GroundWorks DanceTheater to Re-imagine Carmina Burana This July

Returning to Cain Park's Alma Theater for its fourteenth annual summer series on July 15-17, the innovative and award-winning GroundWorks DanceTheater will once again present an exciting and eclectic program bringing audiences face-to-face with fresh, fascinating performances of passion, intellect and humor. They will present an expanded cast in a spectacular new adaptation of Carl Orff's timeless classic Carmina Burana. Also featured on the program will be a world premiere work by award-winning New York choreographer Adam Barruch.

Tickets for this event, which begins at 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 2pm on Sunday are $25 advance and $28 day of show. They can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com (800-653-8000) or the Cain Park ticket office (216-371-3000). Cain Park is located at 14591 Superior Road in Cleveland Heights.

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, is a scenic cantata based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. Its full Latin title is Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanæ cantoribus et choris cantandæ comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis ("Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magic images"). Carmina Burana is part of Trionfi, a musical triptych, or work of art divided into three sections, that also includes Catulli Carmina and Trionfo di Afrodite. The first and last movements of the piece are called Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi ("Fortune, Empress of the World") and start with the very well known "O Fortuna."

The World Premiere, tentatively titled "Hex," is being choreographed by award-winning New York choreographer Adam Barruch. This piece will explore themes including mysticism, magic and creation. "The piece is centered around a magical text and how this 'book' contains access to a universal power," Barruch says. "I really love the idea of harnessing this power and taking that into one's own body and manifesting change and control over people and elements." This new work will be an innovative and intimate five-dancer portrait featuring GroundWorks company members.

Now in its seventeenth season, GroundWorks is dedicated to the development and presentation of new choreography and collaborations. The five-member company performs new works by Shimotakahara and Artistic Associate Amy Miller, as well as commissioned work by nationally and internationally acclaimed choreographers including Ronen Koresh, Dianne McIntyre, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Jill Sigman, Gina Gibney, David Parker and others.

Cain Park 2016 season sponsors include the Ohio Arts Council, The Westin Downtown Cleveland, oWOWNOW.com, and Motorcars Honda/Toyota/Scion.

Cain Park, a municipally owned and operated summer arts park, is one of the nation's oldest landmark outdoor theatres, and 2016 marks its 78th season. Cain Park is produced by the City of Cleveland Heights and is located on Superior Road between Lee and South Taylor roads.

To post a comment, you must register and login.