[NEohioPAL]illuminata performs world dance Premier this weekend in Akron

Thackaberr at aol.com Thackaberr at aol.com
Thu Apr 15 14:54:00 PDT 2004 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sasha Thackaberry
Artistic Director
illuminata dance theater
Phone:  (216) 323-7176
Email:  sashatberr at aol.com
Dance Company Adapts Carole Maso's Novel, AVA
illuminata dance theater presents its Blood and Seawater:  The AVA Project a=
t=20
the Daum Theater, University of Akron on April 16 & 17 at 8pm. =20
Blood and Seawater is a dance work based on the novel AVA by Carole Maso. =20
Ava Klein is dying of a rare form of blood cancer.  The novel relates her=20
last day.  Significant moments in her life are recalled and then exposed in=20
intense flashes.  This piece strives to communicate the richness of life and=
 the=20
grief of loss. =20
Original music, composed, arranged, and recorded by local band Sonic=20
Absolution, provides a score for this adaptation.
The company
illuminata dance theater was founded in 1999 to create and perform culturall=
y=20
and spiritually evocative works in Northeast Ohio and beyond.  They have=20
performed at Actors=E2=80=99 Summit Theater in Hudson, Cleveland Public Thea=
ter, Merrill=20
Hall at Kent State University, Daum Theater at the University of Akron and f=
or=20
the First Night celebration in downtown Akron. =20
Most recently, illuminata performed g(r)o(w)ing up, a continuous 70-minute=20
piece about the complexities of growing up as a woman in a confusing and=20
contradictory world. =20
The company creates original evening-length dance works that engage audience=
s=20
by challenging their artistic, emotional and intellectual selves.  Blood and=
=20
Seawater is a perfect illustration of this partnership. =20
The artists
Julie Goncy has danced with the illuminata dance theater since the company=
=E2=80=99s=20
inception in 1999.  As a co-founder of illuminata, Julie has helped to steer=
=20
the focus within the regional arts arena.  She holds a BA in dance from=20
University of Akron.  Julie trains college students as a part-time faculty m=
ember for=20
the University of Akron.  She also enjoys teaching children at the=20
prestigious Dance Institute.
Tim Keo is an actor and has performed on many stages including Actors=E2=80=
=99=20
Summit, Magical Theater, Charenton, and Bad Epitaph.  Presently, he sings an=
d plays=20
string and electric bass with a 1950=E2=80=99s Doo-Wop band known as The Bel=
-Airs.  In=20
addition to being seen and heard in local radio voice-overs, commercials and=
=20
industrials, he holds a Batchelor=E2=80=99s degree in Biology from John Carr=
oll=20
University.
Sasha Thackaberry co-founded illuminata with Julie Goncy and is the current=20
Artistic Director.  She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Akr=
on=20
Honors College and her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Kent State=20
University.  Previously a member of Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, she studie=
d dance at=20
BalletMet in Columbus and at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center where she=20
performed Paul Taylor's Airs.  She currently guides young students as a full=
-time=20
dance teacher at Charles H. Lake School in the Cleveland Municipal School=20
District.  Her choreography has been featured at the American College Dance=20
Festival. =20
Peter Voinovich is no stranger to Ohio audiences.  Peter is an Equity actor=20
and director who holds a BFA in acting from Ohio University.  As an actor hi=
s=20
favorite roles include Tom in The Glass Menagerie, Dylan in A Child=E2=80=
=99s Christmas=20
in Wales, Nick in Who=E2=80=99s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Tybalt in Romeo an=
d Juliet=20
(all at Actors=E2=80=99 Summit) and Jed Rowan in The Kentucky Cycle at Ensem=
ble=20
Theater.  Blood and Seawater marks his professional directorial debut.
Rachael Westlake is a native of Rochester, New York where she trained with=20
the Rochester City Ballet for 6 years.  During her training, she performed i=
n=20
such works as Firebird, Swan Lake, Cinderella and The Nutcracker.  She recei=
ved=20
a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Akron.  Rachel works=20
full-time as a Development Officer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northea=
st=20
Ohio and also enjoys teaching dance at Mary Kay Manning Dance School.  She b=
een=20
a member of the illuminata dance theater for the past 4 years.  Rachel=20
recently married the love of her life=20
The band
Founded in 2001, Sonic Absolution members Mike Goncy, Eric Lewis, and David=20
Simpson layer their blend of alternative industrial music with classical=20
compositions to create the soundscape for Blood and Seawater.  Composing, ar=
ranging,=20
producing, and performing the soundtrack, this is Sonic Absolution=E2=80=99s=
 first=20
collaboration with illuminata.

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<META charset=3DUTF-8 http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charse=
t=3DUTF-8">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
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<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-weight: normal"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">FOR=20=
IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-weight: normal"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cont=
act:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-weight: normal"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sash=
a Thackaberry<BR>Artistic Director<BR>illuminata dance theater<BR>Phone:<SPA=
N style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>(216) 323-7176<BR>Email:<SPAN st=
yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><A href=3D"mailto:illuminatadancethe=
ater at yahoo.com">sashatberr at aol.com</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" al=
ign=3Dcenter><B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-S=
IZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dance Company Adapts Carole Maso's Novel, <I=20=
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><U>AVA</U></I><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></=
P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SI=
ZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">illuminata dance theater presents its <B style=
=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">B=
lood and Seawater:<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The AVA Pr=
oject</I></B> at the Daum Theater, </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><SPAN st=
yle=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType=
><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceNa=
me><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Akron</SPAN></st1:Pla=
ceName></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> on A=
pril 16 & 17 at </SPAN><st1:time Hour=3D"20" Minute=3D"0"><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">8pm</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=
  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT=
-FAMILY: Arial">Blood and Seawater</SPAN></I><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt;=
 FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> is a dance work based on the novel <B style=3D"mso-bid=
i-font-weight: normal"><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">AVA </I></B>=
by Carole Maso.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></=
SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ava Klein is dying of a r=
are form of blood cancer.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The=
 novel relates her last day.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>=
Significant moments in her life are recalled and then exposed in intense fla=
shes.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>This piece strives to c=
ommunicate the richness of life and the grief of loss.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spa=
cerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Original music, composed,=
 arranged, and recorded by local band Sonic Absolution, provides a score for=
 this adaptation.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-weight: normal"><U><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">T=
he company<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">illuminata dance theater=20=
was founded in 1999 to create and perform culturally and spiritually evocati=
ve works in </SPAN><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: A=
rial">Northeast Ohio</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-=
FAMILY: Arial"> and beyond.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>T=
hey have performed at Actors=E2=80=99 Summit Theater in </SPAN><st1:City><st=
1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hudson</SPAN></s=
t1:place></st1:City><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">, Cl=
eveland Public Theater, Merrill Hall at </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SP=
AN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Kent</SPAN></st1:PlaceName>=
<SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">State</SPAN></st1:PlaceNa=
me><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceTyp=
e><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">University</SPAN></st1=
:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">,=
 Daum Theater at the </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SI=
ZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=
=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN sty=
le=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Akron</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1=
:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> and for the Firs=
t Night celebration in downtown </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN style=3D"F=
ONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Akron</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN=
 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
 yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Most recently, illuminata=
 performed <B style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style=3D"mso-bidi-fo=
nt-style: normal">g(r)o(w)ing up</I></B>, a continuous 70-minute piece about=
 the complexities of growing up as a woman in a confusing and contradictory=20=
world.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The company creates origi=
nal evening-length dance works that engage audiences by challenging their ar=
tistic, emotional and intellectual selves.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">=
  </SPAN><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Blood and Seawater</I=
> is a perfect illustration of this partnership.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
 yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-weight: normal"><U><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">T=
he artists<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Julie Goncy has danced wi=
th the illuminata dance theater since the company=E2=80=99s inception in 199=
9. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As a co-founder of illumin=
ata, Julie has helped to steer the focus within the regional arts arena. <SP=
AN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She holds a BA in dance from Uni=
versity of Akron. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Julie train=
s college students as a part-time faculty member for the University of Akron=
.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>She also enjoys teaching ch=
ildren at the prestigious Dance Institute.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SI=
ZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tim Keo is an actor and has performed on many=20=
stages including Actors=E2=80=99 Summit, Magical Theater, Charenton, and Bad=
 Epitaph.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Presently, he sings=
 and plays string and electric bass with a 1950=E2=80=99s Doo-Wop band known=
 as <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Bel-Airs</I>.<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>In addition to being seen and heard in=20=
local radio voice-overs, commercials and industrials, he holds a Batchelor=
=E2=80=99s degree in Biology from John Carroll University.<o:p></o:p></SPAN>=
</P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sasha Thackaberry co-foun=
ded illuminata with Julie Goncy and is the current Artistic Director.<SPAN s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>She received her BFA in Dance from=20=
the University of Akron Honors College and her Masters in the Art of Teachin=
g from </SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT=
-FAMILY: Arial">Kent</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; F=
ONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FO=
NT-FAMILY: Arial">State</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt=
; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt;=
 FONT-FAMILY: Arial">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN styl=
e=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"=
>  </SPAN>Previously a member of Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, she stud=
ied dance at BalletMet in Columbus and at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center=20=
where she performed Paul Taylor's <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A=
irs</I>.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>She currently guides=
 young students as a full-time dance teacher at Charles H. Lake School in th=
e Cleveland Municipal School District. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nb=
sp;</SPAN>Her choreography has been featured at the American College Dance F=
estival.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></=
P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Peter Voinovich is no str=
anger to Ohio audiences.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Pete=
r is an Equity actor and director who holds a BFA in acting from </SPAN><st1=
:place><st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Oh=
io</SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"=
> </SPAN><st1:PlaceType><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">=
University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt;=
 FONT-FAMILY: Arial">.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>As an=20=
actor his favorite roles include Tom in <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: nor=
mal">The Glass Menagerie</I>, Dylan in <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: norm=
al">A Child=E2=80=99s Christmas in Wales</I>, Nick in <I style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-style: normal">Who=E2=80=99s Afraid of Virginia Woolf</I>, Tybalt in <I=20=
style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Romeo and Juliet </I>(all at Actors=
=E2=80=99 Summit) and Jed Rowan in <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">=
The Kentucky Cycle </I>at Ensemble Theater.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"=
>  </SPAN><I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Blood and Seawater <=
/I>marks his professional directorial debut.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Rachael Westlake is a nat=
ive of Rochester, New York where she trained with the Rochester City Ballet=20=
for 6 years.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>During her train=
ing, she performed in such works as Firebird, Swan Lake, Cinderella and The=20=
Nutcracker.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>She received a Ba=
chelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Akron.<SPAN style=3D"mso-s=
pacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Rachel works full-time as a Development Officer=20=
for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio and also enjoys teaching da=
nce at Mary Kay Manning Dance School.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp=
; </SPAN>She been a member of the illuminata dance theater for the past 4 ye=
ars.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Rachel recently married=20=
the love of her life <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt"><B style=3D"mso-bidi-f=
ont-weight: normal"><U><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">T=
he band<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=3DMsoBodyText style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><=
SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Founded in 2001, Sonic Ab=
solution members Mike Goncy, Eric Lewis, and David Simpson layer their blend=
 of alternative industrial music with classical compositions to create the s=
oundscape for <I style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Blood and Seawater</I=
>. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Composing, arranging, prod=
ucing, and performing the soundtrack, this is Sonic Absolution=E2=80=99s fir=
st collaboration with illuminata.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></BODY></HTML>

-------------------------------1082066040--

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