www.sarasotacontemporarydance.org
SARASOTA CONTEMPORARY DANCE REACHES TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH ITS 12TH SEASON, FEATURING NEW AND NOTABLE CHOREOGRAPHERS
Sarasota Contemporary Dance gears up for a diverse and engaging 12th Main Stage Performance Season that will highlight new and notable choreographers. “I could not be more excited about the upcoming season,” said Leymis Bolaños Wilmott, SCD Artistic Director. “I know I also speak for our dancers, choreographers, and collaborators when I say that we are grateful to have the group of artists working with us this season.”
All performances will be held at the Jane B. Cook Theater at the FSU Center for the Performing Arts (5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243)
Show Times: Thursdays-Saturdays @ 7:30pm, Sundays @ 2:00pm
Tickets: Season Subscription or Single Tickets: 941.359.0099 or www.sarasotacontemporarydance.org
Featured this season is the highly sought after work of Millicent Johnnie, a Brazilian based choreographer whose work has been acclaimed commercially and on the concert stage. Her recent commissions include Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Hubbard Street II, and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games.
SCD will also bring back Sandra Portal-Andreu and Crystal Edwards, whose works were well received and highly regarded when presented previously. These returning choreographers will set new works on the company this season.
Debuting in Sarasota this year will be Lucy Bowen McCauley, a DC based choreographer and Founder and Artistic Director of the acclaimed Bowen McCauley Dance (BMD). McCauley’s company has been around for 21 years and has presented over 80 new works. Neither McCauley’s work, nor the company, have ever performed in Sarasota. Additionally, McCauley will teach a Master Class for the SCD dance community while in residency, sparking interest for the upcoming season. “This will be an incredible draw for our community and SCD’s season,” said Bolaños Wilmott.
SCD + Piazzolla October 12-15, 2017
The highly anticipated collaboration with renowned harpist Ann Hobson Pilot and violinist Tai Murray is a performance inspired by the music of Astor Pantaleon Piazzolla, the world’s foremost composer of tango music. “The evening will not be a tango show,” says Bolaños Wilmott, “but rather a unique spin on this famous artist, both musically and choreographically, which promises to keep romance alive through a hot contemporary production.”
Voices of Sarasota Contemporary Dance Nov 30–Dec 3, 2017
“Our annual spectacle, ‘Voices’ is a hallmark of the company’s approach to dance,” says Bolaños Wilmott. “It is full of physicality, thought, and delight.” Original and adventurous, the works presented are choreographed by company members and emerging choreographers from around the country.
In this performance, four Emerging Choreographers, selected by adjudication from SCD’s Summer Intensive Program, will have the opportunity to expand and set their work for the main stage. “This idea of fostering emerging choreographic voices is beginning to attract more and more attention to our performances. Our local audiences also want to see the future choreographers of contemporary dance as they are just blossoming” says Bolaños Wilmott.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Carrie Seidman wrote of the 11th season performance: “And what a diversity there was…It’s hard to imagine that anyone in the audience couldn’t find something to like—or would have loved them all.”
Dance Makers- (12th Annual concert) January 25-28, 2018
This performance will be the main event of the season, featuring new imaginative dance pieces by nationally acclaimed contemporary choreographers Millicent Johnnie of Brazil, Lucy Bowen McCauley of DC, Rosanna Tavarez of CA, and Crystal Edwards of FL. In season 12, this popular annual concert will feature imaginative dance pieces by these internationally acclaimed contemporary choreographers. Also featured is a solo from the 1920s by pioneer of modern dance, Ted Shawn, as re-staged by Historical Modern Dance Specialist Jack Clark. “We have selected these works to present the power, charm, and diversity of the company, in addition to our mission of presenting a range of contemporary dance for multi-generational and multi-cultural audience in our community” said Bolaños Wilmott.
Evolving/Revolving May 10-13, 2018
The final performance of the 12th season comprises diverse new works by past company collaborators, and dancers Anamaria Diamant, Sandra Portal-Andreu, Doug Gillespie, Rachael Inman (co-founder of Fuzión Dance Artists, now SCD), and Kristin O’Neal. “This performance celebrates the company’s past and future through impactful collaborations,” said Bolaños Wilmott.
About Sarasota Contemporary Dance
Sarasota Contemporary Dance was formed in 2002 as Fuzión Dance Artists, Sarasota’s first contemporary dance company, by Co-Founders Leymis Bolaños Willmott and Rachael Inman. Now approaching its 12th season, the company was renamed in 2015, and continues to bring dance to the community through eclectic performances and educational programming, while collaborating with artists and community groups to enrich the human experience.
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