NEW WORKS: 10 SANTA BARBARA CHOREOGRAPHERS

January 12 through 14, 2007

SANTA BARBARA DANCE ALLIANCE PRESENTS

NEW WORKS: 10 SANTA BARBARA CHOREOGRAPHERS

A dance concert of premieres by choreographers Robin Bisio, Valerie Huston, Misa Kelly, Peter Cheng and Lindsey Shapiro, Janna Diamond, Adriana Mitchell and Taryn Wayne, Marcos Duran, and Stephanie Nugent.

Opening night the 10th Lifetime Achievement award for contribution to dance in Santa Barbara will be presented by Mayor Marty Blum to Dianne Vapnek and Laurie Burnaby for 10 years of SUMMERDANCE. Join us for a glass of wine in celebration.

"Snake. Rattle. Roll," "Don't Have to Tell," and "Folly," are just three of the exciting newly created dance pieces premiering at Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's New Works: Santa Barbara Choreographers, Friday through Sunday, January 12 14, 8 pm, at Center Stage Theater. The Dance Alliance will also present its 10th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening performance on Friday night.

Dances based on themes ranging from the tragedy at Abu Ghraib, to romance in medieval times, to the enjoyment of a new yellow paper tutu, showcase accomplished dancers in solos and ensemble pieces, beautiful and quirky costumes, and inventive lighting design. With its great facilities and comfortable new seating, Center Stage is the perfect venue to enjoy this evening of drama and humor.

In November a panel of judges reviewed live auditions and videotapes to select the program of eight pieces:

Mixing foolery with good sense, Robin Bisio's "Folly" is a solo danced with abandon by Erika Kloumann dressed in a wild yellow paper tutu.

A work for eight dancers, Valerie Huston's "Concentric Incident" portrays a relationship and mutual attraction in the dark environment of medieval times. It starts with early music (Canciones de Amigo and Santiago de Murcia codex No. 4 c. 1730) and curvilinear walking patterns that move into a circle dance Tarantella building to a mysterious conclusion.

Misa Kelly explores the tragedy of the events at Abu Ghraib prison in "Lion's Fire", a collage of highly athletic movement, visual art and poetry to a sound track mix created by Stephen Kelly.

"Don't Have to Tell" , a duet by Peter Cheng and Lindsay Shapiro's illustrates inner struggle and loneliness juxtaposed with the comfort and passion of sensitive touch. It reminds us of hidden aspects in our lives we mask with fake smiles and nods, which, when unmasked resolve into inter-dependence.

Janna Diamond's"Snake. Rattle. Roll." was inspired by the numerous snakelike qualities in human beings. Exploring confrontation, vulnerability, and ultimately, the struggle for survival, four dancers coil, slither, rattle, and roll to fast-paced rhythms by Julia Wolfe. The UCSB Dance Company will show the piece in March at The American College Dance Festival in Montana.

Andriana Mitchell and Taryn Wayne have created a playful, spooky duet evoking Halloween type spirits and mischief.

"Coma 4", Marcos Duran's new work for 5 dancers, plays with fear, disorientation, inner confusion and frenzy to the music of Icelandic band, Sigur Ros.

Stephanie Nugent's"Broken/UnBroken" is an exploration of how individuals construct meaning out of bits of information and how, once broken, an idea, object or relationship, can never truly become 'unbroken'. With daring lifts and falls and numerous surprises, the work begins as a solo followed by a duet danced to music by John Cage.

Bringing new dance works to life is one of the many ways that Santa Barbara Dance Alliance meets its mission to promote dance and awareness of dance in Santa Barbara County. For more information and ways you can take part in the Santa Barbara dance scene, call Santa Barbara Dance Alliance 805 966-6950 and see our website www.sbdancealliance.org.

For more information, visit www.sbdancealliance.org

TIMES: January 12, 13, and 14 at 8:00 P.M.

TICKETS: $20 general, $18 SBDA members, $16 students & seniors, $50 patron (includes preferred seating and name in program) BOX OFFICE (805) 963-0408

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE click here for complete listing