The Arsht Center Presents AYIKODANS Haiti's Leading Dance Troupe

 

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County

Presents

AYIKODANS

Haiti's LEADING dance troupe returns to south florida with The

world premiere of "ANMWEY HAITI MANMAN"

and "DANSE DE L'ARAIGNÉE"

"Ayikodans performances a triumph!" -The Miami Herald

"Ayikodans has continued to produce world-class work -- a testament to the strength of the creative spirit." - Miami New Times

As part of the Arsht Center's Dance Up Close Season

May 25 & 26, 2012

Tickets $35

Carnival Studio Theater
in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County welcomes back Ayikodans, Haiti's premier dance troupe and one of the country's most prominent artistic exports, May 25 and 26, staged in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) as part of the Center's 2011-2012 Dance Up Close Season. After last year's sold-out, earthquake relief fundraising performances, AYIKODANS returns to South Florida to once again thrill audiences with the world premiere of "Anmwey Haiti Manman" (Cry Haiti Mother), a moving piece commissioned by the Arsht Center, and "Danse de L'Araignée" (Dance of the Spider), created by the company's founder and choreographer, Jeanguy Saintus.

Tickets to AYIKODANS are $35 and may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

"Anmwey Haiti Manman" is a contemporary dance piece inspired by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. It is a dramatic work of art, filled with emotion and angst, focusing on the media's glamorized portrayal of the island's improvement versus its tragic reality.

Originally created in 2002 during AYIKODANS' journey to Japan, "Danse de L'Araignée" honors Gede Zarenyen, a Hatian mythological god which crawled and stung like a spider. Now in its final phase made possible by the Arsht Center, "Danse de L'Araignée" transcends that of a traditional dance piece as it evokes a spider's customary rhythm while incorporating different techniques ranging from traditional to contemporary, and modern to hip-hop – making it accessible and relatable to a larger audience.

"It is our strong belief that the arts are transformative, enriching our lives and elevating our spirits. AYIKODANS represents the soul of Haiti, the artistic voice of the people -- and we could not bear to see that voice silenced," said M. John Richard, President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center. "We applaud AYIKODANS for their resilience in a time of tragedy and for their brilliance on stage!"

Founded in 1987 in Port-au-Prince by choreographer and dancer Jeanguy Saintus, AYIKODANS blends influences from folk dance, free improvisation and varied African and indigenous Indian dance forms as well as French traditions and voodoo religious culture. Over the past 25 years, Saintus has continuously pushed the limits of modern dance and has mastered a cross-cultural body language that speaks with the power of remote times and places. The word AYIKODANS is derived from Ayiti, the Haitian Creole word for Haiti and Kontredanse, a form of traditional dance inherited from Haiti's colonial past.

Recipient of the 2008 Prince Claus Award, an annual recognition from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for individuals who show a progressive approach to culture, Saintus has developed through AYIKODANS a powerful, contemporary dance style and a rejuvenation of Haiti's dance tradition.

AYIKODANS company members have danced on stages in Latin America, Europe, the United States and Asia, performing at such venues such as Palacio de Bellas Artes in the Dominican Republic, Tropentheater in The Netherlands and Teatro Anayansi in Panama. AYIKODANS appeared with the National Dance Theater Company of Jamaica at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts in Miami in 2000 and performed at the African-America Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale in 2003.

On Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m., Jeanguy Saintus, founder and Artistic Director of AYIKODANS, will lead a FREE, 90-minute Master Class held in the Arsht Center's Peacock Foundation Studio. The class will focus on modern and Haitian-Contemporary technique, as well as, traditional dance. Intermediate level and above dancers are encourage to reserve a spot by calling 786-468-2270. Dancers should come dressed to move and be barefoot.

For additional information about Ayikodans, please visit www.ayikodans.com or like the company on Facebook.

The performance is made possible in part from a generous donation by Coastal Construction Group and the Murphy family.

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