Live Arts Presents Ellen Robbins' DANCES BY VERY YOUNG CHOREOGRAPHERS

Returning to New York Live Arts, Dances by Very Young Choreographers will showcase solos choreographed and performed by children 8 to 18 years old who study dance and choreography with Ellen Robbins. The program is devised to give a young audience exposure to the variety of theater experiences that modern dance affords. It includes dances that are humorous, narrative, minimal, lyrical, and visually conceptual. The music selections, chosen by the choreographers, range from classical to contemporary music including folk music, jazz, and the spoken word.

Following the matinee of January 26th, there will be an evening concert by the Alumni of Dances by Very Young Choreographers, which presents work by dancers who studied with Ellen as early as 1982 to 2016.

ELLEN ROBBINS has been teaching dance since 1966. She was the resident dance educator at Dance Theater Workshop in NYC for 34 years. Robbins is a recipient of the 1993 Arts in Education Roundtable Award and the 1986 "Bessie" (New York Dance and Performance Award) for her work with children. In May 2015, she was the honoree of the LaMama Moves Gala. She has taught Dance Education at Sarah Lawrence College and has guest-lectured around the country and abroad. She has been on the faculties of the 92nd St. Y, Bennington College July Program, and with ArtsConnection, a performance arts project for public school children. She has directed the Young Dancers School at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC. In the summer of 2001, Dances by Very Young Choreographers was produced at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Doris Duke Theater. Robbins is known for her extensive repertoire of group dances choreographed in collaboration with children.

Located in the heart of Chelsea in New York City, New York Live Arts produces and presents dance, music, and theater performances in its 20,000 square-foot home, which includes a 184-seat theater and two 1,200 square-foot studios. New York Live Arts offers an extensive range of participatory programs for adults and young people and supports the continuing professional development of performing artists. New York Live Arts serves as home base for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and is the company's sole producer, providing support and the environment to originate innovative and challenging new work for the Company and New York's creative community.

Photo by Lina Dahbour