Chen Dance Center to Present NEWSTEPS This Weekend

Chen Dance Center presents 'NEWSTEPS' at 70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10013 (corner of Mulberry & Bayard Streets) from Thursday-Saturday, January 12-14 at 7:30PM.

Chen Dance Center presents newsteps, its semi-annual emerging choreographer's series. Since 1994, its theater has supported and presented artists developing innovative and risk-taking works through space and production grants. The series has received acclaim in The New York Times, Dance Magazine, The Village Voice, Downtown Express and The Villager.

Five choreographers were selected through an open audition by a panel of dance leaders including H.T. Chen, Walter Rutledge, and Lance Westergard: Seneca Lawrence, Christina Coleman, Evelyn Chen, Matilda Sakamoto, Rashida Lyles. Each
choreographer receives a stipend, free rehearsal space at the Chen Dance Center, and three public performances at the Center's theater.

In her solo, Rashida Lyles hopes to captivate and mesmerize the audience; taking them on a journey of Self Celebration.

Matilda Sakamoto's "Cat Diary" are the private thoughts of a being who is most certainly.. maybe... a cat! This cat is both a hopeless romantic and extremely confused depending on the time of day.

A duet by Evelyn Chen is based on museum visits, abstract images and self portraits.

"Hallowed" by Christina Coleman hopes to challenge how religious authorities respond to ethnic, cultural, religious or national differences.

Seneca Lawrence's trio explores stereotypes and obstacles women typically face on a day to day basis. Dueling vulnerability with irony and humor, the twisted imagery will resemble that of an uncomfortable reality.

Meet the Artist Reception after Thursday night performance. Post-Performance discussion after Friday night performance. Online tickets at jan12-14newsteps.eventbrite.com. For reservations, call 212-349-0438 or 212-349-0126. Admission: $12/general, $10/students & seniors. Seating is limited, reservations or advance purchase is recommended.

TRAVEL - Subway: Take the 6, N, R, Q, J, Z to Canal Street, then walk East along Canal towards Chinatown. Turn right on to Mulberry Street then one block south to Bayard. The theater is on the northeast corner of Mulberry and Bayard, 2nd floor.

Chen Dance Center supports the development of dance by providing a professional theater space in which artists of high caliber receive production support and visibility to the NY audiences and press. The Theater also hosts H.T. Chen & Dancers' annual educational series for school groups, Teahouse Performances for family audiences, serves as a venue for community events, and provides affordable rehearsal space for modern dance artists.

CHEN DANCE CENTER is comprised of three components: a performing arts SCHOOL, a black-box THEATER (formerly MULBERRY ST THEATER) for modern dance, and its resident dance company, H.T. CHEN & DANCERS. CHEN DANCE CENTER is supported by: THE FORD FOUNDATION, LOWER MANHATTAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS, NEW YORK CITY DEPT. OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

Visit www.chendancecenter.org for more information.