Photo Flash: First Look at Velocity's BRIDGE PROJECT 2013, Now thru Feb 3

4 of Seattle's most promising choreographers create 4 new works in the pressure cooker of just 3 weeks at Velocity's Bridge Project. This year's performance features a diversity of styles and histories, from the highly theatrical to European-influenced improvisation by emerging artists Elia Mrak, Amy Johnson, Britt Karhoff, Chris McCallister, plus a short film by Joyce Liao. The program runs tonight, Feb 1-3, 2013.

Born in Seattle, Elia Mrak returns after years of performing and choreographing in Western Europe, working with legendary Venezuelan dance artist David Zambrano, recently seen at The Walker. Mrak will develop his new work on four dancers, among them The YC's Erica Badgeley. Amy Johnson, a recent graduate of Cornish, is already developing a reputation for her solo work and collaborative "environmental sculptures" while Chris McCallister, who has collaborated with Collectif Entre Deux Mondes in France as part of Khambatta Dance Company, will work with a cast including City Arts Festival favorite Paris Hurley. Newcomer Britt Karhoff studied with San Francisco's esteemed Joe Goode Performance Group and has performed locally with zoe|juniper.

The Bridge Project Creative Residency showcases Velocity's fierce commitment to supporting new generations of dance artists. Each choreographer receives the creative, financial and administrative support they need to develop their work before it reaches the stage, with Choreographic Mentorship from celebrated dance artist Mark Haim.

Amy Johnson is a dancer, performer and choreographer residing in Seattle, WA. Her choreography has been performed at Velocity Dance Center's 2012 Fall Kick-Off, Stitch Movement Collective's Concert Series, Centerstage Theatre, and the Intiman Playhouse Studio. Amy also choreographs and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary work of The Eternal Glow Project. She holds a BFA in Dance From Cornish College of the Arts.

Elia Mrak is a Watson Fellow who toured Western Europe as a member of David Zambrano's SHOCK (2009) and assisted Zambrano's workshops at ImPulsTanz (Vienna). He is a founder of 50collective, which has since toured in the US, Spain, Sweden, Argentina and Mexico. He now lives in Seattle where he creates, performs, and teaches.

Britt Karhoff, UCSB Dance B.F.A. 2006, creates site-specific work for non-dance spaces. Incorporating song and personal stories, her work responds to her own curiosity with the human experience. She has performed in San Francisco with Joe Goode Performance Group, Project Bandaloop, Flyaway Productions, Cielo Vertical Arts and locally with zoe | juniper.

Sacramento-born Chris McCallister studied at Cornish College of the Arts. Since his arrival in Seattle, he has danced for choreographers Deborah Wolf, KT Niehoff, Geoffrey Johnson, Bianca Cabrera, and Cyrus Khambatta of Khambatta Dance Company. His work has been produced by Seattle International Dance Festival's Art on the Fly, Cornish College of the Arts, Khambatta Dance Company, and Stitch Movement Collective, of which he is a founding member.

Joyce Liao is a Seattle-based dance artist interested in the relationship between movement, text, rhythm, emotions, and stories. Her work has been seen at On the Boards' 12 Minutes Max and she has performed in Seattle Center's The Next 50, Seattle International Dance Festival, On the Boards' Northwest New Works, and in the Seattle Art Museum Elles:sam "Women Take Over" reception. She is proud to be part of the 2013 Flower Season residency at Studio Current.

Mayor's Arts Award and Genius Award winning Velocity Dance Center is Seattle's forward-
thinking laboratory and essential incubator for dance and emerging ideas. With artist-driven,
community-centered artistic programs, Velocity is instrumental in making Seattle a destination
city with one of the most active dance communities in the nation. With artist-led classes and
workshops every day, performances every week, three annual dance festivals, ongoing humanities programs that activate thoughtful conversations, as well as weekly community events from social dances to family-style dinners, Velocity is a portal for those new to dance and an important community resource. Home to hundreds of independent dance artists and renowned for producing innovative, cutting-edge work, Velocity has featured performances and master classes by art stars Pat Graney, Reggie Watts, Miguel Gutierrez, Tere O'Conner, Anouk van Dijk, Deborah Hay, Faye Driscoll, 33 Fainting Spells, KT Niehoff, Zoe Scofield/Juniper Shuey, Danielle Agami and many more. Velocity is Seattle's only dedicated contemporary dance venue where groundbreaking work and disciplined practice coexist.

For more about Velocity, visit www.velocitydancecenter.org or call 206.325.8773.

Britt Karhoff by David Levitt (pictured: Julia Cross)

Chris McCallister, courtesy of the artist

Amy Johnson by Joseph Lambert (pictured: Chantael Duke)

Elia Mrak, courtesy of the artist