Elisa Monte News

Under the artistic direction of Bradley Shelver, the STEPS REPERTORY ENSEMBLE is the contemporary dance company of STEPS BEYOND FOUNDATION, a non-for-profit organization in residence at the prestigious Steps on Broadway. The Ensemble commissions choreographers, both established and emerging, to create new works and to restage repertory, thereby connecting to America's rich modern dance legacy.

Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter tells the inspiring and largely unknown story of Martha Hill, a visionary whose life was defined by her love for dance, and who successfully fought against great odds to establish modern dance as a legitimate art form in America.

Elisa Monte Dance, an emotionally charged and highly acclaimed dance company that champions individuality, announces its 34th anniversary gala on January 22, 2015, at The Ailey Citigroup Theater. With the recent appointment of Tiffany Rea-Fisher as the next artistic director of Elisa Monte Dance in 2016, the gala, will resurrect the work and legacy of company founder, Elisa Monte, while spotlighting Rea-Fisher as a groundbreaking dance maker with a unique voice of leadership. The evening will revisit excerpts from Monte's two most recent works Terra Firma and Lonely Planet, along with Feu Follet, and the world premiere of Fisher's why so curious?.

Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter tells the inspiring and largely unknown story of Martha Hill, a visionary whose life was defined by her love for dance, and who successfully fought against great odds to establish modern dance as a legitimate art form in America.

DC BroadwayWorld recently spoke with Sasha Hollinger where she talked about how George Mason University prepared her for a career in the performing arts, the advice she would give to current students hoping to follow in her footsteps, what audiences can expect from the Kennedy Center's upcoming tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat .

Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter tells the inspiring and largely Unknown story of Martha Hill, a visionary whose life was defined by her love for dance, and who successfully fought against great odds to establish modern dance as a legitimate art form in America.

Thomas/Ortiz Dance makes a highly anticipated return to New York City with its two-night performance series this weekend, November 7 - 8 at the Manhattan Movement Arts Center.

Elisa Monte Dance (EMD) announced last night at a reception in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood that Elisa Monte will retire as the artistic director from the company that she has built, grown and established as a beacon of modern movement over its 34-years. Dancers, board members and important key players in the company's history, stood beside Elisa as she named Tiffany Rea-Fisher, long time dancer, Associate Artistic Director and Director of Operations as her successor, effective at the culmination of EMD's 35th season in spring of 2016. The announcement followed a private tour of the Fashion Institute of Technology's Dance & Fashion exhibition, where repertory costumes created by Calvin Klein's Francisco Costa for Monte's 2008 work Slope of Enlightenment are currently being showcased.

Aimed at guiding patrons through themes of discovery, understanding and cultural celebration, City College Center for the Arts (CCCA), home to Aaron Davis Hall, is renewing the artistic expression of the campus's student body in their inaugural 2014-2015 season. NYC's newest center celebrating the diverse artistic voice of its community, CCCA will begin their season with a presentation of, Elisa Monte Dance, tonight, October 23, at Aaron Davis Hall, 7:00 p.m. Monte, an emotionally charged and highly acclaimed dance company that champions individuality, will present Run to the Rock, Treading, Audentity and excerpts from Feu Follet for one night only.

Aimed at guiding patrons through themes of discovery, understanding and cultural celebration, City College Center for the Arts (CCCA), home to Aaron Davis Hall, is renewing the artistic expression of the campus's student body in their inaugural 2014-2015 season. NYC's newest center celebrating the diverse artistic voice of its community, CCCA will begin their season with a presentation of, Elisa Monte Dance, on October 23, at Aaron Davis Hall, 7:00 p.m.

Thomas/Ortiz Dance makes a highly anticipated return to New York City with its two-night performance series November 7 - 8 at the Manhattan Movement Arts Center. Led by husband-and-wife team Ted Thomas (former Paul Taylor dancer) and Frances Ortiz, the 12-member contemporary ensemble shares a full evening of the couple's emotional and colorful works including the world premiere of Four Temperaments.

DANCING SONDHEIM -- a free App compiling 7 short dance movies by Richard Daniels using the music of Stephen Sondheim -- will be released September 1, 2014, it has been announced by Richard Daniels, DANCES FOR AN iPHONE creator and the app's principal choreographer.

DANCING SONDHEIM – a free App compiling 7 short dance movies by Richard Daniels using the music of Stephen Sondheim – will be released September 1, 2014, it has been announced by Richard Daniels, DANCES FOR AN iPHONE creator and the app's principal choreographer. Dances for an iPhone comes in versions for the iPhone, and iPad and is available through iTunes. The free app will also soon be available for Android devices. www.dancesforaniphone.com

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With several weeks until the craziness begins, there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters . BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's The Lion King below!

The City University of New York has awarded 20 dance companies/choreographers residencies as part of the 2014 CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI).

The Second Annual Southern Vermont Dance Festival July 17-20 in downtown Brattleboro features the works of renowned and emerging artists in three galas - two at the Latchis Theatre and one at the Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College, NH, along with a less formal concert series at the Stone Church in downtown Brattleboro, VT.

New York Live Arts announces the 2014 Theater Access Program - a comprehensive rental program that provides performance space and resources to a diverse group of self-producing artists of all disciplines. This year's artists include (in order of appearance) Ellen Robbins; ZviDance; Elisa Monte Dance, Bulglisi Dance Theatre and Jennifer Muller/The Works; and 10 Hairy Legs.

Offered in conjunction with Dance St. Louis' Seventh Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival 2014, high intermediate and advanced-level dancers ages 14 and up are invited to participate in a master class with Elisa Monte Dance. The class will include modern technique and choreography from the company's repertoire. Founded in 1981, Elisa Monte Dance celebrates the work of Elisa Monte, a former principal dancer with Martha Graham Dance Company, Lar Lubovitch and Pilobolus, is widely recognized for its highly athletic and sensual style exploring a multitude of topics and themes. The master class is Wednesday, May 21, from 6:30-7:55pm at COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO. Registration is $20. Call 314.725.6555 or visit www.cocastl.org for more information.

Elisa Monte Dance, an emotionally charged and highly acclaimed dance company that champions individuality, will celebrate its 33rd season with three world premieres in three days from today, May 15-17 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Artistic Director, Elisa Monte, will add to her collection of more than 50 works with the world premiere of Lonely Planet, the fourth and final movement in a succession of works that began in 2011. Additionally, Associate Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher will present Persona Umbra in its New York premiere and long time EMD principal dancer and choreographer Joe Celej will premiere their roots rest in infinity. The company will also restage Elisa Monte's 1987 Audentity.