Elisa Monte Dance Returns to Ailey Citigroup Theatre, 4/12

The internationally acclaimed Elisa Monte Dance returns to the New York stage to premiere their brand new 2012 season at The Ailey Citigroup Theatre (at the Joan Weill Center for Dance/405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue) and will present another exhilarating season of dance featuring the New York premieres of "Unstable Ground," with commissioned music by Lois Vierk; "In Absentia" featuring new music by Kevin Keller; and "Outside In" with original music by Ben Doyle, as well as a revival performance of "Pigs and Fishes" and an excerpt from "Amor Fait" on Thursday, April 12th (8PM) for a limited engagement scheduled through April 14th. Gala benefit performance scheduled for Friday, April 13th (7:30PM)

Celebrating 31 years of rich history, Elisa Monte continues to illustrate her intimate connection with many of the century's greatest masters such as Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey and Agnes deMille, while maintaining a fresh vitality to her work that is widely respected for its emotional, sensual style and intricate technique. The season showcases Ms. Monte's commitment to creative collaboration by introducing composers to the dance world through the use of their work and commissioning new music for contemporary dance, as well as commissioning new work from Associate Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher and senior company member Joe Celej.

The engagement's debut work, "Unstable Ground," explores the feeling of universal instability permeating the world due to unexpected shifts in the environment and economy. Ms. Monte engages the full company and highlights our dependency on structures, both natural and manmade, that no longer may be able to help sustain our current way of life. "Unstable Ground" will feature original music by Lois Vierk.

"In Absentia," the second work premiering this season, explores the ides of timing as it relates to romantic relationships and expounds upon the quote, "If I never met you, I wouldn't like you. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't love you. If I didn't love you, I wouldn't miss you. But I did, I do, and I will." With choreography by Tiffany Rea-Fisher, "In Absentia" features new music by composer Kevin Keller and was made possible by the commission of Carolyn Dilworth and the Junior Board of Elisa Monte Dance through their New Choreographers Fund.

The final piece premiering this season is "Outside In". "Outside In" explores intimacy through multiple layers of inclusion/exclusion that connect/separate not only the performers to/from each other, but also their relationship to the spectator. With choreography by Joe Celej,the new work features new music from composer Ben Doyle and was made possible by the commission of Carolyn Dilworth and the Junior Board of Elisa Monte Dance through their New Choreographers Fund.

The season will also include the company revival of "Pigs and Fishes" (1982) and an excerpt from "Amor Fait" (1999). Choreographed by Elisa Monte with music by Glenn Branca, "Pigs and Fishes" is a powerful, driving piece focusing on the coming together of forces in a communal triumph over society and culture. "Pigs and Fishes" is one of the most popular works from the repertoire of over forty works created by Elisa Monte. This full company piece was the first major commission for Elisa Monte – commissioned by Alvin Ailey for his legendary troupe. Ms. Monte' "Amor Fait" is a work for and about the family --- that is a dance company. Often, a couple will break out to explore a tangent, but the concentration here is on how each dancer melts into the whole, making one.

The company will feature Clymene Baugher, Liz Beres, Joe Celej, Chivas Merchant- Buckman, Lisa Peluso, Hsing-Hua Wang, and Prentice Whitlow with apprentices Maria Ambrose, Lisa Borres, and Lisa Greenberg. Lighting will be designed by Nick Hung.

Supporters of Elisa Monte Dance include The Harkness Foundation for Dance, the Lila Acheson Wallace Theatre Fund, and the Department of Cultural Affairs.

The performance schedule in New York at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre (405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue) will be: Thursday, April 12th at 8PM; Friday, April 13th at 7:30PM; and Saturday, April 14th at 8PM.

Tickets for Elisa Monte Dance's 31st Anniversary Season are $25 for Thursday and Saturday evening performances; tickets for the benefit gala on Friday, April 13th are $50. Tickets can be purchased beginning March 1st by visiting Smarttix (www.smarttix.com) or call (866) 527-5376.