Elisa Monte Dance Premieres Three Shows in Three Days This Weekend

Elisa Monte Dance, an emotionally charged and highly acclaimed dance company that champions individuality, will celebrate its 33rd season with three world premieres in three days from today, May 15-17 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Artistic Director, Elisa Monte, will add to her collection of more than 50 works with the world premiere of Lonely Planet, the fourth and final movement in a succession of works that began in 2011. Additionally, Associate Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher will present Persona Umbra in its New York premiere and long time EMD principal dancer and choreographer Joe Celej will premiere their roots rest in infinity. The company will also restage Elisa Monte's 1987 Audentity.

"This season is a unique opportunity to share the vision of three dance makers in one program," remarks founder and director Elisa Monte. "We are pushing into a future where collaborations and sharing ideas and processes are celebrated and cultivated to present an educated, healthy and creative voice to our audience."

Set to the music of David Van Teighem, Elisa Monte will premiere The Lonely Planet, a work that has taken a four-year journey. The work investigates the notable current issues of the rapid disappearance of language and culture in a society that is seemingly more technological. Within progression, Monte weaves a fabric of isolation and disconnection that is hard to combat. The use of projection, the flux of sound and visual movement, and a cast of eight dancers bring accessibility for wide audiences to endure the exploration of the world around them.

Persona Umbra, or "Shadow Person" in Latin, is the new work presented by Tiffany Rea-Fisher, making its New York premiere. Inspired by J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, this work is a representation of the self-how one perceives themselves in relation to how they are perceived by others. While the reality of each is found in the beholder, outside influences may skew and effect reality. Set to soundscape by long-time colleague Pavel Zustiak, this is the first work that Rea-Fisher and Zustiak have created together.

Lastly, Joe Celej's their roots rest in infinity will round out the evening, paying homage to text by Hermann Hesse. A prolific passage describing trees, rooted in the depths of the non-traditional male sensitivity and the underpinnings of its strength. An all male trio, this contemporary company premiere blends fluid partnering, intricate floor-work, musicality as well as emotional and theatrical imagery. Music by Great Lake Swimmers and T. Dekker, Celej creates a landscape of a wider open minded perspective on the human condition and the expectations of intimacy.

General seating is available for $25. A $50 ticket for opening night includes a pre-show reception hosted by the Elisa Monte Dance Executive Board. Tickets are available for purchase at Smart Tix. Raffle tickets will be available at $10/ticket at Friday and Saturday's performances to benefit the company's 30 weeks of Dance Campaign. The winner will be announced after the performance.

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