Dzul Dance presents the World Premiere of Javier Dzul's "PIXOM" (Maya for "Spirit"), based on Mayan fables for children, inspired by ancient tales of the Aluxes, Kizin and Ixtabay. Dzul Dance fuses dance with aerial arts and contortion as a means to communicate pre-Hispanic, Latin and Mexican culture, creating a bridge between contemporary art and historical heritage. Artistic director/choreographer Javier Dzul feels a special connection with these fascinating legends, having been born and raised in a Mayan tribal comnmunity in Southern Mexico performing ritual dances, speaking Mayan and studying ancient teachings until the age of sixteen. One performance, tonight, April 18, 8 PM, at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.
Much like our own childrens' fairytales, these fables are both beautiful and macabre. Pixom uses these cautionary tales to frighten but also to instill a sense of curiosity and wonder, creating a magical journey through the loss of innocence.
Javier Dzul began dancing in the Mayan tribal community in southern Mexico where he was born and raised, first transforming his body into different animals and elements as a means to communicate with Mayan gods and nature. His professional dance training began in Xalapa Veracruz, and he suat the Xalapa Veracruz, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. While at the Graham School he danced with the Graham Company, Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey Repertory Company, and as an aerialist with Acroback.
Dzul began choreographing in 2000 and founded his own company three years later. In 2009, he became the founder/director of Compania de Danza Contemporanea y Aerae, and dance and aerial company funded by Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONACULTA) of Mexico and the Government of Campeche. In 2010, the government of Campeche awarded Dzul el Premio de San Fransisco, an outstanding lifetime achievement award, for raising international awareness about Mayan culture. His dancing has been described as "mythical" by City Arts, NYC, and "spellbinding" by the Scotsman (Edinburgh).
About Dzul Dance: Created in 2003, Artistic Director Javier Dzul and his diverse ensemble of performers have performed throughout the world, including the Banff Centre for the Arts Canada), Festival Internacional Cervantino (Mexico), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland), Bard College's Summerscape, El Museo del Barrio and Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. they have created performances for numerous corporations, including Conde Nast, JP Morgan, Em Polham (Korea), Canadian International Bank, Bloomberg, and Mexico Tourism Board, among others. In 2005, Dzul established the Company's outreach program to bring arts to underserved communities, and since then has served over 8,000 young people in six different countries with little or no access to the performing arts. Dzul Dance has been featured on Univision, American Latino and National Public Radio and in photographer Acey Harper's Private Acts: the acrobat sublime, published by Rizzoli in September 2009. Javier made his Hollywood movie debut recently in Columbia Picture's Spider-Man 2: London Calling.
The DZUL DANCE rehearsal residency and performance at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College is part of the CUNY Dance Initiative, supported by the New York Community Trust, with additional funding from the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Saturday April 18 at 8 PM
Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 524 West 59th Street (between 10th & West End Avenues)
Tickets: $35
Reservations: www.dzuldance.eventbrite.com
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