Joyce Theater Announces 2009 Spring Season
By: Eddie Varley Dec. 15, 2008
The Joyce 2009 season kicks off on February 3 with Buglisi Dance Theatre presenting two different programs that will include three NYC premieres and one world premiere. Ronald K. Brown's Brooklyn-based Evidence, A Dance Company returns to The Joyce this year with an exciting NYC premiere, and Doug Varone and Dancers - back for its 10th Joyce season - also will feature a NYC premiere. Following them is the audience favorite Savion Glover, for a three-week season of electrifying tap set to Flamenco music. Then Ballet-Tech, under the Artistic Direction of Joyce founder Eliot Feld, will present two programs of post-classicism work with its "Mandance Project."
BUGLISI DANCE THEATRE
February 3 - 8
Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, February 4
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Audrey Ross Publicity, (212) 877-3399
Program B: Wed 7:30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 7:30pmBuglisi Dance Theatre is hailed for its magnificent dancers and visually stunning theatricality inspired by art, literature and heroic archetypes. In Program A, Buglisi captivates us with the romance and comedic absurdities of life in the provocative trilogy "Women Who Dare," composed of the world premiere Wild Mannequins and Wing Walkers with cutting edge set design by Ralph Pucci and original score by Wynne Bennett and Milica Paranosic; the surreal Frida; and Suspended Women, Buglisi's signature masterpiece. Program B highlights the erotically charged Threshold, the NYC premiere of Interplay No. 9 and the music of Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) and Arvo Pärt.
EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY
February 10 - 15
Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, February 11
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Fatima Kafele, (917) 723-1494Program A: Tues/Wed 7:30pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 7:30pm
Program B: Thu/Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 2pmFocusing on the seamless fusion of traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word, Ronald K. Brown and his company, Evidence, return to The Joyce for two exciting programs. Program A will feature Brown's newest work, Two-Year Old Gentlemen, an all-male piece that combines the historical practice of war games by Mardi Gras Indians with initiation dances from West Africa. The program will also feature the all-female piece Incidents (1998) and Evidence's signature work Grace (1999). Program B will include Ebony Magazine: To a Village (1998), Walking Out The Dark (2002) and Exotica (1995).
ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET
February 17 - 22
Tue 7pm Gala; Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, February 18
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Richard Kornberg & Associates, (212) 944-9444 The nationally acclaimed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet comes back to The Joyce with three NYC premieres. For over a decade, the company's unique signature style has earned glowing reviews and enthusiastic audience receptions. This eclectic and innovative dance company will perform a sophisticated program featuring some of the world's foremost choreographers: William Forsythe, Jorma Elo, Itzik Galili and Helen Pickett. The late Clive Barnes of The New York Post raved, "It's a class act, a classic act, and an extraordinarily engaging act: it's the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet."
DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS
February 24 - March 1
Tue - Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, February 25
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Jennifer Lerner, (212) 486-7229Whether exploring the most telling human gesture or full-throttled bursts of movement, Doug Varone's choreography takes your breath away and astonishes with the countless ways a body can be expressive. Doug Varone and Dancers perform the NYC premiere of Alchemy, set to Steve Reich's simmering "Daniel Variations," in a program that includes 2006's explosive Lux. The New York Times raves, "Varone's ability to convey depths of emotion through highly charged, physically exciting choreography has made him a rarity among his generation."
Savion Glover
March 3 - 22
Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, March 4
Tickets: $59; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $44; $26
Press Contact: Glover Productions, (212) 431-5835This spring, Mr. Glover will debut his latest dance invention for The Joyce Theater, Savion Glover's Solo In Time. In this attempt to allow his audiences to comprehend his "Hooferz style" approach to tap dance, this piece merges his acoustically melodic tap sounds with the energy of live Flamenco music. Celebrating tap dance as a form of music, Glover shows that his style of hoofing is the leading instrument in this production. Savion Glover's Solo in Time displays the infinite versatility and virtuoso of Glover's genius as not only tap master, but tap dance choreographer as well.
BALLET TECH MANDANCE PROJECT
March 25 - April 5
Week 1: Wed-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Week 2: Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Audrey Ross Publicity, (212) 877-3399 Ballet Tech Mandance Project takes the leap from tutus to post-classicism in two thrilling programs. Program A (March 25-29, 31 and April 3-5) features a revival of Eliot Feld's Proverb, along with premieres of three ballets choreographed by Mr. Feld: Radiance will be a solo for Ha-Chi Yu, set to the music of Brian Eno. Wu-Kang Chen will dance Dust, which takes place in a theatrical maelstrom of wind and flying debris to music by John Luther Adams. Rounding out the evening is a madcap romp, The Spaghetti Ballet, to Ha-Chi Yu and six accomplices, set to the movie music of Ennio Morricone.
Program B (April 1-2) showcases the return of Wu-Kang Chen and his HORSE collaborators from Taiwan in the US premiere of an evening-length work called Bones, choreographed by the dancers.
NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER II
April 9 - 11
Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm
Humanities: Saturday, April 11, 2pm
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Richard Kornberg & Associates, (212) 944-9444 Internationally known, Nederlands Dans Theater II is famous for being one of the most revolutionary ensembles in the world of modern dance. This company of young raging talents was founded in 1978 as an internal training class, and has grown into a world-class ensemble. Returning to NYC after ten years, NDT II brings works by prominent choreographers such as Jirí Kylián and Lightfoot León. Watch their astounding technique and boundless energy set the stage alight.
RIOULT
April 14 - 19
Tue 7:30pm; Wed 7pm Gala; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Thursday, April 16
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Helene Davis, (212) 354-7436Program A: Tues 7:30pm, Fri/Sat 8pm, Sun 7:30pm
Program B: Wed 7:30pm, Sun 2pmSensual, articulate and exquisitely musical, RIOULT (re you) will feature Pascal Rioult's world-premiere, full-evening exploration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's love offering to his beloved Constanze - the C-minor Mass in Program A. Rioult's meditative Views of the Fleeting World (J.S. Bach) and his classic, bone-chilling Wien (Maurice Ravel) will be performed in Program B.
JOE GOODE PERFORMANCE GROUP
April 23 - 26
Thu-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Friday, April 24
Tickets: $39; $25; $19 / Joyce Members $29; $19
Press Contact: Richard Kornberg & Associates, (212) 944-9444The fearlessly innovative choreographer Joe Goode comes to The Joyce with Wonderboy - an extraordinary new collaboration with acclaimed puppeteer Basil Twist. America's beloved dance theater group integrates Twist's exquisite creation into their unique fusion of text, song and dance. Featuring original music by Carla Kihlstedt and Matthias Bossi, Wonderboy is a tale of a peculiar hero isolated by his gift of sensitivity. Additionally, the performance showcases excerpts from Goode's iconic hit Maverick Strain.
STEPHEN PETRONIO COMPANY
April 28 - May 3
Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Sat 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, April 29
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Janet Stapleton, (212) 633-0016Stephen Petronio Company celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with an evening-length premiere for expanded company. I Drink the Air Before Me, inspired by atmospheric and internal storms, and the power of extreme weather in all its awesome transience, features a live commissioned score by Nico Muhly, his ensemble and the Young People's Chorus of New York City. The New York Times reveres Petronio's dancing as "an instantly recognizable style... fresh and unpredictable... infused with emotional texture and wit... jarring and just right."
ALONZO KING'S LINES BALLET
May 5 - 10
Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm
Humanities: Wednesday, May 6
Tickets: $49; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $37; $26
Press Contact: Mona Baroudi, (415) 615.2735Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, an accelerated international touring company based in San Francisco, performs unique, contemporary ballets created by Alonzo King. From the Venice Biennale to Montepellier Danse, LINES Ballet continues to receive acclaim for King's visionary choreography, innovative collaborations and the extraordinary quality of its dancers. Come enjoy the exhilarating and transformative work Rasa set to tabla master Zakir Hussain's rhythmic beat.
MOMIX
May 12 - 31
Tue-Wed 7:30pm; Thu-Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm
Humanities: Wednesday, May 13
Tickets: $59; $35; $19 / Joyce Members $44; $26
Press Contact: Richard Kornberg & Associates, (212) 944-9444See the NYC premiere of Moses Pendelton's latest creation BOTANICA, where the natural world is transformed into a multimedia theatrical spectacle by the supremely talented performers of Pendleton's internationally celebrated company MOMIX. Set to an eclectic score that ranges from birdsong to Vivaldi, BOTANICA reveals nature's changing imagery in MOMIX's signature illusionistic style. * * *
HUMANITIES SERIES
The Joyce Theater holds free post-performance dialogues with artistic directors and/or company members following the performance usually on the first Wednesday of each company's engagement. These dialogues are open to all audience members attending that evening's performance.
Created to help build dance audiences for the future, The Joyce's popular family-oriented performance series will return this spring with three family-friendly matinees, each followed by a special chance to meet the artists. Kids' tickets are only $10. Children who see all three family matinees automatically become Joyce Junior Members and save 40% on the price of their tickets ($10 reduced to $6). Children, ages 6-14, must be accompanied by an adult (maximum four kids to one grownup). Joyce Junior Members get a special "Backstage-at-the-Joyce" tour, a T-shirt and gift coupons.
This spring season's Family Matinee series is:
§ Evidence, A Dance Company: Feb 14, 2pm
§ Claire Porter's Portables: March 28, 2pm @ Joyce SoHo
§ RIOULT: April 18, 2pm DANCE TALKS AT JOYCE SOHO
This spring, The Joyce Theater will continue its popular "Dance Talks" series. These conversations between artists and audiences and open rehearsals provide an informal, but in-depth examination of issues shaping dance today. "Dance Talks" are free and take place at Joyce SoHo (155 Mercer Street, between Houston and Prince). Reservations are required: 646-792-8377.
This spring season's "Dance Talks" schedule:
§ Nederlands Dans Theater II: March 30th
§ Joe Goode Performance Group: April 6th
§ Stephen Petronio Company: April 20thABOUT THE JOYCE THEATER
The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, has proudly served the dance community and its audiences since 1982. The founders, Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, acquired and renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea, which opened as The Joyce Theater in 1982. The Joyce is named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther's clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to establish the theater. One of the only theaters built by dancers for dance, The Joyce Theater has provided an intimate and elegant New York home for more than 290 domestic and international companies. The Joyce has also commissioned more than 130 new dances since 1992. In 1996, The Joyce created Joyce SoHo, a dance center providing highly subsidized rehearsal and performance space to hundreds of dance artists. New York City public school students and teachers annually benefit from The Joyce's Dance Education Program, and adult audiences get closer to dance through pre-engagement Dance Talks and post-performance Humanities discussions. The Joyce Theater now features an annual season of approximately 48 weeks with over 340 performances for audiences in excess of 135,000. TICKET PRICES AND MEMBER INFORMATION
To become a Joyce Member, ticket buyers simply purchase tickets to four different companies at the same time and they automatically save 25% on tickets (not applicable for $19 tickets). Joyce Members are entitled to the 25% discount on additional tickets purchased throughout the season - until August 2009. For more information on becoming a Joyce Member, please visit www.Joyce.org or call JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Single ticket prices range from $19-$59 and go on sale to the public January 5. Tickets can be purchased by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800, in person at the Box Office (Monday - Friday 12-6pm), or online by visiting www.Joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th street).
Leadership support for The Joyce Theater's 2008-2009 season has been received from the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.Support towards performances by New York City-based dance companies at The Joyce has been provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc.Performances at The Joyce Theater by national and international dance companies are supported, in part, through a generous endowment established by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. The Spring 2009 Season is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. Additional support is provided by a generous endowment established with funds from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Richard B. Fisher and Family, R. Britton Fisher and Family, and many friends of The Joyce. Major support for The Joyce has been provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Starr Foundation, Alphawood Foundation, American Express, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Industrial Color/Global Edit, William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation, and The Jerome Robbins Foundation. The Family Matinee series is sponsored by First Republic Bank.The Humanities Series and Dance Talks at Joyce SoHo are supported, in part, by Bloomberg L.P., the Charles E. Culpeper Endowment Fund, and the Constance Sanders Fund for Dance Education.The presentation of Joe Goode Performance Group was made possible by the MetLife Community Connections Fund of the National Dance Project, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts. Major support for the National Dance Project is also provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from the Ford Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.* * *
2009 JOYCE THEATER SPRING DANCE SEASON
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37February 10 - February 15 EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37February 17 - February 22 ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37February 24 - March 1 DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37March 3 - March 22 Savion Glover
Tickets: $19 - $59 / Joyce Members $26 - $44March 25 - April 5 BALLET TECH MANDANCE PROJECT
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37April 9 - April 11 *NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER II
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37April 14 - April 19 RIOULT
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37April 23 - April 26 *JOE GOODE PERFORMANCE GROUP
Tickets: $19 - $39 / Joyce Members $19 - $29April 28 - May 3 STEPHEN PETRONIO COMPANY
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37May 5 - May 10 ALONZO KING'S LINES BALLET
Tickets: $19 - $49 / Joyce Members $26 - $37May 12 - May 31 MOMIX
Tickets: $19 - $59 / Joyce Members $26 - $44
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