Karen Peterson and Dancers Perform with Crosstown String Quartet and Miami String Project at Pinecrest Gardens, 2/2-3

Karen Peterson and Dancers, renown as the nation's premier mixed-abilities dance company in the southeast, will perform live with the Crosstown String Quartet and The Miami String Project at the historic Pinecrest Gardens Banyan Bowl amphitheater tonight, February 2nd, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 3rd, 3:00 p.m.

Pinecrest Gardens, Banyan Bowl Amphitheater is located at 11000 S.W. 57th Avenue in Miami, Fla. Tickets are $15.00 Adults; $10.00 Seniors over 60; $10.00 Students. Box Office: (877) 496-8499. Tickets are also available at Pinecrest Gardens Box Office.

The dance company's Senior Dancers will perform alongside the Crosstown String Quartet. The Youth Dancers (ages 15-22 and also of mixed abilities) will perform with the young musicians of the Miami String Project (ages 12-19). This is the first time the company's youth dancers perform in a large venue for the public. "I am thrilled to present my new choreography with the Crosstown String Quartet and the Miami String Project at this beautiful setting," said founder and Creative Director Karen Peterson. "This gives our audiences the opportunity to view our premiere collaborations of live dance and classical music. These crossover performances provide a glimpse into the ever-changing possibilities of mixed-abilities dance, and demonstrate how we strive to continue to push boundaries."

The performance kicks off Karen Peterson and Dancers' 23rd season. During Potpourria, a bold blend of synchronicity and spontaneity between the dancers and the musicians features eight musical selections with original choreography by Karen Peterson, set to music by Vivaldi, Bach, Britten, Grieg, Petersburski, Summers and Piazzola. The second half of the production, titled In the Moment, features a premiere collaboration between the Youth Dancers and the Miami String Project. Audiences will experience never-before-seen works of choreography set to the music of The Lover's Waltz composed by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, plus The Chinese Folk Tunes by composer Bright Sheng.

About Karen Peterson and Dancers: Karen Peterson and Dancers (KPD), was founded in 1990 as a not-for-profit dance organization, and commissions and produces the work of dance artists with and without disabilities presenting excellence in dance through its quality-based programs, community performances and educational workshops. Dancers with and without disabilities create and perform "mixed-ability" dance as an inclusive art form on a year-round basis. The dancers collaborate, research and integrate their personal movement styles and discover an innovative dance language for choreography. The troupe provides a positive role model for the disability community and offers new visual inspiration for traditional dance audiences. karenpetersondancers.org

About Pinecrest Gardens and The Banyan Bowl: Pinecrest Gardens - Take a Stroll Through Paradise. Featuring 1,000 varieties of rare and exotic tropical plants and palm trees in a native tropical hardwood and cypress setting. Dramatic landscapes are enhanced with natural streams, sinkholes, caves and fissures providing a breathtaking backdrop to the historically designated structures and buildings. Originally developed in the 1930s as the location for Miami's beloved Parrot Jungle, it attracted over a million visitors and worldwide acclaim. In 2003 The Pinecrest Village Council dedicated Pinecrest Gardens as a municipal park. In 2011, the National Park Service added Pinecrest Gardens to The National Register of Historic Places. Nestled in this spectacular historic site is The Banyan Bowl, a 500-seat outdoor amphitheater with the most amazing acoustics structure that nature can offer. Recently featuring renovations and upgrades and fast becoming one of Miami's leading performing arts facilities.

About The Crosstown String Quartet: International in their backgrounds, and versatile in their delivery, The Crosstown String Quartet players have created an exciting new identity for string performance in South Florida. Breaking away from the more traditional string quartet concept, this Miami-based ensemble specializes in Crossover Performance. Their fascination with all genres has created an ensemble that excels equally in each style, from Classical to Latin, Baroque to Jazz, Tango to Bluegrass, and more. With original arrangements and compositions by violinist Orlando Forte, their repertoire emphasizes the beauty of their individual heritages. Hailing from Moscow and Havana to Caracas and New York, these four talented artist have joined together to delight audiences everywhere, performing in Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean, as well as in sunny and diverse South Florida. crosstownstrings.com

About The Miami String Project: Miami's dynamic youth string chamber orchestra, comprised of talented young violinists, violists, cellists and bassists between the ages of 12 and 19. The mission of MSP is to provide gifted students with extraordinary educational and performing opportunities, to nurture future generations through outreach programs and to share the love of music with the community at large through public concerts. Music Directors Antoine Khouri and Miriam Stern work with the students to achieve musical and artistic excellence. Encourages the development of interpersonal skills, cooperation, leadership, and discipline. Each student learns to be leader and follower, soloist and team player. MSP provides students with opportunities for personal interaction with top area producers, composers, and professional musicians both in the classical and modern/urban/pop fields, to educate and further broaden their horizons in the musical world. miamistringproject.org

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