Buglisi Dance Theatre, hailed for its magnificent dancers and visually stunning repertory inspired by art, poetry, and heroic archetypes, returns to The Joyce Theater for its 15th Anniversary Season, February 3-8. The season will see two different programs, including the World Premiere of the wittyWild Mannequins and Wing Walkers, with an edgy set by Jack Mehler in collaboration with Ralph Pucci and a commissioned score by Wynne Bennett and Milica Paranosic; the New York City Premiere of Interplay No. 9 1/2 to music by Bach, Chopin and Scriabin; and reprises of Buglisi's surreal Frida (Kahlo), the erotically charged Threshold, and Buglisi's signature masterwork Suspended Women. Martine Van Hamel will once again guest with Buglisi Dance Theatre, appearing in all performances of Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers.
"Ms. Buglisi has always been full of intriguing ideas about dance themes," wrote Jennifer Dunning (The New York Times, March 14, 2007). Indeed, the choreographer continues her explorations with a program entitled Women Who Dare, a trilogy in tribute to the indomitable spirit of women whose dedication and perserverance lifted them from the ordinary to the extraordinary - all figures to emulate and admire. "Buglisi is a rarity in today's world, a woman who delights in the many splendid forms of female being," wrote Lynn Garafola, adding "Probably no woman, other than Graham, has plumbed such emotional depths choreographically." (Dance Magazine, 2001).
The cornerstone of both programs is the new Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers, a witty nod to everyone who dares. Ms. Buglisi's cutting edge collaborators include the visionary mannequin designer Ralph Pucci, cinematic lighting and set designer Jack Mehler, and provocative composers Wynne Bennett and Milica Paranosic, a native of Serbia. The original score for piano, violin, cello, keyboard, and laptop will be performed live.
Completing the trilogy that makes up Program A are the surreal Frida, inspired by the art, love, and suffering of Frida Kahlo, music by Arvo Part, Tobias Picker, Heitor Villa Lobos; and Buglisi's haunting Suspended Women, to the Ravel Concerto for Piano in G major, with interpolations by Daniel Bernard Roumain. The timeless work was described as "Buglisi's stirring paean to the commonality of feminine experience across the ages" by Lisa Jo Sagolla (Backstage, 2001); Anna Kisselgoff called the piece "mesmerizing" (The New York Times, 2000); and Francis Mason stated "I haven't seen such an exciting new dance in many a moon" noting the work's "beauty and frailty." (WQXR radio) Program A will be completed by the New York Premiere of Interplay No. 9 1/2, a group dance to live piano music by Bach, Chopin and Scriabin.
Program B will repeat Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers, Interplay No. 9 1/2, and Suspended Women, and will be completed by the primal Threshold, a duet about life and death performed by Virginie Mecene and Kevin Predmore to music by Arvo Part. The duet had its Italian premiere in Milan with Carla Fracci's Italian Ballet Company at the Teatro Nuovo and was performed in New York at BAM.
**Photo by Kristin Lodoen Linder from 'Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers"
Buglisi Dance Theater at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue
February 3-8 (Tues/Wed/Sun at 7:30 PM; Thurs/Fri/Sat at 8 PM; Sat & Sun at 2 PM)
Ticket Prices and Member Information: To become a Joyce member, ticket buyers simply purchase tickets to four different companies at the same time and they automatically save 25% (*not applicable for $19 tickets). Joyce Members are entitled to the 25% discount on additional tickets purchased throughout the season - until August 2009. For more information on becoming a Joyce Member, please visit www.joyce.org or call JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Single ticket prices are $19; $35; $49, based on availability. Tickets can be purchased by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800, in person at the Box Office (Monday-Friday 12-6 PM), or online by visiting www.joyce.org.
Dancers: Terese Capucilli, Virginie Mecene, Kevin Predmore, Helen Hansen, Junichi Fukuda, Jason Jordan, Jeanene Winston, James Pierce, Christina Ilisje, So Young An, Mariko Kumanomido, Lauren Jaeger, and company apprentices
Guest Artist: MARTINE VAN HAMEL
Choreography: Jacqulyn Buglisi
Composers/Musicians: Wynne Bennett, Milica Paranosic, Melody Fader
Lighting Designers: Jack Mehler, Clifton Taylor
Set Designers: Jack Mehler, Ralph Pucci
Costume Designer: A Christina Giannini
PROGRAM A
Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers (World Premiere)
Frida
Suspended Women
Interplay 9 1/2 (New York City Premiere)
Tuesday at 7:30 PM
Thursday at 8 PM (includes a Ralph Pucci Tribute)
Friday at 8 PM
Saturday at 8 PM
Sunday at 2 PM
PROGRAM B
Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers (World Premiere)
Threshold
Suspended Women
Interplay 9 1/2 (New York City Premiere)
Wednesday at 7:30 PM, followed by Humanities
Saturday at 2 PM
Sunday at 7:30 PM
Programs subject to change.
Buglisi Dance Theatre's 2009 NYC season is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; the New York State Council on the Arts; and through the generous support of the Arnhold Foundation; the Harkness Foundation for Dance; the Howard Bayne Fund; the Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund, established in the New York Community Trust by the founders of the Reader's Digest Association; the Shubert Foundation; and Altria Group, Inc.
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