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Eisenhower Dance will mark its 25th anniversary with a special performance at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on April 30 at 8 p.m.
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Clinton Township, Mich. >> Eisenhower Dance will conclude its 25th anniversary celebration with a special performance at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts on April 30 at 8 p.m. The milestone performance will highlight the past, present and future of Michigan’s premier contemporary dance company with a beautiful and exhilarating evening of dance. The commemorative program features revivals of audience favorites from the company’s history as well as the premiere of a celebratory work to honor the anniversary season.
“I’m very excited about this program,” said Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower, who founded the company in 1991. “My goal is to have a fun, exciting and beautiful celebration of dance.”
The program highlights the innovation, collaboration and artistic excellence that has propelled the company to 25 years of success in metro Detroit and beyond. Over the past quarter of a century, Eisenhower Dance has grown from a small ensemble into a nationally touring company and a leader in the metro Detroit arts and cultural community.
The program will culminate with a pair of special guest appearances from within the Eisenhower Dance family. Company alumni will join the ensemble in a performance of Laurie Eisenhower’s The Music Lesson, a tongue-in-cheek satirical work that pokes fun at musical genres. For this special performance, the cast for The Music Lesson will expand from 6 to 30.
“I’m really looking forward to incorporating all the alumni into this work,” Eisenhower said. “It should be a raucous, good time.”
The Music Lesson is one of three contrasting Eisenhower works on the program, showing the full range of the company. Other works include Threads, a passionate and lyrical series of duets and solos, and the much-anticipated Tom’s Songs, a tribute to Eisenhower’s late husband, Tom McGray. The popular work, featuring the music of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt, will close the performance.
“It seems fitting for us to include this work during our 25th anniversary celebration,” Eisenhower said. “Tom was my biggest champion of Eisenhower Dance. We wouldn’t be where we are today without his support.”
While the program revisits popular works from the Eisenhower repertory, the anniversary also provides the opportunity to look to the future of dance in the region. Eisenhower has invited other area dance programs to participate in a 7:15 p.m. concert “preshow” that will feature youth dancers from Eisenhower Dance Center, Mary Skiba’s School of Dance, Macomb Ballet Company and Spotlight Dance Works.
“As we have done for the past twenty-five years, we reached out to the community for their involvement in the production,” Eisenhower said. “We love the idea of the dancers sharing their work with each other and our audience.”
Youth dancers will also appear alongside the company in a premiere that showcases the budding talents of more than 60 young dancers from Eisenhower’s 10 student companies. Stephanie Pizzo, Associate Artistic Director of the company and founding company dancer, choreographed the celebratory work, titled Celebration. The Clinton Township native’s Latin-inspired Danzón and Texas choreographer Gina Patterson’s Between Shadow and Soul will round out the evening’s program.
Tickets for Eisenhower Dance’s 25th Anniversary Celebration are $25. Senior and student discounts are available. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Macomb Center Box office at 586-286-2222. Eisenhower Dance will accept water donations on behalf of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint during the performance. Find out more at eisenhowerdance.org or by contacting Amanda Bankston at 248-559-2095 or [email protected]. |
