Kupferberg Center for the Arts to Welcome Caleb Teicher & Company in VARIATIONS

Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College will present the world premiere of Caleb Teicher's full-length Variations, set to Glenn Gould's iconic 1955 recording of Bach's "Goldberg Variations." The program also includes the New York premiere of a new duet, Small & Tall (2016). The one-night-only performance, presented in association with the CUNY Dance Initiative, will take place on Thursday, September 29, at 7:30pm, at Kupferberg Center for the Arts.

Bessie Award-winning performer Caleb Teicher has been making a name for himself as a choreographer over the last several years. With Variations, Teicher has created a captivating new interpretation of a classic. Teicher notes: "I am not the first choreographer to take interest in the 'Goldberg Variations,' and with good reason: They are incredibly well-composed nuggets of concept and expression. It's quite obvious when one listens to them that tap dance fits perfectly and that Glenn Gould's 1955 recordings feel as relevant and energized as ever."

In a review of an early showing of Variations, Gia Kourlas of The New York Times commented, "Mr. Teicher juxtaposed barely there brushes with frenetic taps as his body - twisting and dipping - pulled toward and away from the Gould. These days, a choreographer with a new angle on Bach is startling: Mr. Teicher has a will and a way." Joining Teicher onstage are dancers Elizabeth Burke, Gabe Winns Ortiz, and Byron Tittle.

A witty and whimsical duet, Small & Tall explores Teicher's wide-ranging interest in contemporary dance beyond tap. Small & Tall is performed by Lindsey Jones and Macy Sullivan, with a music compilation recorded by Peter Mintun and Tamar Korn. Costumes are by Marion Talan. Small & Tall premiered at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival's Inside/Out Series in July 2016.

Tickets for Caleb Teicher & Company are $15 general admission / $10 seniors / $5 students and can be purchased by phone at 718-793-8080 or online at www.kupferbergcenter.org. Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College is located at 153-49 Reeves Avenue in Flushing, Queens.

Variations has been commissioned by Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College, with the support of the CUNY Dance Initiative, and made possible, in part, thanks to an artistic residency at the American Tap Dance Foundation.

Caleb Teicher, a 2011 Bessie Award winner for Outstanding Individual Performance and one of Dance Magazine's 2012 "25 to Watch," has garnered acclaim for his work as a performer, most notably as a member of Dorrance Dance and The Chase Brock Experience. He has also danced with The Bang Group, Syncopated City Dance Company, and performed in Irma La Douce at City Center Encores! and BB Promotion's international tour of West Side Story. Currently an artist-in-residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation and Queens College (through CUNY Dance Initiative), he is a proud alum of the School at Jacob's Pillow and the National YoungArts Foundation.

Founded in 2012, Caleb Teicher & Company presents new work that blends traditional American dance forms in a modern context. Taking inspirations from Teicher's background in concert dance, musical theater, and social dance, the company's work addresses questions of how and why we dance in the 21st century. Recent performances have been presented by the American Tap Dance Foundation, La MaMa, The Yard on Martha's Vineyard, and the Inside/Out Series at Jacob's Pillow, among others. www.calebteicher.net

Kupferberg Center for the Arts features a vibrant lineup of world-class cultural events, concerts, and family programs at Colden Auditorium, LeFrak Concert Hall, Goldstein Theatre, and select off-campus locations for the 2.2 million residents of New York City's most diverse borough. Since 1961, Kupferberg Center for the Arts has provided accessible and affordable world-class cultural entertainment to the NYC region. From classical and pop performances, to concerts and school residencies, to a wide range of family events, more than 350,000 individuals attend events at Kupferberg Center for the Arts each year. www.kupferbergcenter.org

The CUNY Dance Initiative is a residency program providing rehearsal and performance space to New York City choreographers and dance companies. CDI was developed in response to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's 2010 report "We Make Do," which cited the critical need for affordable dance rehearsal space in New York City, and mentioned underutilized performing arts centers and other spaces on CUNY campuses. A successful pilot project in 2013 supporting choreographic residencies and performances on four CUNY campuses prompted CDI to expand its scope. Since then, CDI has subsidized and facilitated a total of 67 residencies. www.cuny.edu/danceinitiative