The Music Center To Celebrate The Work Of Pop Culture Icon David Bowie

Los Angeles audiences will experience the brilliance of David Bowie like never before with StarDust, Complexions Contemporary Ballet's revelatory tribute to the late icon, taking place at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from April 20 - 22, 2018. Part of the 15th season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center), this production will feature many of the singer's most beloved hits and glam rock-inspired costumes designed by Christine Darch. StarDust pulls classics from Bowie's extensive catalogue and lays a visual imprint inspired by his unique stage personas and restless artistic innovation. With Bowie's 40+ year career and more than 25 albums that stretch across musical borders, StarDust pays homage to the iconic and chameleonic spirit of what can only be described as...Bowie.

Choreographer and Complexions Artistic Director Dwight Rhoden started conceptualizing a tribute to Bowie long before the rock star's death on January 10, 2016. Essentially, StarDust is Rhoden's love letter to Bowie, whose music served as a backdrop to Rhoden's adolescent years, and whose artistry continues to be a beacon of inspiration. Nine Bowie songs form the score to StarDust, including "Lazarus," "Changes," "Life on Mars," "Space Oddity," "Young Americans" and more. Billboard notes the "spellbinding" production "...is a must - whether you think you enjoy the ballet or not."

"If there could ever be a tribute as virtuosic and inspiring as Bowie himself, this may very well be it," said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. "Complexions Artistic Director Dwight Rhoden has crafted a kaleidoscopic journey of music and movement that explores the intricacies of Bowie's music and embodies the spirit of the late icon. Whether you're an avid fan of David Bowie, of contemporary dance or both, StarDust is an experience not to be missed."

"It is always a special occasion when Dance at The Music Center brings Complexions to Los Angeles. This program is particularly meaningful, as it honors an artist who is beloved by so many," said Michael Solomon, vice president of presentations and education for The Music Center. "StarDust is a tribute that not only exquisitely captures the brilliance of Bowie, but also showcases the breathtaking talent of the entire company."

The program opens with Gutter Glitter, a piece that conjures the dynamic of a rising from the bottom and finding that spark of beauty and inspiration in unexpected places. Bach 25, an exploration of love and alliances, completes the first half of the program and uses music by Johann Sebastian Bach and various transcriptions as its inspiration to explore the chemistry within relationships that can create harmony and discord. Bach 25 features Complexions' Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Desmond Richardson.

Gutter Glitter

Choreographer: Dwight Rhoden

Music: Various Electronica

Costume Design: Christine Darch

Lighting Design: Michael Korsch

Performed by: The Company

Bach 25

Choreographer: Dwight Rhoden

Music: Johann Sebastian Bach & Transcriptions, Improvisations and Interpretations on Classic Bach Themes

Costume Design: Christine Darch

Lighting Design: Michael Korsch

Performed by: The Company featuring Desmond Richardson

StarDust

A Ballet Tribute to David Bowie

Choreographer: Dwight Rhoden

Music: David Bowie

Costume Design: Christine Darch

Lighting Design: Michael Korsch

Performed by: The Company

Tickets for StarDust performances at The Music Center start at $34 and are available online at musiccenter.org/complexions; at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office, 135 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012; or by calling (213) 972-0711. For groups of 10 or more, call (213) 972-8555 or email mcgroupsales@musiccenter.org.

About Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center is one of the leading presenters of dance on the West Coast. The celebrated series offers significant works by prestigious ballet and contemporary dance artists from around the world. Now entering its 15th year, Dance at The Music Center is a powerful commissioning force, supporting new works and artists-in-residence projects by today's most influential companies and choreographers. Performances take place throughout The Music Center, including the historic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the distinctive Ahmanson Theatre and the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and in locations around the Los Angeles area.

About The Music Center

The Music Center is Los Angeles' home to the world's greatest artistic programs and events. With four iconic theaters and four renowned resident companies - Center Theatre Group, the LA Master Chorale, the LA Opera and the LA Philharmonic - The Music Center is recognized for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center and is a destination where audiences find inspiration in the very best of live performance, as well as nationally recognized arts education and participatory arts experiences. With The Music Center On Location, the non-profit performing arts organization brings events and activities to locations outside of its Downtown Los Angeles campus. The Music Center also programs and manages Grand Park, a 12-acre adjacent greenspace, with year-round free programming. For more information, visit musiccenter.org Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@MusicCenterLA).

About Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Break the boundaries of dance with the innovative company that transcends tradition, Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Founded in 1994 by master choreographer Dwight Rhoden and the legendary Desmond Richardson, Complexions' foremost innovation is to remove any barriers to creative expression, not reinforce them. This singular approach mixes methods, styles and cultures to create groundbreaking movement that embodies the company's historical moment, while simultaneously building its future. Today, Complexions represents one of the most recognized and respected performing arts brands in the world. In the 23 years since its inception, the company has born witness to a world that is becoming more fluid, more changeable and more culturally interconnected than ever before-continuing its mission of bringing unity to the world, one dance at a time. For more information please visit complexionsdance.org.

Photo courtesy of Moira Geis

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