dre.dance Brings beyond.words To The Ordway Stage 5/20

Founded in 2004 by Andrew Palermo and Taye Diggs, dre.dance is a contemporary dance company that pushes boundaries through strength, creativity and intelligencE. Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present dre.dance in its Midwest premiere on Thursday, May 20 at 7:30p.m. This performance is part of the Ordway's Target® World Music and Dance Series.

With a company of 12 dancers, dre.dance exudes athleticism and grace in its piece, "beyond.words." This dance work was inspired by a CNN feature about a woman with severe autism, Amanda Baggs. "beyond.words" was created following intensive study through workshops, residencies and interviews with people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The movement vocabulary utilizes "stimming" (self stimulation, rocking and repetitive movements), patterning and the interpretation of the battle between maelstrom and inner peace that both individuals with autism and Asperger's Syndrome describe as an ongoing dialogue within themselves.

To view excerpts from "beyond.words," please visit http://www.dredance.com/video.htm

In addition to dre.dance's public performance at the Ordway, Artistic Director Andrew Palermo and company member Samantha Harvey visited the Twin Cities last month to engage with community members in workshops and master classes. The main goal of this week-long residency initiative was to connect Palermo and his company to organizations in the Twin Cities working with people on the autism spectrum. Organizations taking part in the residency included Minnesota Autism Center in Minnetonka, Minn., Autism Society of Minnesota in Saint Paul, Minn., Brooklyn Center High School and the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.

dre.dance is the final engagement of the Ordway's 2009-2010 Target Dance Series. The annual Target World Music and Dance Series will start again in October with a performance by Bridgman/Packer Dance.

For this production, Ordway will be hosting an Ordway Extra program on May 20 at 6:30p.m. and a Post-show Talk Back. To learn more about these events, visit ordway.org/events.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading nonprofit performing arts centers and Saint Paul's most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway's Main Hall and McKnight Theatre stages attract diverse audiences with an array of productions encompassing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance and vocal performance. In addition, each year Ordway presents its Flint Hills International Children's Festival and serves over 50,000 children and adults through its Ordway Center Education programs. The Ordway is part of a unique Arts Partnership with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and the Schubert Club, hosting their renowned productions each season. The Ordway is also proud to sponsor the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a professionally guided academic and artistic environment that trains aspiring pre-professional performing artists in the areas of instrumental and vocal music, theater and dance.

Performance and Ticket Information
dre.dance
May 20, 2010 at 7:30p.m.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
345 Washington Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102

$30.50 - $35.50
Box Office: 651.224.4222
Groups: 651.282.3111
ordway.org

This program is funded in part by the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. This funding helps the Ordway reach more people, create more access to the arts for Minnesotans, provide arts education opportunities for all ages, and employ Minnesota artists.

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