Joffrey Ballet School's Jazz & Contemporary Program Announces 2/15 Winter Concert

Joffrey Ballet School, a world-renowned dance center offering the most versatile and highest quality training, will present the Jazz & Contemporary Program's annual Winter Concert. The celebrated group of performers will take the stage on Sunday, February 15, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. The program will feature eight new and restaged works from cutting-edge choreographers Ryan Daniel Beck, Lauren Cox, Tyler Gilstrap, Darrell Grand Moultrie Matthew Powell, Michael Susten, and Nathan Trice.

"Joffrey Ballet School prepares students to dance for the most competitive ballet, modern and contemporary companies in the world," says Jazz and Contemporary Program Director Michael Blake. "The opportunity to learn from these fine choreographers, showcases the passion and intensity of these dancers, and their desire to take their education and performance experiences to the next level."

Joffrey Ballet School's 1-night program will premiere 6 new works from Scott Foxx, Tyler Gilstrap, Darrell G. Moultrie, Matthew Powell, Lauren Cox and Ryan Daniel Beck. With works ranging from contemporary introspections to light-hearted jazz numbers, all the pieces are grounded in the foundation of technique, strength and stamina.

Michael Susten restages his work Don't Bring Tomorrow about the human reaction and anxieties that occur during the period of calm before a big storm. Nathan Trice reimagines Sketched, a fusion of movement including martial arts, tai chi, and dance.

Tickets go on sale February 1, and are $35 for general admission. Tickets will be available for purchase at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/942874/1422802641823. Performance Schedule: Sunday, February 15, 2015 - 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. The Ailey Citigroup Theater is located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue), New York, NY 10019. The theater can be reached by subways 1, A, B, C, D trains to the 59th Street/Columbus Circle station; N, Q, R trains to the 57th Street-7th Avenue station; C or E trains to the 50th Street station (at 8th Avenue).

REPERTORY DETAILS:

| World Premiere
Choreography: Ryan Daniel Beck and Dancers Assistant Choreography: Genna Carey
Music Composed by: Charles Spearin and Ferras

The title of the piece refers to the forms of non-verbal communication and the way that people use their bodies to speak with out words. A piece about introspection and appreciation of the senses we are given, this piece asks the audience to discover something propriocepively - with the tiniest nerve endings of the human body. Dancers do this all the time.

Layers | World Premiere
Choreography: Lauren Cox
Music Composed by: Napago (Nathan Goheen) & Nina Simone

With its choreographic style rooted in African and Hip Hop movements, the inspiration for this exploration comes from the observation of others' pursuits to understand themselves and the world around us. Observing movement within a crowd and catching glimpses of humanity, our focus zooms in or out at any given moment depending on our perception of that moment. The audience is invited to do the same when experiencing this hypnotic harmony of visuals and sound.

Dueling Horns | NY Premiere
Choreography: Scott Foxx
Dance Captain: Zach Rondos
Music Composed by: Eric Miyashiro
Costume Design by: Scott Foxx

This high-speed jazz number takes the audience back to the good old days and is designed purely for the enjoyment of the viewer. Dazzling with its precise movements, synchronization and lifts, it showcases technique and strength.

Turbulent Wake | World Premiere
Choreography: Tyler Gilstrap and Dancers
Music Composed by: Thom Hanreich, Ezio Bosso, and Nina Simone

A picture book on fast-forward, this work is about spiritual resurrection and the turbulent wake that occurs from it. This piece asks the audience to see what often goes unnoticed in our daily lives. An exploration of controlled chaos - testing the limits of time, space, and the human condition - it is inspired by communities and individuals that are seeking change.

Visceral Voices | World Premiere
Choreography by: Darrell G. Moultrie
Music Composed by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Inspired by the dancers, the title of the work is a reflection of the need artists have to say and share their vision with the world. Aimed to share the passion, commitment, and sacrifices that artists make for their voices to be heard, this piece showcases that dedication through physicality, musicality, and stamina.

Live, From the Underground Martini Bunker | World Premiere
Choreography by: Matthew Powell
Music Composed by: Herb Alpert, Lalo Schifrin, Alex Kaeck, Caterina Valente, and Leith Stevens

Based on the music from the Public Radio show, "Retro Cocktail Hour," this semi- autobiographical and lighthearted romp tells the story of an overworked, single and lovingly geeky soul who escapes the woes of life through her favorite radio show. As she dances around her living room, characters come to life and lift her out of the dumps of reality, and into a world of retro-chic fantasy.

Don't Bring Tomorrow | Restage from Michael Susten & Company
Choreography by: Michael Susten
Music Composed by: Daughter

This contemporary piece, choreographed as a part of the larger, Fall: Heeding the Warning and Building Shelter to Surrender, is about the calm before the storm. It explores the human condition and how we live and deal with those moments right before the "storm" comes.

Sketched/Sketch | Restage
Choreography by: Nathan Trice
Assistant Choreography by: Damani Pompey
Music Composed by: Keith Jarrett
Costume Design by: Nathan Trice

This fusion of martial arts, modern and contemporary dance, and tai chi, is a challenging articulation of movement through space and time and is in a constant state of being and becoming. It aims to express the realms of the physical world with great enthusiasm and spirit.

About Joffrey Ballet School - Founded in 1953 by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, Joffrey Ballet School maintains the vision of its founders to transform passionate dance students into versatile, individualistic artists able to collaborate and evolve fluidly in a fast-changing society. With an accredited dance program that offers two core pieces of study - ballet and jazz/contemporary - Joffrey is known for its diverse curriculum as well as being the largest summer intensive training program in the country. As Joffrey celebrates its 60th anniversary, it remains at the forefront of American dance education, instilling a passion for dance in children, youth, adults, pre-professionals and professionals. Graduates of the School have gone on to dance for major classical ballet, modern and contemporary companies, both in the United States and abroad.