With virtuosic dancers and thrilling
choreography, one of the nation’s premier contemporary dance companies Eisenhower Dance blends drama, momentum
and force with technical brilliance in its performances at Diana Wortham
Theatre on Friday and Saturday, January 17 and 18, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.
Founded by Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower
in 1991, Eisenhower Dance has been captivating audiences for more than two
decades with an evolving, exhilarating repertoire dedicated to the performance
of a diverse range of contemporary dance works.
In its January 17 & 18
performances at Diana Wortham Theatre, Eisenhower Dance performs the following works:
Begin with the End in Mind, an
abstract work by Ron de Jesus that showcases the dancers’ dynamic range, from
soft and tender to powerful and athletic; Open
Veins by Laurie Eisenhower, a virtuosic pure movement work; Threads, a luscious and passionate work
for eight dancers—a signature work by Eisenhower Dance and an audience
favorite; Music Lesson, a piece by
Eisenhower that utilizes old recordings of narrated music lessons spliced with
new music samples, giving a tongue-in-cheek version of music history and form;
and Better Places, a crown-pleasing
suite of five dances to Southern and Blues influenced music, also by
Eisenhower. An additional work by a guest choreographer will be revealed at the
performances.
Eisenhower Dance has received
critical acclaim along with enthusiastic audience support from around the
world, called “stunning” by the Holland
Sentinel and acclaimed as “intelligently crafted repertoire” by Dance Magazine. The company has received
numerous grants and awards for its work, including a prestigious Touring Award
from the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) to present its work NewDANCEfest during the 2012-2013
season. With support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs,
the company has also collaborated with Michigan Opera Theatre, the Warren
Symphony, the Immigrant Suns, the Rackham Symphony Choir in Carmina Burana, and the Motor City Lyric
Opera and the Toledo Opera in Amahl and
the Night Visitors.
Since founding Eisenhower
Dance, Laurie Eisenhower has created over 100 dances for the company in
addition to works for numerous professional and university dance companies. She
has been awarded several Creative Artists grants from state arts foundations,
the Michigan Dance Association Choreographers Festival Award, the Women in Art
Award for Choreography, Artserve’s Michigan Governor’s Arts Award for
Outstanding Michigan Artist and, most recently, the prestigious 2012 Kresge
Artist Fellowship.
Eisenhower Dance performances
are also part of the Matinee Series for
Students and Families. “Kids in Motion” is a special performance for the
after school crowd on Wednesday, January 15 at 3:30pm, where students learn
about the dance profession, why people dance, choreography, and the different
styles of dance through fun and interactive audience participation. Then on
Friday, January 17 at 10:00am, Eisenhower Dance presents “Motown in Motion,” a
fast-paced and lively presentation highlighting the history of Motown and the
elements of dance. Tickets still available for both Matinee Series performances
by calling the box office at 828-257-4530. The Matinee Series is open to school
groups, homeschoolers, community groups, and families.
In addition to the public
performances, Eisenhower Dance presents a Master
Class for the public on Thursday, January 16 from 10:45am until 12:00pm at
the UNC-Asheville Dance Studio in the Sherrill Center. There is no registration
required or cost associated with this Master Class.
For insight and increased
enjoyment, ticket holders of the January 17 & 18 evening performances can
attend free pre-performance discussions
with Laurie Eisenhower and/or Eisenhower Dance dancers in The Forum at Diana
Wortham Theatre at 7:00pm both nights prior to the 8:00pm performances. Seating
is limited and offered on a first come, first served basis. We regret that we
may not admit patrons to the discussions after 7:10pm.
Eisenhower Dance’s Asheville performances
are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National
Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council; and presented with
support from The Art Fryar Charitable Trust; and by Performance Sponsors Steve
& Rena Hoffman, and by Mainstage Dance Series Sponsors Hedy Fischer &
Rancy Shull, Tina & John McGuire, Ronna & Rob Resnick, BMW of
Asheville, and Diamond Brand Outdoors; with additional support from Media
Sponsors WNC magazine and WCQS 88.1FM.
The new entrance for the Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place
is marked by the location of the theatre’s new marquee between 12 and 14
Biltmore Avenue. Patrons enter the theatre through the breezeway between Marble
Slab Creamery and Circle in the Square restaurants, and into a large interior
courtyard for Pack Place with multiple glass doors to the theatre’s lower lobby
and new box office. The intimate theatre seats just over 500 and boasts
exceptional acoustics and sightlines, making it the premier performance space
in Western North Carolina. The Mainstage Series is supported by a grant from
the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency. The Mainstage Series 2013/2014
Season Sponsors are the Asheville
Scene,
Blue Moon Water, Creative Energy, Laurey’s Catering and Gourmet-to-go, the
North Carolina Arts Council, and the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. To obtain
more information on the Mainstage Series or to purchase tickets, call the
theatre’s box office at (828) 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.
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