Civic Center Presents THE DANCE SERIES

Tickets for individual performances of the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines' inaugural season of The Dance Series will go on sale to the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 at the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-8000 and online at CivicCenter.org. Groups of 15 or more should call (515) 246-2321.

PILOBOLUS
Wednesday Jan. 26 7:30 p.m. $25.00 / $45.00

Martha Graham DANCE COMPANY
Saturday March 5 7:30 p.m. $35.00 / $55.00

JAMES SEWELL BALLET
Thursday April 28 7:30 p.m. $25.00 / $40.00

All pricing includes a Building Restoration Fee of $2.50

The Civic Center's new dance series for 2010-2011 will feature three of today's most highly acclaimed dance companies. Civic Center President & CEO Jeff Chelesvig said "Since our inception, the Civic Center has been committed to presenting the very best in the performing arts. Des Moines is home to many dance enthusiasts and performers, and we feel this is the right time to launch this series and to bring these brilliant and internationally-known companies to the community at an affordable price."

THE DANCE SERIES PRESENTED BY THE CIVIC CENTER:

• PILOBOLUS (Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.) Pilobolus began in 1971 and quickly became renowned the world over for its imaginative and athletic exploration of creative collaboration. Pilobolus practices a unique kind of modern dance with highly acrobatic, fearless dancers, theatrical costumes, a great sense of play and most of all, collaboration. Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, Pilobolus has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealistic images using props, light, shadow, humor, and the human body.

• Martha Graham DANCE COMPANY with musicians from the Des Moines Symphony (Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.) Founded in 1926 by choreographer and dancer Martha Graham, this is the oldest and most celebrated contemporary dance company in America. Graham choreographed 181 works in her lifetime, and this Civic Center premiere will feature one of the most beloved and celebrated, Appalachian Spring. This iconic work, composed by Aaron Copland, demonstrates Graham's pioneering approach to time and space on stage. The original, ground-breaking score will be performed live by musicians of the Des Moines Symphony.

• JAMES SEWELL BALLET (Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.) Founded by James Sewell and Sally Rouse, James Sewell Ballet is a close-knit company of eight professional dance artists who perform innovative work that honors the tradition of ballet and explores the more contemporary elements of dance and the technical boundaries of ballet. The acclaimed company will present a mixed repertoire, featuring Chopin Tribute, a new work celebrating Chopin's 200th birthday accompanied by award-winning Polish pianist Tadeusz Majewski, East Meets West inspired by the Indonesian Gamelan and French composer Satie, and Made in America, a suite of short dances set to classic songs from the United States.

All performances in The Dance Series also include an exciting opportunity to deepen the dance experience with DANCEtalks. One hour before each performance in The Dance Series, come and learn more about that evening's performance from the company's artistic directors and staff as well as local dance experts. And following the performance will be an intimate in-theater conversation and Q&A with the dancers.

An exclusive Dance VIP Package is also available. Benefits for the Dance VIP Package include two Season Ticket packages in VIP seating, access to the Patron Circle Lounge during The Dance Series performances, playbill recognition as a supporter for The Dance Series and more. A portion of the Dance VIP Package is a tax-deductible donation to support Civic Center Dance programs. More information about VIP packages can be found online or by calling 515-246-2353.

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