In two weeks Dayton Contemporary Dance Company will return to the Victoria Theatre for what promises to be a highlight of the arts season. How often do we get to pay homage to the perseverance and relevancy of a modern dance company that has been in existence for forty five years. The significance can honestly never be overstated. DCDC bucks the trend of dance companies that fold once the visionary artistic leadership departs this mortal coil. This company has roared back with a renewed sense of artistic vitality.
Several reviews past, I intimated that Dayton audiences needed to do their homework and investigate the people, concepts and histories that inform and are the fabric of the artistic endeavors being presented. So I have decided to highlight every day this week one choreographer presenting work on February 8th & 9th.
The first choreographer being highlighted is the masterful Donald Byrd.
Donald Byrd is one the leading and seminal figures in Modern Dance, his biography highlights an artist who has created works all over the globe. His work has been performed by Alvin Ailey, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera and New York City Opera. In 2010 his company appeared in New York in a new interpretation of a John Zorn composition as part of the Guggenheim Museum’s Works & Progress series. This prolific and vital choreographer has set his latest work “Geography of the Cotton Fields” on the upcoming Dayton Contemporary Dance Company concert.
I have selected a couple of youtube clips that are wonderful examples of Mr. Byrd’s prodigious choreographic talents:
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You’ll also want to check out this Youtube video. This gives you a point of entry to the choreographer his aesthetics and movement vocabulary. Brave the weather forecasts and get tickets to what promises to be must see art event.
ReVisioning 45: New Works Unveiled
Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 3:00pm
Victoria Theatre, 138 North Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
For tickets to ReVisioning 45: New Works Unveiled please contact Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630 or 888-228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.
DMM want to send a couple of our readers to see the DCDC Show. To enter our random drawing, like this article and fill out the form below. Feel free to comment below on why you should win. Good Luck! [form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]