Ariel Rivka Dance, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Sean Curran, Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch, and Paul Dennis Showcase Works This Weekend

From today to Saturday, May 28- 30, 2015, several diverse artists find common ground in a performance series of cutting-edge contemporary dance. Ariel Rivka Dance, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Sean Curran, Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch, and Paul Dennis unite for the first time showcasing their respective, distinct styles through performances woven together by the themes of mysticism, time, and technology. (Program details are below.)

"We couldn't be more excited to share the stage with this remarkable group of dancers and choreographers," said Ariel Grossman, artistic director of Ariel Rivka Dance. "Partnering with Carolyn Dorfman Dance and Sean Curran is a beautiful communion. Experiencing such extraordinary work from the world of dance on one stage is utterly thrilling."

Marking its eighth New York City season, Ariel Rivka Dance (ARD) premieres Ori, a husband-and-wife collaboration of Ariel Grossman's hypnotic choreography and David Homan's original music. Meaning "my light" in Hebrew, Ori manipulates fast- paced lighting shifts and their consequent shadows to create a raw, energetic performance by seven contemporary ballet dancers and four electrifying cellists.

The program continues with two pieces by one of today's most invigorating choreographers, Sean Curran. According to The New York Times, he is a "breathtaking tour de force." An artist with a background in Irish step dance, postmodern experiment and Broadway hoofing, Curran is known for having the "sharp intelligence of a conceptualist and the raw physicality of an athlete." (The Boston Globe) Audiences will see two of his latest works: the world premiere of Trio set on three of ARD's dancers and to the music of David Homan; and the U.S. premiere of Desert Dance, a reinvented work for ARD's entire company informed by the idea of dancers slipping between the natural environment and a mystical atmosphere.

Completing its 2014-2015 Season, which featured an international tour to Sarajevo and several national performances, Carolyn Dorfman Dance brings its bold athleticism back to New York City. The company will premiere Dorfman's newest work WAVES, a sensation-based exploration of sonic and movement possibilities that groups together real-time collaboration between live music and dance. NJArts.net described the work as, "a community that leaves no one behind." Additionally the company will perform Interior Designs (ID), a visually stunning tour de force that incorporates a commissioned score, original video projections and video mapping and integrated lighting and costume designs. According to The Star Ledger, "Interiors Designs draw[s] everyone into its complex, digital world." The entire theater becomes the stage as Dorfman and her collaborators create an immersive environment that reveals the internal and external worlds of both performer and spectator.

Bookending the program are solo works performed by two extraordinary modern dancers: Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch (Martha Graham Dance Company) and Paul Dennis (formerly of Jose Limo?n Dance Company). Described by Oberon's Grove as "a solo I could easily watch and savor again and again," Zjawa -choreographed by Katarzyna Skarpetowska for Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch-takes audiences on a journey to the bottom of an enchanted lake inhabited by women. Following his successful tour performing solo works by iconic 20th century choreographers through Milan, Florence and the island of Trinidad, Paul Dennis, premieres the next edition, yet untitled, of his solo concert. Choreographed by Deborah Goffe with original score by Damon Honeycutt this work is predicated on candid conversation between old friends, the search for an anchor, and the ongoing effort to reconcile inside intention with outside expectation.

About Ariel Rivka Dance

Founded in 2008 by dancer/choreographer Ariel Rebecca (Rivka) Grossman (Joffrey Ballet School, Skidmore College), Ariel Rivka Dance (ARD) is a contemporary ballet company based in New York City committed to creating work that explores raw emotion in the context of strong technique and form. ARD's most recent work, The Book of Esther, tours nationwide including performances at the Gershman Y in Philadelphia, PA, and the Center for Jewish History in NYC. In 2014 ARD was awarded a residency at MANA Contemporary through Armitage Gone! Dance and a grant from the Nathan Cummings foundation. Recently, ARD was presented at the Children's Museum of Manhattan, Saratoga ArtsFest and Greenspace Blooms Festival and was the recipient of a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) grant.

About Carolyn Dorfman Dance

Carolyn Dorfman Dance connects life and dance in bold, athletic and dramatic works by Carolyn Dorfman and nationally renowned choreographers. The company's ten multi-ethnic and stunning dancers tap their unique talents to present high-energy and technically demanding dance that unleashes the powerful storytelling and imagery of its visionary creator. This distinctive combination takes audiences on intellectual and emotional journeys that ultimately illuminate and celebrate the human experience. This is contemporary dance that moves you to think, feel, laugh, cry and engage. The highly acclaimed ensemble is known for emotional resonance and artistic excellence both in performance and in its interactions with audiences, students and the community. Sharing art and process is the hallmark of this company. Carolyn Dorfman Dance has appeared at major theaters, dance festivals, universities, schools, museums and galleries regionally, nationally and internationally.

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