Dzul Dance Presents MAYA 2012: a new beginning

Dzul Dance announces the premiere of their latest choreography, MAYA 2012: a new beginning. For the third consecutive year, Dzul Dance's work will be presented at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (at 25th Street) in Manhattan, from January 26th, 2012 through January 29th, 2012.

Dzul Dance fuses modern dance with aerial arts and contortionism as a means to communicate indigenous pre-Hispanic culture. In Maya 2012 Dzul transforms his company into earthbound and airborne forces of nature, creating a different way of seeing and understanding the world.

The year 2012 is a moment of great expectation in many different cultures throughout the world. The end of the Mayan calendar signifies not an end but a period of transition from the end of one cycle into the beginning of another.

One of the only indigenous Mayan choreographers in the world, Artistic Director Javier Dzul was born and raised in a Mayan tribal community in southern Mexico performing ritual dances, speaking Mayan and studying ancient teachings until the age of 16. Dzul provides a bridge between contemporary art and historical heritage, illustrating the ancient Mayan prophecies related to the 2012 phenomenon. The choreography simultaneously explores Dzul's past experiences with rituals of transformation, as well as his past relationship and connection to the natural world.

The 2012 January program features performances by Artistic Director Javier Dzul, guest contortionists Jonathan Nosan (Director of Acroback) and Anna Venizelos (former soloist with Cirque du Soleil), along with Dzul Dance company members Kyla Ernst-Alper, Desiree Sanchez (Chelsea Piers), Ji Hyeun Bang, Chellamar Bernard, Cornelius Brown, Robin Taylor Dzul, Courtney Jackson, Nicole Lichau, Orlando Martinez and Matthew Sparks. With lighting design by Mike Inwood and costume design by Javier Dzul, this diverse and eclectic group opens the door to another dimension.

"Since I founded my company all of my choreographic projects have related in some way to the end of the Mayan calendar and the prophecies that prepare us for this event," said Javier Dzul, Artistic Director of Dzul Dance. "The ending of the Mayan calendar represents a reason to unite all the different elements of the prophecies with particular rites of passage and relate them to a forgotten, but still alive culture."

Parts of the Maya 2012 choreography were created in a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada where Javier Dzul was a guest performer, teacher and lecturer for Banff's Aboriginal Arts program. Maya 2012 first premiered at the Mazatlan Cultural Festival in Mazatlan and Teatro Cancun in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Performances will take place at Baruch Performing Arts Center (at Baruch College), 55 Lexington Avenue (at 25th street, between Lexington & 3rd Ave) in Manhattan.

Maya 2012: a new beginning will be performed on Thursday, January 26th through Saturday, January 28th at 8:00 PM as well as Sunday, January 29th at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $30 general admission, $25 student and seniors. Tickets may be purchased online at www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac or call Box Office at (646) 312-5073.

Dzul Dance performances in New York and Mexico are supported by United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (Northeast Chapter), Delta Air Lines and Mazatlan Institute of Culture Tourism and Art.

About Dzul Dance: Created in 2003, Artistic Director Javier Dzul and his diverse company of dancers and aerialists have been presented throughout New York, Mexico, South America, Europe, Canada, Asia and the Virgin Islands. Dzul Dance's intense physicality and creative appeal have won them invitations nationally and internationally to perform on a variety of stages. The Company has been presented by prestigious institutions that include the United Nations, Banff Centre for the Arts and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and have performed in world renowned festivals such as Festival Internacional Cervantino and Bard College's Summerscape.

In addition to performance, Javier has brought the artistry and vocabulary of Dzul Dance to others through professional workshops and youth outreach programs in Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, Canada, New York and the Virgin Islands. In November Javier was presented with the PHAT Friend Award; an award given by the young individual's involved in programs at the All Stars Project. The award honors New York City's unsung heroes and recognizes those adults who serve as community role models and leaders, supporting the growth and development of today's youth.
Javier has also collaborated with a variety of artists including internationally acclaimed vocalist Sussan Deyhim, award winning filmmaker and human rights activist Rebecca Sommer and photographer Acey Harper. Photos of Robin and Javier Dzul taken by Acey Harper are featured in Private Acts: the acrobat sublime, released October 2011 by Rizzoli.

About Javier Dzul: Javier Dzul performed Mayan ritual dances until age 16. He then began his professional career as a principal dancer with Ballet Nacional de Mexico and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. In 1995 Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes of Mexico awarded Javier a scholarship to pursue his dance career in the United States at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. He has since danced professionally with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Battery Dance Company, American Indian Dance Theater and as an aerialist with Acroback.

Watch the MAYA 2012 promo video at http://vimeo.com/30350908
Read more about Dzul Dance at www.dzuldance.com
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