For Immediate Release:
November 9, 2009
Contact: Maxine Silberstein
713-729-3200 Ext. 3223
msilberstein@jcchouston.org
Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre
Celebrating Its 30th Season
Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre January 7 through February 20, 2010 celebrates its 30th season showcasing Houston’s talent as well as national dancers, teachers, and choreographers. The Jewish Community Center of Houston is endeavoring to promote an appreciation of all dance forms, the series presents master classes, workshops and concerts in a wide variety of dance community outreach, audience expansion and professional artistic development are continuing goals of Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre.
Celebrate Dance will highlight 30 years of Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre. We will honor June Christensen, Society for the Performing Arts, Andrea Cody, Dance Houston, Christina Giannelli, Dance Source Houston, Nancy Henderek, Dance Salad, Sixto Wagan, DiverseWorks, Jennifer Wood and Louie Saletan, Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex, Houston’s premier presenters who have helped cultivate the Houston Dance Community. Brad Marks, Champion Benefactor of Dance, will be honored for underwriting the I W Marks Master Class Series, which allows hundreds of students to take classes from dance masters from around the world. Brace yourself for an evening of fun with the live world sounds of Moodafaruka, hors d’oeuvres, prizes and surprises. This event will be held Thursday, January 7th, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel Street. The fee is $25 per person/$12 per student with valid I.D. The dress for the evening is Casual Chic or like a “Dancing Fool”.
Opening weekend features the compelling Tirkedu Houston! an Israeli Folk Dance Weekend. Ofer Alfasi, the young Markid (dance leader) from the south of Israel who has increasingly been making a mark both at home and abroad returns to lead Tirkedu Houston! Alfasi is known for his enthusiastic teaching style and magnetic personality. The workshop begins Friday, January 15th and concludes Sunday, January 17th. The weekend includes teaching sessions and a Saturday night dance party for dancers and non-dancers. The fee for the full weekend is $70 JCC member/ $100 public/ $50 student with a valid I.D. For complete details see the Tirkedu Houston brochure at www.jcchouston.org.
The Jewish Community Center Dance Month presents Houston Ballet II in Around the World in Seven Dances, as part of the Children’s Performing Arts Series. Houston Ballet’s Around the World in Seven Dances teaches the history, culture and music of the seven continents through ballet and slides. This multi-media program incorporates traditional world music and instruments in its journey of the seven continents. Following the performance, party to the beat of Middle Eastern music and meet the dancers at a post-performance party where you can sample sumptuous delicacies of Israel. Around the World in Seven Dances will be performed on Sunday, January 17 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for this family matinee performance are $8 JCC member/ $12 public.
LehrerDance is an inspiring and innovative contemporary dance company based in Buffalo, NY. Under the direction of Jon Lehrer, the company showcases Jon’s unique choreography and embodies his definitive style. Jon’s extensive background in both the modern and jazz dance idioms fosters choreography that is organic, artistic, accessible and often humorous, reflecting life experience and the human condition. The LehrerDance style is based on three main elements of movement: Circularity,
3-Dimensionality, and Momentum. These combine to create a form best described as “Organically Athletic” - integrating the approach and fluidity of modern dance with the excitement and energy of jazz dance to create an expressive, engrossing style of movement. LehrerDance is comprised of 8 individuals who bring their own unique skills to the LehrerDance vernacular. From Break-Dancing to Modern, Ballet to Gymnastics, each dancer adds their own spice to the LehrerDance mix, keeping it fresh and evolving.
LehrerDance will perform on Saturday, January 30 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for this performance are $16JCC member/ $22 public/ $12 senior adult or student. LehrerDance will also perform LehrerDance Family Favorites, a special family matinee, on January 31 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets for this family matinee performance are $8 JCC member/ $12 public.
The Jewish Community Center is proud to bring back Triple Focus as part of Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre, featuring Ad Deum Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, and Urban Souls Dance Company. Ranging in style from jazz to classical, these three professional companies will premier one new work and one piece from their repertory.
Ad Deum Dance Company, founded and directed by Randall Flinn since January 2000, is a Houston based professional contemporary dance company. The company is comprised of dance artists that have found a new home in Houston from all across the USA and others nations of the world. Ad Deum presents a visual fusion of moving image and dramatic presentation. Passion, flowing grace and fierce athleticism abound as these artists explore the mysteries of faith, grace and redemption through expressions of the human body, soul, and spirit. Ad Deum has extensive local performance credits and they have toured across the USA, Canada, and in Poland, Austria, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia.
Breathtaking, awesome and inspiring, are a few of the comments Houston audiences have said about an evening with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. Since 1995, the company has presented contemporary dance that explodes in movement, color and emotion. The company mixes the most edgy styles of dance and music with the classical into a kaleidoscope of energy all audiences enjoy. Seasoned choreographers such as Robert Battle, Salim Gauwloos and Eddy Ocampo alongside new, young artists like Brock Clawson and Joe Celej enjoy working with this strong and versatile company creating works that dance aficionados of all levels love to watch.
Urban Souls Dance Company, a Houston based dance company, believes in bridging gaps between the worlds of urban life and dance theater. The company embodies exceptional artistry and a profound sense of spirituality. USDC presents a wide spectrum of works that are multicultural, socially and visually appealing to all audiences. USDC is dedicated to the preservation and creation of historical and contemporary dances which celebrate cultural themes that educate and entertain. Since Urban Souls Dance Company’s inaugural performance in 2004, it has won Dance Houston awards in 2005 and 2006; the 2008 Dance Houston awards for Best Choreography and Audience Pick, and Best Choreography at the Houston Black Dance Festival in 2008.
Triple Focus will be performed on Saturday, February 6 at 8:00 p.m., in the IW Marks Theatre Center, Kaplan Theatre. Tickets for this performance are $16 JCC Member/ $22 Public/ $12 Senior or Student.
Come join us for “Dancing the Night Away”, a fun filled party of dancing to The Maria Williams Band. Arrive early and learn some popular dance steps from the JCC’s Ballroom Dance instructor Johnny Tanon. This forty-five lesson begins at 8:00 p.m.-8:45 p.m. and is included in the price of the ticket. “Dancing the Night Away” will have limited seating as it will take place in the JCC Levit/Haikin with its spacious wood floor on Saturday. February 20 at 8:45 p.m. Entertaining dance exhibitions and refreshments are included. Tickets are $25 JCC member/$32 public/$40 at the door.
Master classes and workshops continue to be an integral part of Dance Month. These innovative classes and workshop bring dance from around the world directly to the Houston dance student. X- Dancing Master Class for intermediate to advanced level dancers will be taught by Alex Arizpe. X -Dancing is a blend between the structured, disciplined, technical world of theatrical dance and the raw, unrestricted, free form world of street and social dance. The style of X- Dancing takes the fun and joy of free social and street dance moves and blends them with the more controlled and graceful techniques of ballet and jazz. Improvisation, and exuberant styles of movement are foreign and can be intimidating to a technical dancer while choreography and structure stifles the raw energy and expression of a street dancer. X- dancing has helped trained dancers to understand how to move their bodies in less restricted ways and enabled street dancers to have more sense of control, grace, and an ability to learn choreographed movements and dance within a group. X-Dancing blends the best of both worlds without losing the essence of either. The X- Dancing Master Class for ages 13 and older will be taught on Sunday, January 24, at 2:00-3:30 pm., The fee for the class is $8 JCC member/ $12 public. What a triple treat when the artistic leaders of Triple Focus Dance Concert Harry Guy, Urban Souls Dance Company, Marlana Walsh-Doyle, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Randall Flinn, Ad Deum Dance Company come together to give a Contemporary Master Class on Thursday, February 4, from 7:30-9:00 pm. The fee for the class is $8 JCCmember/ $12 public.
SPA’s partnership with the Jewish Community Center and IW Marks Jewelers has made the IW Marks Master Class Series possible. Class registration and observation fees per class are $3.50 in advance and $5.00 at the door. The Mark Morris Dance Group will conduct a master class Thursday, January 14, at 7:30 pm. From its early years as Mark Morris and a group of friends, to its contemporary status as a burgeoning dance institution, the Mark Morris Dance Group has stayed true to its founder’s convictions, especially dancing with live music by some of the world’s best musicians.
For more information on these classes, please visit www.jcchouston.org or www.spa.org or call 713-729-3200 ext. 3223 or email msilberstein@jcchouston.org
Dance Concerts take place in the Kaplan Theatre, IW Marks Theatre Center of the Jewish Community Center, 5601 South Braeswood. Advanced ticket purchase recommended. Purchase tickets online at www.jcchouston.org visit the JCC information desk or call the box office 713-551-7255.
Dance Month at the Kaplan Theatre is funded in part by Jewish Community Center Patrons of the Arts, a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Endowment Inc. JP Morgan Chase, Mid America Arts Alliance and RBC Dain Rauscher. Continental Airlines is the official airline of the JCC. Marriott Houston Westchase is the official hotel of the JCC.
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Toni Valle, Project Director
713-224-3262 / toni@houstondance.org
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