Spark Movement Collective to present THE VELVETEEN RABBIT

Spark Movement Collective's newest family-friendly production will be a modern-day reimagining of the beloved children's tale The Velveteen Rabbit. Breathing new life into this literary classic, The Velveteen Rabbit will combine dance, shadow play, and puppetry to create a unique show for families to enjoy together. Choreographed by Artistic Director Chelsea Koenig, the production centers on the title character who is cast aside by his companion, The Boy, in favor of contemporary gadgets like iPads. However, once The Boy begins to play with The Velveteen Rabbit, he realizes that they are able to embark on various imaginary adventures together, from the circus to deep-sea diving, proving that there's no limit to imagination.

The Velveteen Rabbit will be performed on Saturday, March 4 at 2:30pm and 4:30pm at The Town School, located at 540 East 76th Street. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $10 on Spark's website and will also be available the day of the performances 30 minutes prior to show times for $15.

For more information on the production and Spark Movement Collective, please visit SparkMovementCollective.org.

About Spark Movement Collective

Since its inception in 2009, Spark Movement Collective ("Spark") has flourished into a force on the independent and contemporary dance scene with Artistic Director and Founder Chelsea Koenig at the helm. Spark's mission is to create an accessible dance experience for audience members, dancers, and choreographers alike.

Spark captures the discrete elements of dance to deliver performances comprised of athletic yet fluid choreography and a brand of signature honesty intrinsic in the execution of pieces. This approach is bound together with a narrative that results in fresh, innovative, and meaningful pieces that uniquely connect with both audience members and the community at large.

In 2012, Spark self-produced its first solo show, Push to Play, at University Settlement's Speyer Hall on the Lower East Side. Since then, Spark has produced a number of highly acclaimed performances for adults and families including most recently, Alice in Wonderland at BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange and 21 Dates at the Actors Fund Arts Center in Downtown Brooklyn.

ABOUT CHELSEA KOENIG, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Chelsea Koenig, Choreographer and Artistic Director of Spark Movement Collective, founded the company in 2009. Koenig strives to create dance pieces that resonate with the human experience while challenging the limitations of the body in collaboration with dancers, musicians, and visual artists. Koenig's growing body of repertoire includes pieces such as 21 Dates (2016), Alice in Wonderland (2016), Finding New York (2015), The Golden Shoe (2015), Impact (2014), Eavesdropped (2013), Rules of the Game (2012), Eyes Down/Headphones In (2011), Status Update (2011), and Timing (2010). As a choreographer, Koenig seamlessly weaves together fluid and sharp athletic movement while encapsulating authentic emotions to tell character-driven stories through dance. Her work has been presented throughout New York, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas.

ABOUT MATT DITTES, ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Matt Dittes was born and raised in Minnesota, where he began dancing at the age of eight. After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College with a degree in dance, Dittes traveled the world as a performer onboard Holland America Cruise Lines. A member of Spark since 2010, Dittes is currently the Assistant Artistic Director. His choreography, including the pieces Foundations and Best I Can, have been featured in several Spark performances.