[NEohioPAL] Local Dance Companies Take Center Stage at PlayhouseSquare Sept. 9

[Cindi Szymanski]

Local Dance Companies Take Center Stage
at PlayhouseSquare September 9

The PlayhouseSquare Community Engagement & Education Department presents its ninth annual Dance Showcase on Friday, September 9 at 7 p.m. in the Palace Theatre. Featuring nine of Northeast Ohio's finest professional dance companies, the performance highlights a wide array of dance styles from ballet to contemporary to classical Indian dance.

The companies performing are African Soul International, Dance/Theater Collective, The Dancing Wheels Company, The Greene/Medcalf Movement Project, Inlet Dance Theatre, Neos Dance Theatre, Sara Whale, Shri Kalaa Mandir, and Verb Ballets. A selection committee reviewed all of the submissions received and chose these nine companies for their quality and diversity. The committee was comprised of Laura Burkhart, Director of Programming and Marketing for the New Orleans Ballet Association; Linda Jackson, Program Manager at PlayhouseSquare and former dancer, instructor and artistic associate with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet; and Taryn Kaschock Russell, Director, Hubbard Street 2 and Artistic Associate, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

"PlayhouseSquare is known for bringing the best of Broadway and the performing arts to Cleveland," explained Colleen Porter, director of community engagement and education at PlayhouseSquare, "but we also want to give people the chance to experience work by local artists. The diversity and level of excellence exhibited by our local dance companies is astounding."

At the close of the show, guests will be treated to a special preview of the dance number "That's Life" from Twyla Tharp's new Broadway musical, Come Fly Away, featuring the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra.

As a not-for-profit organization, PlayhouseSquare relies on charitable giving to present the Dance Showcase and similar experiences to the community. "Our donors and sponsors make it possible for us to present the Dance Showcase with no charge for admission, which makes it a wonderful opportunity for everyone, especially those new to dance, to enjoy this beautiful art form," said Linda Jackson.

Those wishing to learn more about the various styles of dance are invited to visit the "Appreciating Dance" page on the PlayhouseSquare website, which can be found at playhousesquare.org/danceedu.

More information about the Dance Showcase is available at playhousesquare.org/community or by calling 216-348-7909. There is no charge for admission and tickets are not required.

Dance Showcase Repertoire

African Soul International
African Soul International presents "Djalidong," a traditional dance of the Mali Empire used to welcome kings and royalty.  This dance is a tribute to all the dancers of the night, who bring joy, happiness and excitement into the lives of the people and it is a reminder that no matter how talented we are and how far we go, we dance for the people. It is our blessing and it is a gift to be shared.
Dance/Theater Collective
In "A Tango Vignette," Dance/Theater Collective explores the interaction of a couple through a tango-esque encounter. Two chairs provide a setting through which the couple makes their way into and around the "ups and downs" and "gives and takes" of this vignette.
The Dancing Wheels Company
Choreographed by Daniel Job, "Above" is a cherished work in the Dancing Wheels Company repertory as it reflects the first time that Artistic Director Mary Verdi Fletcher had an opportunity to dance out of her wheelchair, which she recalls as one of the most freeing experiences that she had ever encountered.

The Greene/Medcalf Movement Project
The Greene/Medcalf Movement Project presents "Reflections of," a work dedicated to those who nurture and inspire us, our teachers.

Inlet Dance Theatre
Inspired by the book The Four Elements of Success by Laurie Beth Jones, "Water" is the first of what will be a four movement work exploring how the four elements can be viewed as personality types. The idea for this work came as a result of an organizational development workshop in Inlet's rehearsal studio followed by collaborative sessions exploring how to express water personality types using Inlet's unique aesthetic brand of modern dance.

Neos Dance Theatre
Neos Dance Theatre presents "Lickety-Split," which combines sensual and fluid movement with playful and quirky gestures. Danced by three couples enveloped in the unpredictable layers of love, it is a contemporary work moved by the sounds of renowned San Francisco Bay Area songwriter Devendra Banhart.

Sara Whale
Sara Whale presents "Island," representing the place a woman goes to, inside herself...an island that is simultaneously sanctuary, jail, comfort, burden.

Shri Kalaa Mandir
Shri Kalaa Mandir presents "Lasya." Patterns of rhythmic footwork and stylized choreographed movements weave formations for a musical melody. Sculptural poses and intricate movements of hand and feet exhibit the beauty of pure movement.

Verb Ballets
The music of Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker meets the world of contemporary dance in "Janis and Joe," choreographed by Christopher Fleming. A little bit of Woodstock, indeed.
PlayhouseSquare understands its vital role as an educator in our community, and is committed to providing arts learning opportunities of the highest quality to enrich the lives of students, families, teachers and adults. PlayhouseSquare's Community Engagement & Education Department is unique in the performing arts industry for the variety of programs it offers, the partnerships it initiates and the access it provides students, educators and aspiring artists to performing arts professionals. Since its inception in 1998, the Community Engagement & Education Department has offered thousands of events, workshops, classes and more, most with minimal or no fees, to people of all ages from all areas of Northeast Ohio. The generous support of individual and corporate donors and foundations makes it all possible.

About Come Fly Away

Come Fly Away is the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary music of Frank Sinatra and the creative vision of Tony Award-winner Twyla Tharp (Movin' Out). This one-of-a-kind experience, headed for Cleveland May 9-20, 2012, combines the seductive vocals of "Ol' Blue Eyes" with the sizzling sound of a live on-stage big band and the visceral thrill of Tharp's choreography. As 14 of the world's best dancers tell the story of four couples falling in and out of love, you will experience the exhilaration of a first kiss, the excitement of a first dance, and the bittersweet moments of a first good-bye in a world of sparkling romance and astonishing beauty. Come Fly Away features a score of beloved Sinatra classics including "Fly Me to the Moon," "My Way," "New York, New York" and "Makin' Witchcraft." Come Fly Away is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare.



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