New Zealand Dance Company Black Grace Makes Kimmel Center Debut, February 26 - 27
FEBRUARY 12, 2010
Black Grace
New Zealand's leading contemporary dance company Black Grace makes its Kimmel Center debut in Perelman Theater from Friday, February 26, 2010 to Saturday, February 27, 2010. For over 14 years this all-male dance troupe has fused Pacific traditional cultures with contemporary dance onstage, performing to music ranging from Samoan indigenous music to Bach and hip-hop. Named after a New Zealand expression that translates to "daring and brave," Black Grace continues to unfold founder and director Neil Ieremia's dynamic, bold vision, blending athleticism with innovation onstage.
The company's Kimmel Center program will include the signature work Minoi, showcasing Samoan slap dancing and singing; Surface, which traces the masculine traditions of the Samoan culture; and a new work entitled Gathering Clouds. Throughout 2010, Black Grace will be performing in the United States, including performances in Hawaii; Austin, Texas; and Princeton, New Jersey. The company has also been invited to perform at the Cultural Olympiad in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010.
"Sculptural posturing explodes into jagged-edge kicks and turns with an occasional shoulder shrug or club-dance hip swagger. Throw in some capoeira-style acrobatics and the exploration of cultural identity morphs into brilliant cultural fusion."--Boston Globe
Black Grace has been funded by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, through Dance Advance.
This is the second performance in the Movers & Shakers series during the 2009/10 season. The next performance in the series will be Philadanco's 40th Anniversary Celebration from Thursday, April 15, 2010 to Sunday, April 18, 2010 in Perelman Theater.
Tickets for Black Grace are available for $34 and $44 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 community rush tickets will be available for this performance. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm prior to evening curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
One of New Zealand's national treasures, Black Grace has toured extensively throughout New Zealand and internationally to perform with critical acclaim. The company made its U.S. debut in August 2004 at the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires of Massachusetts where, by the end of their weeklong engagement, they were "playing to vociferously enthusiastic, [to] sold-out houses" (New York Times). In 2005, the company celebrated its 10th anniversary and performed to sell-out seasons in Auckland, New Zealand, followed by an extensive tour of the United States and Mexico. Most recently the company toured to Zug, Switzerland, followed by performances to thousands throughout Germany in 2009. A documentary on the group, Black Grace: From Cannon's Creek to Jacob's Pillow, premiered in June 2007 on PBS.
At the forefront of New Zealand's most accomplished choreographers, Black Grace Founder and Artistic Director Neil Ieremia imbues Black Grace with an explosive mix of rhythm, spirit and energy. Following his graduation from the Auckland Performing Arts School in New Zealand, Ieremia joined the acclaimed Douglas Wright Dance Company. He founded Black Grace in 1995, and has since choreographed all of the company's major full-length works and created the concepts behind "New Works," "Black Grace & Friends" and "UrbanYOUTHMovement," a program for young adults. Ieremia has also choreographed work for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Opera New Zealand. In 2003, he was nominated for the prestigious international Rolex Mentor Programme, and received the 2005 Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award for outstanding creative achievement and his contribution to the arts. In 2009, he received the Paul D. Fleck Fellowship in the Arts from The Banff Centre, Canada.
Kimmel Center Presents 2009/10 Season is sponsored by Citi. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents.
Free at the Kimmel programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from the Wachovia Foundation.
The Kimmel Center is a recipient of partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC "Grow Up Great" initiative, a ten-year, $100 million investment preparing children for success in school and life. Funding gives support to the Kimmel Center's early childhood program "Bop and Swing," an arts program for children 1-5 years old, designed to promote an appreciation for American culture.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS SPONSORED BY CITI
Friday, February 26, 2010 | 7:30pm
Saturday, February 27, 2010 | 2:30pm
Saturday, February 27, 2010 | 7:30pm
Perelman Theater
Black Grace
Program*
Fa'a Ulutao (excerpt from Surface), Samoan for "spearhead," is a dance that showcases the courage and bravery with a young warrior's ability to fight for and protect his family and cultural values.
Music: Pate Mo Tou Agaga, Te Vaka
Minoi is a fusion of traditional Samoan dance style known as Fa'ataupati (slap dance) and western contemporary dance with live singing and vocalizations.
Music: Minoi Minoi (traditional), arranged by Neil Ieremia
Deep Far is based on the cyclic nature of weather patterns and was inspired by the New Zealand droughts in 1998. Originally commissioned and performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Music: WHIRLY-Y-Reel 1 (Bear & Sandals mix) Afto Celt Sound System
Pati Pati is a mixture of excerpts from older repertoire with body percussion influenced by traditional Samoan Sasa (seated dance) and Fa'ataupati (slap dance). The excerpts are inspired by children's hand games, explore male stereotyping in the Pacific as well as a choreographed piece for 12 women; among other themes.
Music: Original music from Surface, by Neil Ieremia and Juse of Woodcut Productions
Lausae (Tapulu Tele) (excerpt from Surface): The river stones in this section represent the curves of the body and are symbolic of women's femininity, strength, beauty and support. The dancers personify the au' (tools) used by the tufuga (tattooist) to tap the ink into the skin. Upon the surface of the stone "bodies" the dancers tattoo their ink and symbols, vocalizing pain.
Gathering Clouds reaffirms the identity of a young and diverse Polynesian nation that is learning to weather the storms of change. The dance responds to controversial claims made by economist Greg Clydesdale in an academic paper in which he warns that Polynesians display "significant and enduring under-achievement" -- a problem he believes immigration is making worse.
Exodus (Excerpt One) illustrates people preparing for a journey from their native land to a new home. It reflects the spoken work, song and dance as important cultural traditions passed down to the next generation.
Music: Cook Island Drumming, Ngativaro Iorangi and Tuaine Robati; Hymns, Led by Mr Siufaitotoa Simanu Ieremia and Rev Maligi Evile; Tongan Chants, Niulala Helu
Keep Honour Bright (Excerpt Two) reflects change that takes place in a journey with reminders that the Polynesian community are all unique, and at the same time essentially the same.
Music: Goldberg Variations, Variations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 31; Played by Murray Perahia
*Please note program is subject to change
Friday, February 26, 2010 | Post-Show
Perelman Theater Stage | Artist Chat
This performance will conclude with an Artist Chat featuring the evening's dancers and Kimmel Center Vice President of Programming Tom Warner.
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