The Hartt School Dance Division Presents Hartt Dances 5/1-2

The Hartt School Dance Division presents Hartt Dances on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, May 2 at 3:00 PM at Lincoln Theater on the University of Hartford's West Hartford campus. Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. For tickets and information, contact the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587, or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

The extraordinary Hartt Dance program for spring 2010 includes "Steps in the Street," a Martha Graham work re-staged by Kim Stroud, guest choreographer and former Martha Graham Company dancer; "A Choreographic Offering," by Jose Limon, re-staged by former Limon Company Principal Dancer, Stephen Pier; "Significant Other," a searing contemporary take on the inner tensions of relationship by Full Force Dance Theatre Director, Katie Stevinson-Nollet; "Dark Elegies," a pas de deux choreographed by Antony Tudor, re-staged by Hilda Morales who worked closely with Tudor as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theater; "Tarantella" from the third act of "Napoli,"; and excerpts from "Don Quixote."

"‘Steps in the Street' is a stunningly powerful piece for women by Martha Graham. She was an icon of 20th century creativity responsible for a complete rethinking of the Art of Dance not only in America but also on a world level which still has repercussions today," said Dance Division Director Stephen Pier. "This piece is as jarring and shocking today as it was at its 1936 premiere."

The performance also features a suite of dances from "A Choreographic Offering," by the American master choreographer Jose Limon, re-staged by Stephen Pier. This piece was created as an homage to Jose's mentor Doris Humphrey, using Bach's magnificent "Musical Offering."

A duet from Anthony Tudor's classic "Dark Elegies," to Mahler's "Kindertoten Lieder," completes the trio of classic American choreographers. Tudor was one of the founders of American Ballet Theater and was as important to the development of contemporary ballet as Martha Graham was to modern dance.

The concert also includes the European ballet classics "Tarantella," from August Bournonville's "Napoli," and excerpts from "Don Quixote," by Marius Petipa.

The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions a year, performance is central to Hartt's curriculum. For more information on The Hartt School, visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

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