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Press Release: PHILADANCO! comes to Cincinnati: Jan 21-22, 2022
Press Release
PHILADANCO! comes to Cincinnati: January 21-22, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Philadelphia Dance Company, PHILADANCO! — a world-renowned company known for preserving African American traditions — is presented by Mutual Dance Theatre and The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series
December 14, 2021
CINCINNATI, OHIO — In continuation of Mutual Dance Theatre’s 50th season (adopting its numeration from merged organization Contemporary Dance Theater), the organization also formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance, presents a world-renowned dance company, The Philadelphia Dance Company on January 21 and 22, 2022 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
PHILADANCO! has been described as “an imaginative, gorgeous and thrilling dance company who showcase some of the best African American traditions in dance that really enhance their heritage” (London, UK). The Company has performed on major stages including Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce, Heinz Poll, and many others.
Founded 51 years ago by Joan Myers Brown in order to give Black dancers opportunities denied elsewhere, the Company and its school flourished to become “a brilliant mix of of miracle skill, energy, and artistry.” Its performers exhibit “virtuoso physicality” in “fascinating and thrilling” performances.
Across the nation and around the world, PHILADANCO! is celebrated for its innovation, creativity, and preservation of predominantly African American traditions in dance.
Artistic Director Kim Y. Bears-Bailey and Company will bring to Cincinnati a variety of choreographic works*.
“Conglomerate” by Anthony Burrell, choreographer for Mariah Carey and Beyonce, formerly of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Choreographer Anthony Burrell boasts a résumé chock-full of big names in both dance theatre and the entertainment industry. From choreographing for Pepsi, DKNY, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, GLEE, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and many others, to having performed with stage companies PHILADANCO!, Koresh Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey, Burrell is teeming with talent and expertise. About “Conglomerate,” Burrell writes: “This work pays homage to the rich history of Black Dance in Philadelphia that inspired my journey as a Dancer, Choreographer, and Creative Director.”
“With(in)verse” by Tommie-Waheed Evans, 2021 Guggenheim Fellow
Tommie-Waheed Evans is a 2021 recipient of the coveted Guggenheim Fellowship. Evans (born and raised in Los Angeles) is a queer, Black, dance-maker whose work has been influenced by the racial divide, gang warfare, and earthquakes of his hometown. He explores Blackness, spirituality, queerness, and liberation through his work. “With(in)verse”, he says, “does not seek to be gospel as celebration, nor as evangelism. This is gospel as desperation. The work intertwines the ideas of spirituality and sorrow by focusing on the often strong presence of these ideas when hitting rock bottom. Pastor T. L. Barrett’s song ‘Father Stretch My Hands’ becomes the embodiment of deliverance.”
“This Place” by Ray Mercer, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Lion King
“This Place” by Ray Mercer, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and The Lion KingRay Mercer, of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater fame, has also appeared in Broadway’s The Lion King. The native of Omaha, Nebraska won the Jeffrey Ballet Choreographers of Color Award in 2012 and performed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Boston Ballet (as a guest artist), and many others. His choreography — which can be seen on Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, New Jersey Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and many others — has been recognized in The New York Times and the Chicago Sun Times. Mercer’s work on PHILADANCO!, “This Place” is “motivated by the idea and feeling of community,” he writes. “It is a collage of movements that addresses how a group that shares a common interest interacts socially, humanistically, and intimately. This is a technically-based, high-energy, physical work that explores many aspects of community in five very different sections, coming together in one collage of work.”
“Between the Lines” by Francisco Gella, Artistic Director of Zeitgeist Dance Theatre
Filipino choreographer Francisco Gella is a former dancer of PHILADANCO! who also performed with Repertory Dance Theater and Ballet Pacifica. He’s worked with Spectrum Dance Theater, California Ballet, and many others, including the closing ceremonies in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. He has received numerous choreography awards, including at the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition and the National Regional Dance America Conference in 2007. Gella describes “Between the Lines” as “a work that was created and inspired by the architectural drawings of Frank Lloyd Wright, who was himself inspired by Beethoven’s lush compositions. Wright often stated that whenever he listened to Beethoven’s music, he saw movement and design. The dance illustrates a certain architectural flare with more than a hint of romanticism while drawing influences from choreographic legend Gene Hill Sagan and the classical idiom.”
(*Works are subject to change.)
Tickets to the performances by PHILADANCO! (January 21-22, 2022) start at $40 but are automatically discounted $5 if purchased by December 30, 2022. In addition, season subscriptions are still available and provide the largest publicly-available discount on tickets, with the remaining three shows of the season start at just $85.80 in total.
Not only will PHILADANCO! perform, but they will also provide a free post-show discussion after Saturday evening’s show and offer a masterclass/workshop for local dancers based on a new work by Black Canadian choreographer Bakari Lindsay on Saturday, January 22 at 11am at Mutual Dance Theatre’s Hartwell location (8222 Monon Ave, 45216).
More information can be found at mutualdance.org/philadanco.
The season is generously supported in part by: donations (big and small) from individuals; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC); The Warrington Foundation; and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Aronoff Center Rental Subsidy. The workshopping of Bakari Lindsay’s work is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important to work to keep the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support.
Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series presents PHILADANCO!, January 21-22, 2022
ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST TREASURED MODERN DANCE COMPANIES, HERE FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY
DATES:
Friday, January 21, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 8pm
VENUE:
Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
TICKETS:
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased before December 30, 2021
$40.00-$53.00 when purchased on or after December 30, 2021
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/philadanco
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE STILL AVAILABLE START AT JUST $86.50
INFORMATION:
Known across the world for their “brilliant mix of miracle of skill” and “virtuoso physicality,” PHILADANCO! makes a short return to Cincinnati 10 years since their last visit. The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series (newly renamed since CDT’s merger into Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers) welcomes the 51-year-old legendary dance company who celebrates and preserves predominantly African American traditions in dance. Do not miss this repertory concert chock-full of both old and new favorites with works by Francisco Gella, Ray Mercer, Tommie-Waheed Evans, and Anthony Burrell.
MASKS AND PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST REQUIRED WITH PHOTO ID.
FREE! POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Stay after the performance on Saturday night (January 22, 2022) for a free, post-show discussion with PHILADANCO! artists.
DANCER WORKSHOP
Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with PHILADANCO! company members on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 11am. $15 if registered before-hand, $20 at the door. Victor Lewis, Jr. will lead a workshop on Bakari Lindsay’s new work on PHILADANCO!. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.
Season Tickets
Season subscriptions are still available as the best offer on ticket savings for patrons. The three-show package will include PHILADANCO!, Sidra Bell Dance New York, and resident company Mutual Dance Theatre’s MODERN MIX. The 3-show package starts at just $85.80.
COVID-19 Policies
Along with numerous other venues in Cincinnati, due to the high levels of COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton County and the surrounding area, the following protocols are currently effective until further notice:
- Guests, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks at all times in our venues, regardless of vaccination status.
- Ticket holders 12 years of age and older will be required to show a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test AND PHOTO ID for entry into the events.
Read more information and any updates at https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/plan-your-visit/health-and-safety.
Access
Mutual Dance Theatre was founded to create more access to Modern Dance. We believe that all income levels should have the pleasure of attending live performances. Free admission will be provided to persons of low-income. Patrons are encouraged to contact the organization at 513.494.6526 or hello@mutualarts.org for assistance.
The Aronoff Center for the Arts offers many accommodations for persons with disabilities, including a fully-ADA accessible facility and hearing devices. Large print programs will also be available.
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Print-Ready Images
For images and other resources for the press, please visit mutualdance.org/pressroom.
Press contacts
For more information, please email jeanne@mutualarts.org or call 513.494.6526.
Download This Press Release
Social Media Handles:
Performances: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The Centers: Facebook and Instagram @mutualartscenters
Press Release: Mutual Dance Theatre Announces 21-22 Season
Press Release
Mutual Dance Theatre announces its 2021-2022 Season, including The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series’ 50th Anniversary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2021
CINCINNATI, OHIO — Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers made headlines last year when a merger to form the organization was announced by Contemporary Dance Theater (est. 1972) and MamLuft&Co. Dance (est. 2007). Under Artistic and Executive Director, Jeanne Mam-Luft, Mutual Dance Theatre announces an exciting return of Modern Dance to the stage with Season 50 (adopting Contemporary Dance Theater’s numeration) in 2021-2022, kicking off right away in November.
The season features both home performances by the resident company, Mutual Dance Theatre, as well as the preservation of Contemporary Dance Theater’s most treasured program, formerly known as the Guest Artist Series. This jewel of the region brings nationally-significant art to our stages, schools, and community hubs. This year, the JJCDT features performances by the world-renowned PHILADANCO! (Philadelphia, PA) and the visually-fascinating Sidra Bell Dance New York, both Black-led companies (Sidra Bell being the first African American woman to be commissioned by the New York City Ballet).
The resident company, featuring artists who exhibit virtuosity and powerful nuanced performance, will share numerous world premieres. The performances will take place both in their home studio theatre and in the Aronoff Center, including new repertory acquisitions from the aforementioned guest artists. These acquisitions are part of the company’s exciting pivot to growing their identity as a repertory company with work by nationally-recognized choreographers.
The season will also feature a celebration of CDT founder Jefferson James and her work, commemorating 50 years of her singular work to advance and promote Modern Dance in Cincinnati before her recent retirement.
Audiences can save significantly (and support the organization) by subscribing to the season, with a subscription starting at just $76.50.
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers extends the impact of these performances by bringing the artists into the community. Activities will include a free lecture-demonstration for children, residencies, public Q&As, and workshops or masterclasses with artists on the Saturday of each performance weekend.
The season is generously supported in part by: donations (big and small) from individuals; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation; the generosity of more than 40,000 contributors to the ArtsWave Community Campaign; state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC); The Warrington Foundation; and The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Aronoff Center Rental Subsidy. The workshopping of Bakari Lindsay’s work is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts. To support Mutual Dance Theatre’s important to work to keep the genre of Modern Dance in Cincinnati, please visit mutualdance.org/support.
Mutual Dance Theatre Premieres Pulp and Variations in a Brainstorm, November 12-20, 2021
WORLD PREMIERES: AN IMMERSIVE DANCE EXPERIENCE REVEALED IN CHAPTERS
DATES:
Friday, November 12th, 2021 at 8pm
Saturday, November 13th, 2021 at 8pm
Friday, November 19th, 2021 at 8pm
Saturday, November 20th, 2021 at 8pm
VENUE:
Mutual Arts Center Hartwell, 8222 Monon Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45216
TICKETS:
$20 when purchased before October 20, 2021
$25 when purchased on or after October 21, 2021
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/pulp
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50
INFORMATION:
Audiences will be immersed in a dance theatre experience that will take them on two, different adventures, both revealed in chapters. In Pulp, as the audience surrounds the performers in Mutual Arts Center’s black box studio, they will first begin by helping to choose a unique sequence of events that will never again be performed in that same order. The theatergoers will simultaneously perceive a common object, but interpret it differently as perspective is weighed in pithy moments. In Variations in a Brainstorm, letters, writings, and musings—all tied to a writing desk—will guide audiences through a tour of divergent identities. In the end, both adventures unearth the human mind’s vast ability to make connections.
Choreographers Rowan Salem and Hannah Williamson are 2nd and 5th-year veterans of Mutual Dance Theatre (respectively). Rowan Salem, originally from Massachusetts, was a Gretchen Moran Scholar at Smith College in Northampton, and her work has been presented at the Redline Contemporary Arts Center, Counterpath Exhibition Space, Green Street Studios, and Art Gym, Denver where she was the 2017 recipient of the Create Award Residency. Hannah Williamson is a local, rising talent whose work has been selected for presentations from Ohio to Virginia; she has performed in works by notable artists Dwight Rhoden and Clifford Williams of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, IN.
This performance takes place in Hartwell at 8222 Monon Avenue 45216 NOT at The Aronoff Center.
AUDIENCES SHOULD PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALTHOUGH SOME SPACING MAY BE POSSIBLE, THIS IS GENERAL SEATING AND DISTANCING CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. Parking is free and the building is ADA-accessible. For more information about the venue, please see mutualdance.org/hartwell.
American Sign Language interpretation will be provided on Friday, November 19.
Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with choreographer Rowan Salem Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 11am. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.
Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series presents PHILADANCO!, January 21-22, 2022
ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST TREASURED MODERN DANCE COMPANIES, HERE FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY
DATES:
Friday, January 21, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 8pm
VENUE:
Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
TICKETS:
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased before December 30, 2021
$40.00-$53.00 when purchased on or after December 31, 2021
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/philadanco
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50
INFORMATION:
Known across the world for their “brilliant mix of miracle of skill” and “virtuoso physicality,” PHILADANCO! makes a short return to Cincinnati 10 years since their last visit. The Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series (newly renamed since CDT’s merger into Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Centers) welcomes the 50-year-old legendary dance company who celebrates and preserves predominantly African American traditions in dance. Do not miss this repertory concert chock-full of both old and new favorites.
Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with PHILADANCO! company members on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 11am. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.
Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series presents: Sidra Bell Dance New York, March 25-26, 2022
THE CINCINNATI PREMIERE OF INTERNATIONALLY SOUGHT-AFTER VISIONARY, SIDRA BELL, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE COMMISSIONED BY THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET
DATES:
Friday, March 25, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8pm
VENUE:
Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
TICKETS:
$30.00-$40.00 when purchased before February 28, 2022
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased on or after March 1, 2022
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/sidrabell
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50
INFORMATION:
Sidra Bell is one of Modern Dance’s most up-and-coming artists, sought-after across the globe and the nation. Mutual Dance Theatre’s Jefferson James Contemporary Dance Theater Series is ecstatic to present Ms. Bell and her diverse Company of dance artists for the first time in Cincinnati, Ohio for one weekend only. Described as “hypnotically seductive” and “brilliant and impressive,” Bell’s aesthetic rings of “Pina Bausch, fashion, and Harlem’s ballrooms” in a unique, visionary style that draws in audiences, deeply. Her distinctive, hyperkinetic movement and dramatic brilliance hone-in on the human psyche and questions of identity. Sidra Bell is the first African American woman to be commissioned by the New York City Ballet. Sidra Bell Dance New York will perform IN | REP, an evening of dance theater works that will leave audiences feeling and thinking for days to come.
The community is also invited to an open workshop with Ms. Bell on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 11am. No dance experience is required or expected: experience Ms. Bell’s process through movement and space. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.
Mutual Dance Theatre’s MODERN MIX, June 17-18, 2022
FOUR MODERN DANCE PREMIERES WITH CHOREOGRAPHY BY SIDRA BELL, PHILADANCO! ARTISTS, STEVEN P. EVANS, AND JASMINE SNELLEN
DATES:
Friday, June 17th, 2022 at 8pm
Saturday, June 18th, 2022 at 8pm
VENUE:
Aronoff Center for the Arts, Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
TICKETS:
$30.00-$40.00 when purchased before May 31, 2022
$35.00-$46.25 when purchased on or after June 1, 2022
Tickets and more information at mutualdance.org/modernmix
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS START AT JUST $76.50
INFORMATION:
MODERN MIX features a proud collection of work, including three Black artists. The season-closer promises variety, athletic prowess, virtuosic dancing, and compelling drama. Mutual Dance Theatre (formerly known as MamLuft&Co. Dance) is undergoing a thrilling transformation as it amplifies its repertory through commissions and re-stagings by national artists! Cincinnati’s Modern Dance company will close its 21-22 season with choreography by Sidra Bell (of Sidra Bell DanceNY), PHILADANCO! artists, and Steven P. Evans and Jasmine Snellen of Mutual Dance Theatre.
Experienced dancers are also invited to an open workshop with choreographer Jasmine Snellen on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 11am. See mutualdance.org/masterclasses for more information, including pricing and location.
COVID-19 Policies
Along with numerous other venues in Cincinnati, due to the high levels of COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton County and the surrounding area, the following protocols are currently effective until further notice:
- Guests, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks at all times in our venues, regardless of vaccination status.
- Ticket holders 12 years of age and older will be required to show a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry into the events.
Read more information and any updates at https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/plan-your-visit/health-and-safety.
Access
Mutual Dance Theatre was founded to create more access to Modern Dance. We believe that all income levels should have the pleasure of attending live performances. Free admission will be provided to persons of low-income. Patrons are encouraged to contact the organization at 513.494.6526 or hello@mutualarts.org for assistance.
###
Print-Ready Images
For images and other resources for the press, please visit mutualdance.org/pressroom.
Press contacts
For more information, please email jeanne@mutualarts.org or call 513.494.6526.
Social Media Handles:
Performances: Facebook and Instagram @mutualdance
The Centers: Facebook and Instagram @mutualartscenters