General Mischief Dance Presents THREE IF BY AIR This Weekend

Known for creating contagious joy through movement, General Mischief Dance Theatre continues to take audiences on high-flying adventures. This Fall in New York City, General Mischief presents multiple premieres in a two-part performance series starting with "Three if by Air" at the Manhattan Movement Arts Center this weekend, September 21-22, followed by "Four on the Floor" at New York City Center Studios on October 18-19.

By combining aerial and modern movement with high-flying bungees, wiffle balls, yoga, aerial silk and countless forms of dance, General Mischief has conjured up a family-friendly, entertaining, playful yet clever show for children and adults alike. Utilizing an interactive format filled with games, mayhem and mischief, General Mischief showcases theatrical dance works which engage audiences emotionally, socially, and kinesthetically.

"Our company is dedicated to providing opportunities for the general public to celebrate, discover, or rediscover, their own expression through dance," explains Emily Smyth Vartanian, Founder/Choreographer/Dancer of General Mischief. "We strive to remind audiences that dance is as much visceral as it is visual."

General Mischief Dance Theatre was founded informally in 2004 as an artistic collaboration between performer/choreographer Emily Smyth Vartanian, rigger/lighting designer Mark Baker and sound designer/choreographic advisor Adam Vartanian. The company was formally incorporated in 2008 in the interest of actively producing theatrical dance pieces that reinforce the power that joy and laughter have in communicating ideas, as well as to encourage the natural human desire to express oneself through movement. The company has produced combined performance and social dance events at The Connelly Theater, Theater for the New City, Zipper Theater, Medicine Show Theater, and Alvin Ailey, as well as appearing in festivals and dance productions throughout New York City and California. GeneralMischief.com

PROGRAM DETAILS

*world premiere

THREE IF BY AIR

When: Saturday 9/21 at 8:00pm + Sunday 9/22 at 5:00pm
Where: Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, 248 West 60th Street, NYC, Subway: A/B/C/D/1 to 59th Street
Tickets: General Admission $24, Students/Seniors $14, Children (Ages 14 & Under) $14. For tickets, visit Ticketfly.com or call (877) 987-6487.

"Suite Shel"*

Choreography by: Lisa Natoli, Celine Rosenthal and Emily Smyth Vartanian

Music by: Lizzie Hagstedt

Dancers: Jane Abbott, TRoy Barnes, Dare Harlow, Alisa Fendley,
Rachel Kaplove, Lisa Natoli and Emily Smyth Vartanian

Details: A trio of dances inspired by the poems of Shel Silverstein. This includes the full company, featuring aerial and modern movement derived from explorations of the text, and has a different choreographer for each section while maintaining a consistent vision through Silverstein's words.

"Too Easy"*

Choreography by: Emily Smyth Vartanian

Music by: Amanda Baisinger (fellow yogi)

Dancers: Aurelle Amram, Rachel Kaplove and Roseann Wang

Details: A trio of yogis play a game where one of them tries a posture and the other two follow, with varying amounts of (intentional) success or failure.

"Buzz"

Choreography by: Emily Smyth Vartanian

Music by: Grammy award-winning group Ozomatli

Dancers: Jane Abbott, TRoy Barnes, Dare Harlow, Alisa Fendley and Emily Smyth Vartanian Details: This piece starts off with three sleepy city dwellers and explodes into a bustling street scene. Strangers collide, connect, and caffeinate in the high-speed and ever-changing world of the big city.

"Three if by Air"*

Choreography by: Lisa Natoli and Emily Smyth Vartanian

Music by: Led Zepagain

Dancers: Alisa Fendley, Lisa Natoli and Emily Smyth Vartanian

Details: A suite of aerial dances that involves bungee cords, a flip of a coin, chance, and audience participation. Airborne dancers propel into the audience turning this work into a real adventure.

FOUR ON THE FLOOR

When: Friday 10/18 + Saturday 10/19 at 8:00pm

Where: New York City Center Studios, 130 West 56th Street, Studio 5, NYC, Subway: N/Q/R/W/F to 57th Street, or A/B/C/D/1 to 59thStreet Tickets: General Admission $15, Seniors/Students/Children (10 & Under) $10. For tickets, visit BrownPaperTickets.com or call (212) 714-4694.

"Four on the Floor"*

Choreography by: Celine Rosenthal, Emily Smyth Vartanian and guest artists

Music by: Lizzie Hagstedt

Dancers: Jane Abbott, TRoy Barnes, Dare Harlow, Alisa Fendley and Emily Smyth Vartanian

Details: An extension of the original "Suite Shel" work, it's a quartet of dances inspired by the poems of Shel Silverstein. Featuring contemporary and modern movement derived from explorations of the text, each section has a different choreographer while maintaining a common thread throughout the piece.

"The Shell Game"

Choreography by: Emily Smyth Vartanian

Music by: Paul Tillotson and Love Trio's "Pink Panther Theme"

Dancers: Jane Abbott, TRoy Barnes, Alisa Fendley, Andrea Steiner and Emily Smyth Vartanian Details: - An audience favorite, this piece demands audience participation in a human game of Three Card Monty. Performing movements reminiscent of Bob Fosse, the fedora-toting dancers weave in and out and trade, stack and switch hats creating a memory game for the audience.

"Buzz 2.0"*

Choreography by: Emily Smyth Vartanian

Music by: Grammy award-winning group Ozomatli Dancers: Jane Abbott, TRoy Barnes, Alisa Fendley, Dare Harlow, Andrea Steiner and Emily Smyth Vartanian

Details: An extension of the original "Buzz" work, this piece explores the obliviousness that ensues when people are "connecting" electronically. Dancers struggle with the usual suspects - coffee cups, books, phones, subway maps, etc.

Photo Credit: Eileen O'Donnell

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