Schimmel Center Opens 2017-18 Season with Performance by Gaspard & Dancers

Schimmel Center opens its 2017-18 season presenting Durham, North Carolina-based Gaspard & Dancers in five works on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. The uplifting program features four New York premieres: Pothos, exploring the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat, including his relationship with his parents, lovers, and his art; Portrait, inspired by Basquiat's colorful and busy paintings; In-Side a Song; and Forbidden; in addition to Tota Pulchra Es (You Are All Beautiful), celebrating the human spirit.

The works are created by former Pilobolus Dance Theater member and Gaspard & Dancers company founder Gaspard Louis, whose choreography is known for its playful physicality that joins lyrical, athletic partnering with emotional force. Gaspard formed Gaspard & Dancers in 2009, and the company now produces an annual performance season at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, as well as performs across the state as part of the North Carolina Dance Festival.

Featured dancers include Jihyun Kim, Frankie Lee III, Gaspard Louis, McKenna May, Garrett Parker, Bailey Reese, Tareake Dorill Ramos, and Taquirah Thompson.

Program Information

GASPARD & DANCERS
Gaspard Louis, Artistic Director

Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m.

In-Side a Song (New York premiere)

Choreography by Gaspard Louis, in collaboration with the dancers
Music composed and performed by Randall Love
Lighting Design: Tiffany Schrepferman
Costume Design: Sarah Thea, Costume Design
Dancers: Jihyun Kim, McKenna May, Garrett Parker, Tareake Dorill Raoms

Forbidden (New York premiere)

Choreography by Gaspard Louis
Music: Arvo Pärt / Angele Dubeau
Lighting Design: Tiffany Schrepferman
Costume Design: Jessica Alexander and Kristine Liwag
Dancers: Jihyun Kim and Gaspard Louis

Tota Pulchra Es (You Are All Beautiful)

Choreography by Gaspard Louis, in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Michael Wall
Lighting Design: David Ferri
Costume Design: Mahalia Stines
Dancers: Jihyun Kim, Frankie Lee III, Garrett Parker, Tareake Dorill Ramos, Bailey Reese, Taquirah Thompson

Music for Tota Pulchra Es was commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation.

Portrait (New York premiere)

Choreography by Gaspard Louis in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Andy Hasenpflug
Lighting Design: Tiffany Schrepferman
Costume Design: Jessica Alexander and Kristine Liwag
Performers: Jihyun Kim, Frankie Lee III, McKenna May, Garrett Parker, Bailey Reese, Tareake Dorill Ramos, Taquirah Thompson

Pothos (New York premiere)

Choreography by Gaspard Louis, in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Joshua Starmer / Robert Cantrell
Lighting Design: Tiffany Schrepferman
Costume Design: Mahalia Stines
Dancers: Jihyun Kim, Frankie Lee III, Garrett Parker, Tareake Dorill Ramos, Bailey Reese, Taquirah Thompson

About Schimmel Center
Schimmel Center, located in the heart of downtown Manhattan at Pace University, presents a unique and diverse array of internationally acclaimed artists, encompassing genres including dance, cabaret, music, comedy, world music, and family programming, in an intimate setting with affordable ticket prices. For more information, visit SchimmelCenter.org.

About Gaspard Louis
Haitian-born Gaspard Louis founded Gaspard & Dancers (G&D) in 2009. He received his BFA from Montclair State University and his MFA from the Hollins University/American Dance Festival (ADF) program. Prior to forming his own company, Gaspard performed and taught worldwide with Pilobolus and has been a guest teacher at Duke University, Elon University and North Carolina Central University. Currently, he directs the American Dance Festival's year-round creative movement outreach program, ADF Project Dance, providing free dance classes to children throughout the Triangle, including the Central Park School for Children, where he shares his love for the arts with kindergarten to 4th graders. His goal and passion is to expose as many children as possible to the art form of dance.

Ticket Information
Tickets, priced at $29 to $39, are available at www.schimmelcenter.org, by calling 212-346-1715 or by visiting the box office located at 3 Spruce Street. The Schimmel Center box office is open Tuesdays through Saturday from Noon to 5:00 p.m. and three hours prior to performances.

Location Information
Schimmel Center is accessible via the A, C, 2, 3, 4, 5, J, or Z to Fulton Street (William Street Exit), 4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge Exit), and R to City Hall (Broadway Exit); via the Path Train to the World Trade Center stop; and via bus by the M1, M9, M15, M22, M102, B51 to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Stop or the M6 to City Hall/Broadway.