Artistic New Directions Presents A TIME TO DANCE 8/15 - 8/24 In FringeNYC

Artistic New Directions proudly presents Libby Skala's one-woman show, A Time to Dance, a magical fusion of storytelling and creative dance, as part of the 13th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. A Time to Dance is written and performed by Libby Skala.

Performances run from August 15 to 24, 2009 at The Lafayette Street Theatre (Venue #5), located at 45 Bleecker Street between Lafayette and Mott Streets in NYC on Sat 8/15 at 2:15pm, Tues 8/18 at 8pm, Thu 8/20 at 9:45pm, Fri 8/21 at 3pm and Mon 8/24 at 9:45pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at http://www.FringeNYC.org or by calling 1-866-468-7619. For more information on the show visit http://ATimetoDance.homestead.com.

Libby Skala has charmed audiences over the last few years with her internationally acclaimed solo play, LiLiA!, about her Oscar-nominated grandmother Lilia Skala. Now she returns with A Time to Dance, about Lilia's younger sister, Austrian modern dancer and award winning dance therapy pioneer Elizabeth "Lisl" Polk. Libby interweaves spoken word, improvised movement and cr

eative dance to portray her great aunt, who dances to her own dazzling stories of a turbulent life spanning the 20th century. Born in 1902 Vienna, Lisl survives two world wars, immigrates to New York, endures 9/11 and dances the Macarena on her hundredth birthday.

The daughter of a Catholic mother and Jewish father, Lisl deals with the conflicting forces of anti-Semitism in her own home as she dreams of becoming a famous dancer. Met with opposition from an autocratic father, she finds unexpected ways to fulfill her dream, while struggling to emerge from the shadow of her famous older sister. This intriguing modern dancer unexpectedly steals the show, proving herself to be the riotous and controversial star of her own life.

Playwright/Actress Libby Skala has performed A Time to Dance as part of the 25th anniversary season of Vancouver's Pacific Theatre, in Germany at TU Dresden and Theater im Greenhouse (Berlin) and at the London Fringe Theatre Festival where she won the "Best Solo Performer" Award. The show has also received an award from The Pandella Cultural Fund in Switzerland. Libby's first one-woman play LiLiA!, has been performed across North America and in Europe, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Non-solo work includes Viola in the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival's production of Twelfth Night and Jeffrey Sweet's Value of Names at Theatre J in Washington DC. She appeared with Nicole Kidman in the film Birth.

The subject of the show, Elizabeth Polk's broad professional background marked her as one of the country's authorities in teaching the joy of movement to emotionally, physically and mentally handicapped children. She had a long and rich career, teaching dance at every age level from preschoolers to adult education classes and in settings ranging from housing projects to college campuses. Born and educated in Vienna, Austria, her early music and dance studies included not only ballet, but Dalcroze eurhythmics, modern dance and gymnastics. She performed as a concert dancer and later acquired a physical education license enabling her to launch her own dance studio in Austria. In the United States, she pioneered creative dance and worked with children at the Children's Center for Creative Arts at Adelphi University, as well as in her own studio. She co-founded the National Dance Teachers Guild and taught methodology in teaching dance to children in Adelphi's dance department.

Artistic New Directions (AND) supports, assists and encourages performing artists and their projects. As a not-for-profit organization, AND uses a number of creative programs to provide performing artists with vitally needed rehearsal and performance space, adult education programs, development opportunities for writers and directors, and production assistance. (www.ArtisticNewDirections.org)

Running time is 70 minutes. Stage Manager is Charles Casano.

Photo (L): Libby Skala. Photo by Damon Calderwood.

Photo (R): Elizabeth Polk, 1930s Vienna.

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