Matrix:Midland Presents Pilobolus Dance Theater 2/27

MATRIX:MIDLAND Winter Escape presents Pilobolus Dance Theater on Saturday, February 27 - 8 pm at Auditorium, Midland Center for the Arts, 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland, MI 48640
Cost: $32 adult; $16 student
Information: Call Ticket Office at (989) 631-8250 or (800) 523-7649 or www.mcfta.org

They writhe over the ground and hurtle through the air. They twine into impossible shapes. They make you laugh with their antic humor and gasp at their eye-popping feats. They are agile and powerful dancers who never fail to entrance. Playful, illusionist, mind-boggling acrobats, gravity-defying shape-shifters - there's nothing quite like Pilobolus!

MATRIX:MIDLAND Winter Escape brings the thrills of Pilobolus Dance Theater to the Auditorium of Midland Center for the Arts, 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland, on Saturday, February 27 at 8 pm. Tickets are $32 for adults; $16 for students. Tickets are available online at www.mcfta.org or by calling the MCFTA Ticket Office at 800-523-7649.

The Roots
Pilobolus began as an experiment among three guys and one puzzled professor in a Dartmouth College dance class in 1970. It was survival of the giddiest, as the three non-dancers goofed around with the material they'd been given - themselves - and got entangled in science-inspired poses and movements. From these humble, biological beginnings emerged an innovative, unlikely and almost-uncategorizable dance company that combines athleticism, grace and humor with a profound sense of unity. Drawing inspiration from biology, Pilobolus has created a dance vocabulary all its own. Known for their creative, imaginative and collaborative explorations of body movement, Pilobolus develops three original works each year. It's an interpretive dance company acclaimed for its mix of humor, invention, and drama.

Pilobolus' smooth, organic choreography - featuring unusual partnering and lifts - often blurs the lines between individual performers, creating a sense of dance-troupe-as-organism. Still evolving after 35 years, Pilobolus has a repertoire of more than 85 works and has received numerous awards, including the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement in choreography. Their hilarious appearance at the 2007 Oscars - where they built witty silhouettes to punctuate the ceremony - brought the troupe further into the public eye. Pilobolus has been seen by 120 million domestic viewers, has been broadcast in 200 countries, and has performed live in 63 countries for over 4 million people.

With notable appearances in commercials, on the Academy Awards and at innovative theatrical productions, Pilobolus is recognized for its imaginative performances that are perfect for dance lovers and newcomers alike. www.pilobolus.org

The Performance
LANTERNA MAGICA (2008) is a new full company work choreographed by co-Artistic Director Michael Tracy. This work immerses us in the luminous spirit of the natural world and uses ritual and mythology to create a mysterious and irresistible sensual celebration of the supernatural.

PSEUDOPODIA (1974) A tumbling tumbleweed solo set to an all-percussion score.

GNOMEN (1997) This is a Pilobolus classic. A quartet for men, Gnomen's lyrical exploration of relationships emerges from an unusually inventive physical vocabulary and is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague, Jim Blanc.

HITCHED (2009) A fast duet about love's path, marriage, and nostalgia.

DOG ID (2009) Shadow piece in which a young woman is transformed. Created in collaboration with lead writer for the brilliant animated series SpongeBob SquarePants Steven Banks.

MEGAWATT (2004) An electrifying experience. A full-throttle, full-company piece, blends startling energy with an ironic take on the excess and high-voltage state of the world we live in. Ultra-dynamic moves to the music of Primus, Radiohead and Squarepusher; a breathtaking display of the company's physical endurance and prowess. It has been called "...fascinating and rebellious, an important work of dance" -- Fort Worth Star Telegram.

MATRIX:MIDLAND presents professional, world-class entertainment to the mid-Michigan region. For over 30 years, Matrix has hosted an extraordinary schedule of cutting-edge entertainment including cinema, music, comedy, family programs, world-renowned authors and more.

Midland Center for the Arts, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation formed under the laws of the State of Michigan incorporating six groups: Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art, MATRIX:MIDLAND, Midland County Historical Society, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Music Society and Theatre Guild. Activities at Midland Center for the Arts are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. For the latest Center news, visit our web site at www.mcfta.org.

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