Baryshnikov Arts Center to Kick Off Spring 2014 BAC Presents Series with Rocio Molina and More

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) is pleased to announce the dance presentations featured on the Spring 2014 BAC Presents performance series. The three presentations in March, April, and May are U.S. and New York Premieres of new works by international dance artists, reflecting BAC's mission to present and support innovative, contemporary choreographers and dancers from around the world.

First, direct from Spain is Rocío Molina, a leading innovator of contemporary flamenco, presented by BAC in partnership with Flamenco Festival New York. Ms. Molina's Afectos(U.S. Premiere), a collaboration with acclaimed flamenco singer Rosario "La Tremendita," weaves movement and music together in a series of intimate, emotive vignettes. Rocío Molina and Rosario "La Tremendita" will perform on March 20-22 at 8PM in the Jerome Robbins Theater. Having previously hosted a workshop led by Ms. Molina in 2010, and curated her 2013 appearance at the Ringling International Arts Festival in Sarasota, FL, BAC is delighted to now present the flamenco star in conjunction with the celebrated New York festival.

In April, BAC presents another group of international artists who have previously received support from BAC. New York-based Israeli choreographers Lee Sher and Saar Harari, co-artistic directors of LeeSaar The Company, were Spring 2013 BAC Resident Artists, developing a new work rooted in Gaga technique in collaboration with their diverse group of dancers. Princess Crocodile, which began as a creative idea in BAC's studios, will now have its New York Premiere on the stage of BAC's Howard Gilman Performance Space on April 10-11 at 7:30PM. The company will have a second, weeklong technical residency at BAC this month to prepare for the April performances. LeeSaar The Company is among the growing roster of artists who have developed works in residence at BAC, and later performed on BAC's own stages.

For the season's last dance presentation, BAC welcomes to the stage of the Jerome Robbins Theater two acclaimed dancers from Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, regarded worldwide as one of India's foremost dance companies. Nrityagram's Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy will perform the U.S. Premiere of Songs of Love and Longing on May 1-2 at 8PM in the Jerome Robbins Theater. Set to an original score composed by the late Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi, with live accompaniment by an ensemble of Indian classical musicians, these expressive dancers create vivid imagery through movements in Odissi, one of India's classical dance forms.

In addition to the spring BAC Presents series-which also features theater and music presentations-this season BAC's Artist Residency Program will provide time and space to nine dance, theater, and multimedia artists for creative investigation. Support for each resident artist includes up to three weeks in one of BAC's studios or theaters, honoraria, technical and administrative services, and work-in-progress showings. Artists who have already completed residencies this spring are Jean Butler (January 13 - 31) and Hana S. Kim (January 20 - 26). Current and upcoming residencies include Kaneza Schaal (January 6 - February 8), LeeSaar The Company (February 15 - 20), Qui Nguyen, Liesl Tommy, and Shane Rettig (March 17 - 21), Daniel Fish (April 7 - 25), Camille A. Brown (April 14 - 25), Emmanuelle Vo-Dinh (April 28 - May 10), and Carmen de Lavallade (June 2 - 13).

All tickets for BAC Presents are on sale now and can be purchased online or by phone: BACNYC.ORG / 866 811 4111. A complete schedule of BAC Presents Spring 2014 Dance Presentations follows.

BAC PRESENTS SPRING 2014 - Dance Presentations

Rocío Molina and Rosario "La Tremendita"

Afectos (U.S. Premiere)

March 20-22 (Thursday through Saturday at 8PM)

Jerome Robbins Theater

Tickets: $25

Celebrated as one of the greatest modern flamenco artists of our time, Spain's bailaora and choreographer Rocío Molina performs the U.S. Premiere of Afectos, a collaboration with acclaimed cantaora Rosario "La Tremendita." Joined onstage by bassist Pablo Martín, the fiery dancer and powerful singer create a dynamic interplay between movement and music, weaving together a series of intimate, emotive vignettes.

LeeSaar The Company

Princess Crocodile (N.Y. Premiere)

April 10-11 (Thursday and Friday at 7:30PM)

Howard Gilman Performance Space

Tickets: $20

New York-based Israeli choreographers Lee Sher and Saar Harari use Gaga movement language to create highly physical, magnetic works in collaboration with their company of international dancers. Princess Crocodile, a work developed in residence at BAC, draws on themes of adolescence and womanhood, exploring the fragile path to self-discovery.

Nrityagram's Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy

Songs of Love and Longing (U.S. Premiere)

May 1-2 (Thursday and Friday at 8PM)

Jerome Robbins Theater

Tickets: $25

Internationally acclaimed Nrityagram Dance Ensemble of Southern India brings contemporary vibrancy to the sensuous flow of Odissi, one of India's classical dance forms. Songs of Love and Longing, set to live music composed by the late Pandit Raghunath Panigrahi, features acclaimed Nrityagram dancers Surupa Sen and Bijayini Satpathy. With exceptional synchronicity and compelling physicality, the exquisite dancers lead audiences on a transcendent journey.

All tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online or by phone: BACNYC.ORG / 866 811 4111. Baryshnikov Arts Center is located at 450 W. 37th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.