Dec. 13, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Maria Junco
Cal Poly Theatre and Dance Department
805-756-1248
Cal Poly Orchesis Dance Company to Present ‘Momentum’ in February
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The talents of award-winning choreographers from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as those of local professionals and Cal Poly students and faculty, will be on display during the Orchesis Dance Company's 38th annual concert, “Momentum.”
Evening performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb.1-2, and Thursday through Saturday, Feb.7-9. In addition, a 2 p.m. matinee is scheduled on Sunday, Feb.3. All performances will be in the Spanos Theatre at Cal Poly.
Dance Program Director Maria Junco directs the Cal Poly students and guests in performances that vary from sophisticated modern dance, to hip hop, jazz and contemporary styles. The progressive concert will include comedy, tap and traditional Filipino dance, as well as classical and contemporary ballet.
This year’s Orchesis concert not only showcases the striking work of critically acclaimed guest choreographers, but it also highlights the diverse talents of the students and the quality and sophistication of Cal Poly faculty and local professionals, said Assistant Director Diana Stanton.
The company will perform “Lucifer’s Prance”, a contemporary piece by acclaimed San Francisco-based choreographer Robert Moses. Moses has earned a host of awards, including three Bay Area Isadora Duncan Awards (IZZIES). His work has been commissioned and performed by major companies such as Philadanco, the Bare Bones Dance Company in England, the African Cultural Exchange, and the Oakland Ballet.
Orchesis will again perform the visionary work of New York choreographer Davis Robertson. The dancers will perform a section of “Strange Prisoners,” a contemporary ballet featured in Robert Altman’s film “The Company.”
Robertson was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and was invited twice to choreograph for the company. He was also commissioned for work by Mikhail Baryshnikov and the Milwaukee Ballet. He has performed in numerous Broadway productions, including “Dirty Dancing” and Twyla Tharp’s “Movin’ Out.”
“Momentum" will also include compelling works by Cal Poly faculty members and unique student pieces. Professor Emeritus Moon Ja Minn Suhr will direct “The Black Swan” from Marius Petipa’s historic ballet “Swan Lake.” Local favorite choreographer Lisa Deyo will present “Ballet Eh?” which she describes as a “jazzy little ballet with a Henry Mancini twist.” This year Valerie Kline, another well-known local professional, will present “Private Idaho,” a dance-comedy that explores the psychology of remaining calm in the midst of paranoid fantasies.
The company will perform Emmy-nominated guest choreographer Gregg Russell's lively tap piece, “Movin’ Up,” as well as “Tango Apocolyptico,” a jazz dance choreographed by internationally recognized Los Angeles dancers Dennon and Sayhber Rawles. The Cal Poly Filipino club will round out the concert with performances of traditional dances.
Tickets for "Momentum" are $13 for the public and $10 for students. Tickets are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call SLO-ARTS (756-2787); to order by fax, call 756-6088; to order online, go to www.pacslo.org.
The Orchesis Dance Company concert is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call Junco at 756-1248.
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(Note to Editors: For a photo, contact Teresa Hendrix, Cal Poly Public Affairs, at 756-7266 or polynews@calpoly.edu.)