Works by Graham, Taylor, Buglisi & More Set for Fini Dance Festival

Antonio Fini, dancer/choreographer/producer presents the third annual Fini Dance Festival, featuring guest companies from Milan and Naples, appearing with U.S.-based companies with an "Italian connection."

Hostess for the evening will again be the glamorous Tabata Caldironi, noted dancer and TV personality in her home of Milan. The evening will begin and end, appropriately, with Italian tarantellas, danced by the Staten Island Ballet and the Fini Ensemble.

One performance only, Sunday July 24th, 7:30 PM, at Manhattan Movement & Art Center (MMAC, 248 West 60th Street, NYC). Tickets: $25; $15 for students/seniors; $50 for special VIP seating. Reservations: www.ticketsfly.com/event/1220421-fini-dance-festival-italian-new-york.

PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE:
SOSPIRI, choreography by Jacqulyn Buglisi, danced by Virginie Mecene and Kevin Predmore
PIAZZOLLA CALDERA, choreography by Paul Taylor, staged for a cast of six in 2000, danced by Taylor 2
Paul Taylor, Artistic director, Ruth Andrien, Rehearsal Director, Taylor 2
NIGHT JOURNEY (1946), (excerpt), choreography by Martha Graham, solo performed by Lorenzo Pagano
Courtesy of Martha Graham Dance Company, Janet Eilber, Artistic Director
YU RYUNG, choreography by Nai-Ni Chen, danced by Greta Campo
PARTHENOPE, choreography by Assunta Anatrella and Daniele Di Salvo, performed by ACSI Ballet, Dino Carano, Artistic Director
MEMORIE DI TIRANA, choreography by Antonio Fini, performed by Blakely McGuire and Antonio Fini
CALLIGRAPHY/Women in Word (excerpt), choreography by Elena Albano, danced by Concetta Colanero and Stefania Coloru

In addition to an exciting roster of dancers, the evening will include the presentation of awards to:
Jacqulyn Buglisi - the Lifetime Achievement Award, former Martha Graham Dance Company principal, director of NYC-based Buglisi Dance Theatre
Petra Conti - the Extraordinary Dancer Award, former member of the Mariinsky Ballet Theatre and La Scala Ballet. Currently principal dancer with Boston Ballet
Greta Campo - the Female Rising Star Award, former member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Currently principal dancer with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
Lorenzo Pagano - the Male Rising Star Award, current member of the Martha Graham Dance Company.

ANTONIO FINI, a native of Calabria, is a modern dancer/choreographer/producer. He appeared with several companies in Milan, Palermo, and other cities in Italy before moving to New York, where he received a scholarship to the Martha Graham School. Currently a New York resident, Fini has appeared with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Kosova Ballet where he is guest choreographer, Staten Island Ballet, Long Island Ballet, Boca Ballet Theater, Mare Nostrum Elements, and since 2013 has been a principal dancer with Michael Mao Dance. In 2011, Fini realized his dream to bring dance to his birthplace, Calabria, by organizing a summer festival of classes and performance, which now is an annual event. In 2014, Antonio received a Career Award from The Carcano Theater of Milan and, the same year, founded the Italian Dance Festival in NYC, presenting dance companies from Italy and the NYC area, and honoring Alessandra Ferri. Awardees in other years are Luigi, Edward Villella, Elena Albano, Platinette and Alessandra Corona.

For more, visit www.finidance.nyc.