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| Dance Celebration's 27th Season Salutes The Dancemaker Dance Celebration's 27th season, The Dancemaker, features 13 choreographers and nine world-class dance companies in 29 performances at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. David Parsons, Lar Lubovitch, Ohad Naharin, Doug Varone and Nacho Duato bring new works reflecting the breadth, scope and vitality of contemporary dance. The Ballet Boyz return with a powerhouse program by four choreographers of international fame - Christopher Wheeldon, Russell Maliphant, Liv Lorent and Craig Revel-Horwood. Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal premieres works by Italy's rising star Mauro Bigonzetti and Brazil's Rodrigo Pederneiras, artistic director of Grupo Corpo. Canada's hip-hop/ballet sensation, Rubberbandance Group, under the direction of Victor Quijada, brings a world premiere. Israel's foremost companies, Batsheva Dance Company and Inbal Pinto Dance Company make their Philadelphia debuts in conjunction with Israel's 60th anniversary. Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration, presented at Annenberg Center by Dance Affiliates and Penn Presents, maintains the tradition of bringing to Philadelphia preeminent contemporary touring dance companies. Lauded as "one of the great movers of modern dance" (New York Times), Parsons Dance (Oct. 16-18) launches the season with a sizzling program of David Parsons' witty and sexy choreography. Inbal Pinto Dance Company performs its highly imaginative multimedia work Shaker choreographed by Inbal Pinto and Avashalom Pollack (Oct. 29). In addition, the company will perform a special event on Oct. 28 for Israel's 60th anniversary in association with PhillyIraelim. Inspired by snow-filled glass globes that fill with snowflakes when shaken, Shaker incorporates a colorful set, outlandish costumes and expressive movement into one out-of the- ordinary theatrical experience. Breakdance meets ballet when Rubberbandance Group returns with the world premiere of Phase 11 (Nov. 6-8). This 90-minute multidisciplinary work features AV feeds, street demeanor and Quijada's clever and compelling movement language. Globe and Mail exclaims, "Eye-catching is almost too lame a word to describe Quijada's output." Washington Post calls 2006 Obie Award winner Doug Varone "an exceptionally fluent dancemaker." Doug Varone and Dancers return Dec. 4-6 with an all new program of works. Lar Lubovitch Dance Company performs Concerto Six Twenty-Two, a signature work by founder/choreographer Lar Lubovitch. Lubovitch is known for his musicality, rhapsodic style and sophisticated structures. New York Times praises him as "one of the ten best choreographers in the world." Ohad Naharin, Israel's choreographic gift to the world, has set works on a number of popular Dance Celebration companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Nederlands Dans Theater. His pièce de résistance, Minus 16, had audiences on their feet every night clapping ecstatically when Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performed here in 2005. On Feb. 3, Batsheva will make its Philadelphia debut with its signature piece, Decadance. Audiences will once again have the dizzying experience of being entertained by a smorgasbord of Mr. Naharin's eccentric and compelling dance moves. This presentation celebrates the 60th anniversary of Israel. Canada's hip and charismatic Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal premieres Bigonzetti's rousing Rossini Cards and Pederneiras' steamy MAPA on Feb. 19-21. Edmonton Journal notes, "The dancers hit the stage full-on translating their technique into passion ... wowing audiences with their innovative, contemporary and easy to love programs." London's cheeky and irreverent Ballet Boyz returns on March 17 and 18 with a power-packed program by four stellar choreographers. The program includes Maliphant's Broken Fall, winner of the Laurence Oliver Award for best new dance production; Liv Lorent's dazzling Propellers; Wheeldon's Mesmerics; and Revel-Horwood's Tango Duet. The National Dance Company of Spain 2 closes the season from May 14 to 16 with a program of works by Nacho Duato, Spain's most celebrated choreographer. All performances will take place in the Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. For ticket information, contact the Box Office, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 215-898-3900 or www.pennpresents.org. Early Bird subscriptions are available until Aug. 31. Single tickets are $48-$32 and will go on sale Sept. 2 but can be pre-ordered now. In addition to performances, the Dance Celebration 2008- 2009 season offers outreach activities by all the touring companies for the local community. These programs include master classes, workshops, residencies and special projects as part of The Artist to Artist Series and full production performances in The Student Discovery Series. For more information, call 215-636-9000 ext.110, or visit www.danceaffiliates.org. Significant funding for the 2008-2009 Dance Celebration season is provided by the William Penn Foundation and also in part by The Connelly Foundation, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, Samuel S. Fels Fund, Friends of Dance (Affiliates), Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Pennsylvania Presenters, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Virginia C. Mulconroy Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation. |
| Dance/USA Philadelphia By Andrea K. Hammer For the Philadelphia Bulletin Approaching its first birthday, Dance/USA Philadelphia has created a vital center in a new residence near the Avenue of theArts. Lois Welk (right), director of the national service organization's branch office for professional dance, frequently invites the dance community to "stop by when you're in the neighborhood." Across from the Kimmel Center, the street- level space is shared with Philadelphia Dance Projects, Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre and Zane Booker's Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative.... READ MORE South Philly Chi By Andrea K. Hammer For the Philadelphia Bulletin Vision. Transformation. Vitality. Photo courtesy of Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers From Victor Café's opera-singing servers to the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial's free classes for those from all economic and cultural backgrounds, South Philadelphia is crowned by the Italian Market - a colorful convergence of many family- owned businesses along 9th Street from Wharton to Federal streets. Adding to the diversity and energy of this neighborhood, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D), one of Pennsylvania's only Asian American contemporary dance companies, will open Chi Movement Arts Center in a renovated warehouse half a block from the city's notorious Pat's and Geno's Steaks.... READ MORE Music and Motion Dance: Social Movement By Andrea K. Hammer For Pennsylvania Gazette Courtesy of Music and Motio In the center of a local mall, Music & Motion dancers take to their stage—a shiny white floor framed by palm trees. As “Shake” begins, pulsing Middle Eastern music gets the attention of passing shoppers, who pause to watch the energetic 14-to-20-year- old dancers. Wearing silky red tunics over black leggings, three ensemble members snake their lithe bodies around each other. Their shoulders shimmy freely and hips pop rhythmically to jazz, modern, funk, and hip-hop moves. Then they slap the floor like a bongo drum, slithering down and rolling over each other with fluidity, using every level of the open space..... READ MORE |





| Parsons-air Trio (Courtesy of Parsons Dance) |

| Lars-Duet (Courtesy of Lar Lubovitch Dance Company) |
| Batsheva Quartet (Courtesy of Batsheva Dance Company) |