Eryc Taylor Dance Outreach to Perform at Harlem School of the Arts

Eryc Taylor Dance (ETD) will present an original work created by ETD Outreach for dancers living in Lantern Community Services' supportive housing, to premiere during the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Uptown Arts Stroll on Friday, June 2 with two performances at 4pm and 6pm, Harlem School of the Arts (645 St Nicholas Avenue New York, New York 10032). The performances are free and open to the public. Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/mobilize-tickets-34336721057?aff=eac2 for details.

The presentation, created in partnership with New York's Lantern Community Services and funded in part by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, will also include performances by Eryc Taylor Dance and a short film, "Self > Selfie," created by Lantern through a community partnership with The Museum of Modern Art.

The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Uptown Arts Stroll performance serves as the culmination of a seven-week movement intensive workshop led by ETD company member and ETD Outreach instructor, Chris Bell. This special ETD outreach program offers a unique professional development opportunity to expose the unrecognized artistry of individuals living in Lantern Community Services' supportive housing buildings. The opportunity allows participants to strengthen their connection to dance, in mind, body, and spirit.

Mobilize will be performed to an original score, composed by musician Ian Gallagher, known as DJ IBG. MAC Cosmetics has generously donated products and stylists backstage for this special performance.

Lantern Community Services, founded in 1996, provides innovative services to help New Yorkers who are formerly homeless or have recently aged out of foster care to recreate their lives. With proven results in health, employment, education, and life skills that are delivered inside residences and tailored to each person's needs, Lantern provides individuals with the tools to live with dignity and independence as a part of a broader community. Lantern delivers comprehensive services for the residents of 14 supportive housing sites developed by their affiliate, the Lantern Organization, which provides permanent affordable housing for high-need populations. These sites are located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Upper Manhattan.

The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council empowers artists by providing them with the networks, resources, and support, to create vibrant, sustainable communities in Lower Manhattan and beyond.

Eryc Taylor Dance was founded in 2006 with a mission to advance appreciation of dance by creating and presenting original performances, conducting master classes and workshops, and awarding grants to aspiring choreographers. The Company has been home to over twenty New York City dancers since its founding. Every year, ETD provides three emerging New York-based choreographers with $1000 grants to fund the creation of a new piece and subsequently produces and hosts a work-in-progress show featuring each of the new works. 2017 Performance Reel

Eryc Taylor Dance "Community and International Outreach" program specifically uses dance as a tool to inspire, heal, and build communities for populations who might not otherwise have access to movement programs. The ETD "mobile" program currently conducts twelve workshops a week for the following organizations: PGCMH, CUCS, NYU Langone Medical Center, Odyssey House, and Acacia Network.

ETD Artistic Director Eryc Taylor has performed works by Merce Cunningham, Mark Dendy, Group Motion, Paul Taylor, Milton Meyers, Sean Curran and Gus Solomons jr. and has collaborated with artists such as Frieda Abtan, Todd Yeager, Laura Peterson, Jason Levine, Scooter LaForge, Mark Beard, and Gerald Busby. Taylor's choreography has been presented worldwide and he is known for producing sight specific dance installations. He has produced summer dance festivals in Martha's Vineyard called, "Dance Martha Dance!" His work has also appeared at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Joyce Soho, The Second Avenue Dance Theater, NYU, Dance Theater Workshop, Dance New Amsterdam's APAP festival, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, NYC, New York Live Arts, and Armando Manzanero Teatro (Merida, Mexico).

Chris Bell is originally from San Antonio, Texas but lives in NYC. (MFA)Contemporary Dance (BS)Dance (BS)Geology. He dances for dendy/donovan projects, Gaspard&Dancers, Eryc Taylor Dance and teaches for TADA! Youth Theaters and Marquis Studios. He also teaches and presents work as @chrisbelldances at DeSales University, Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, The Tank, The Luminaria Arts, Queensboro and Ohio Dance Festivals. And, has served as choreographer for Marble Collegiate Church and The American Theater of Harlem. This is his second season dancing with ETD.

ERYC TAYLOR DANCE celebrated the 10th Anniversary with a program of new works at Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in October 2016. The company's 11th Season will return to the Martha Graham Center, October 27 through October 29, 2017.

Photo Credit: Steven Menendez