The Now Unboxing Project to Premiere SLAG, 7/31-8/1

The capital city's freshest choreographic endeavor, The Now Unboxing Project, is proud to announce SLAG, a culmination of summer residency pieces in its first ever evening length showing. The performances are held on July 31 and August 1 at The Dirt Salon, 50 Bartholomew Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106.

Under the artistic direction of choreographer Spencer Pond, the six-member dance company presents two world premiere pieces, re-workings of former pieces interspersed with film presentations, and brand new work by Katherine Bittner. GUNK (World Premiere) explores life as a gay man in present times. Audiences are challenged to learn a new perspective to the music of queer artists. With group dances inspired by dancing at the club, statements on political power and focus on the LGBT community, GUNK is a non-linear commentary on current events, encouraging self-love and love for others. PAS DE DRAG (World Premiere) takes a look at the Grand Pas structure found in classical ballet and translates it to the world of vaudeville jazz and beyond. Comedic, sharp, and swiftly upbeat, this vaudevillian duo promises to leave onlookers laughing. PAS DE DRAG is an expansion of an earlier piece, THE BROADWAY RAG (2014).

Spencer Pond is founder of The Now Unboxing Project and has trained at The Hartt School Community Division under the direction of Samantha Dunster, as well as under the tutelage of Darlene Zoller. During his time at the HSCD, he has worked with directors and choreographers such as Laura Alonzo, Angel Corella, Peter Stark, and Bruce Marks. Presently, Spencer dances with two Hartford-based dance companies: Playhouse on Park's dance company in residence, stop/time dance theater and The Sonia Plumb Dance Company.

Spencer is on the dance faculty at the Hartt School Community Division for the Jazz and Tap departments.

Katherine Bittner received her early training at Raleigh School of Ballet. In 2012 she began studying for her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance pedagogy at The Hartt School and has worked with Viktor Plotnikov, Takehiro Ueyama, and Doug Varone. Katherine is currently teaching dance at the Ana Grace Academy summer school program in Avon, CT.

The Now Unboxing Project creates innovative dance vocabulary exploring dance performance as well as how its participants view themselves and consequently, their work. With each new piece, there is a clear call to be present, to take action, and to grow through movement. Ultimately, through individual and collaborative enterprise, The Now Unboxing Project aims to share its ideas with the art community and humanity at large.

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