grace and beauty of classical ballet. MorDance premiered at Manhattan Movement and Arts center on May 3rd, 2013. The company has been invited to perform at numerous festivals, including Dance at Socrates, Counterpointe Project, and Sounds of the City. In 2014, MorDance helped The Sheen Center open their doors by being the first company to perform in their new black box theater. The company was then named the Sheen Center's 2016 resident dance company. MorDance has also been granted space residencies at The Silo at Kirkland Farm and Mana Contemporary. Artistic Director, Morgan McEwen, has been commissioned as a choreographer to create new works on Eglevsky Ballet and Columbia Ballet Collaborative, as well as to choreograph La Traviata for the New York Opera Exchange.