DNA Presents B-SIDES And KAFKA’S COTILLION 9/29-10/1

Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) will present the New York Farewell of Isabel Gotzkowsky and Friends (IGaF). The program will present the world premiere of two new works B-Sides and Kafka's Cotillion, and the restaging of the company's signature work Bound. Well known for the sculptural beauty and humor of her choreography, the September 29 - October 1 run of the company's 13th season will showcase the versatility of Isabel Gotzkowsky's choreographic investigation from two decades as a New York artist.

The final New York season will mark a 23-year relationship between DNA and Gotzkowsky, who came to the former Dance Space Center as one of the first workstudy students, later became a teacher and key organizer of various programs and debuted her company with the organization in 1996. Long-time collaborators and newlyweds Isabel Gotzkowsky and Jon Zimmerman will be leaving their long-time home for Gotzkowsky's home country of Germany.

World premiere work B-Sides was developed this year as a result of an exciting collaboration with visual artist Lindsey Boise and sound designer Jon Zimmerman. The work was choreographed in silence, later joined by Zimmerman's unique sound arrangement. The tone of the movement is pedestrian and athletic, in line with the choreographer's sense of movement in New York. A special farewell, Kafka's Cotillion, is the world premiere of segments previously seeded in 2005 and 2006 and emerges now fully realized in this final performance. Kafka's Cotillion represents Gotzkowsky's journey in New York and explores aspects of transformation, reinvention and individuality. Bound, one of the company's best-known and beloved works, explores the connections and restrictions that affect relationships.

"Isabel's work has stood as an inspiration for what choreographer's and dancer's can achieve in a nurturing environment such as Dance New Amsterdam, which provides the training and resources for dance professionals to fully develop their talents from studio to stage and further," says Catherine Peila, Executive and Artistic Director of DNA. "Isabel's thought-provoking choreography and her extraordinary company are a prime example of dancers exploring visual, sculptural, sensual, athletic and artistic movement investigation."

"When my teacher in Germany suggested I take class with this organization, I never could have imagined that DNA would become my second home. The organization has been a steady pillar of support through my growth as a dancer, as well as my development as a teacher and creator of dance, " says Isabel Gotzkowsky. "Defining dance in my 23 years as a NY artist gave me an outlet to observe and investigate what I witnessed every day. I reinvent myself with each new work by reexamining the human experience from different viewpoints. Using contemporary and modern movement, infused with aspects of ballet, I've created a signature style for the company that examines tension, friction, connection, expectation and disappointment."

German born dancer and choreographer Isabel Gotzkowsky came to New York in 1988, forming her own dance company in 1998. Isabel's choreography has been presented in many venues in New York, including The Kitchen, Joyce SoHo Presents, Dixon Place, University Settlement, Hudson Dance Festival, Downtown Arts Festival, Battery Dance Festival, the remember project at Danspace Project, P.S. 122, Dance New Amsterdam, Symphony Space Dance Sampler, The A.W.A.R.D. Show and the United Nations. Isabel's work has been performed nationwide in California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Virginia as well as internationally in Europe, Canada, Mexico and Kenya. She has performed with Laurie DeVito, Jennifer Muller, BARKIN/SELISSEN PROJECT, Todd Courage, Fiona Marcotty, Sasha Soreff, Diane Vivona and Jon Zimmerman. A member of DNA's faculty since 1995, Isabel has also taught workshops and master classes in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Canada. She has been a visiting artist at Iwanson Dance Center, Munich since 2008. She was an artist-in-residence at Danceloft in Rorschach, Switzerland from 1996-2007, where she taught and created many new works and set IGaF repertory. In 2006 IGaF was in residency at James Madison University in Virginia and set work on the Virginia Repertory Company. Isabel was awarded a company residency at The Yard in Chilmark, MA in 2001 and an Artward Bound Artist Residency at The White Oak Plantation in Florida in 2004. Commissions include setting work on Fusionworks under the artistic leadership of Deb Meunier (Rhode Island) and choreography for the play "Girls Adventures," written and directed by Nina Morrison and presented by Dixon Place in 2011.

TICKETS and PERFORMANCE TIMES
Performances take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in person at DNA's box office during regular business hours or by visiting www.dnadance.org. Ticket prices for performances are $17 for general audiences, $12 for DNA members and $14 for students/seniors unless stated otherwise. $12 advance sales are also available. To arrange discounted tickets for groups of 6 or more, contact mingle@dnadance.org. All sales are final.

B-SIDES - World Premiere; BOUND - Restaging; Kafka's Cotillion - World Premiere
Choreographer: Isabel Gotzkowsky, in collaboration with the dancers
Creative Assistant: Jon Zimmerman
Dancers: Katie Aggen, Masanori Asahara, Kyla Barkin, Marie Douesnard, Isabel Gotzkowsky, Maki Hatae, Stephanie Landouer, Louie Marin, Seth Miner and Jon Zimmerman
Music: Various Artists
Costumes: Dawn Marcoccia and Isabel Gotzkowsky
Lighting Design: Stephen Petrilli
September 29-October 1, 8:00 p.m.; October 2, 7:00 p.m.

B-Sides, a piece about dreams and dreaming, was developed in collaboration with Jon Zimmerman and visual artist Lindsey Boise.

Bound is a pure exploration of the costuming for the piece; a work in four parts that features a male/female duet, female quartet, male trio and a solo for two.

Kafka's Cotillion reflects on and pokes fun of Isabel's myriad impressions and experiences in New York - life larger than life, ridiculous, tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic.

About Dance New Amsterdam
Founded in 1984, Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) celebrates 27 years of cultural leadership in contemporary dance. DNA supports the life, career and longevity of dance artists through ongoing high quality contemporary dance education, opportunities for choreographic exploration and innovative performance, and servIce To the Lower Manhattan community. DNA fosters the development of new and experimental artistic works through artist commissions, residencies and subsidized rehearsal space. We are committed to training healthy dancers, developing new audiences and bridging diverse communities by exploring the role of dance across a spectrum of contemporary dance styles and cultures.

DNA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and its 2011-2012 programming is made possible through the generosity of its supporters. As of August 2011, private funding provided by: Bloomberg Philanthropies; The MAP Fund, a program of Creative Capital supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; FJC, a Foundation of Philanthropic Funds; and Meet The Composer's MetLife Creative Connections program. In-kind support from: Arts & Business Council, Fox Rothschild LLP, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and Materials for the Arts. Additional support provided by our individual program sponsors, artistic partners, business partners, and DNA's community of individual donors. For a full list of DNA's partnerships, visit www.dnadance.org.

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