Photo Flash: Scorpius Dance Theater Comes to PCPA This Weekend

Theater Works at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) will present Scorpius Dance Theatre's thrilling Repertory Showcase tonight, April 18th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 19th at 2pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek!

Scorpius was named the Arizona Republic 2014 Critics' Pick for Best Alternative to Cirque du Soleil. "With shows such as the fashion-inspired "Catwalk" and the annual "A Vampire Tale" - dubbed "the 'Nutcracker' of Halloween" - choreographer Lisa Starry's company is inspired more by MTV than Martha Graham, says Kerry Lengel, of the Arzona Republic and azcentral.com. "It has built an enthusiastic audience by specializing in Cirque-style aerial dance, on ribbons and the lyra hoop. It even has opened its own aerial studio to teach aspiring acrobats the fundamentals of an athletic, spectacular craft."

For the first time Scorpius Dance Theatre will showcase its unique style of contemporary dance, theatrics and aerial arts at PCPA. The Repertory Showcase features 15 diverse works by Artistic Director, Lisa Starry and Assistant Directors, Nicole Olson and Gavin Sisson. Longtime fans of Scorpius Dance Theatre will recognize familiar pieces from such popular shows as Catwalk, I Love Duran Duran, as well as favorite pieces from Scorpius' early days. Guests will also be treated to brand new, never-seen-before works.

Notable returning pieces include: Man Who Stole a Leopard, an aerial hoop piece from Catwalk...I Love Duran Duran: A Better Tomorrow, an emotional duet from the original Catwalk, Common Resonance (from Starry's first work on Scorpius) and Reverence, a male trio performing an energetic modern ballet piece.

New dances include: River, an aerial silk duet, Fade, Starry's latest work that was recently presented with Center Dance Ensemble and Merrily We Roll Along, a fun work by Olson, featuring three girls on yoga balls.

Scorpius Dance Theatre was founded in 1999 by Lisa Starry, and has become one of Arizona's leading performing arts organizations, consistently awarded by the New Times as the Best Contemporary Dance Company and most recently as the Best Contemporary Dance Collective. Scorpius engages audiences with its uniquely accessible, highly entertaining style of performance art that combines dance, theatre, and aerial movement with theatrics, well-known music, and pop culture themes. Scorpius is recognized internationally for its annual production of A Vampire Tale, which has also been named Best Modern Dance Production.

Tickets for Scorpius Dance Theatre's Repertory Showcase are only $24. For more information or to purchase tickets call the Theater Works Box Office at 623.815.7930 Monday - Friday 10am to 4pm or visit www.theaterworks.org.

Theater Works, at Peoria Center for the Performing Arts is in its 29th season of providing exceptional theater to the West Valley. As a destination, it features more then 200 events a year including: live theater, classical concerts, jazz, popular music, dance, comedy, cultural events, festivals, youth and adult education classes and much more. Theater Works is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.