WILLIAMSTOWN -- Williams College Department of Dance is proud to present the Spring 2013 season. "The Spring Department of Dance season manifests increasing collaboration both within and beyond our Department," says Acting Department Chair Erica Dankmeyer. "Within the wide-ranging spectrum of performances on offer, I am thrilled that the emphasis this year is to enrich our work by forging collaborations and to research and revisit traditions in new context." INISH invites back alumni to perform, CoDa features musicians from the Department of Music and guest choreography, Sankofa researches its roots abroad, and Kusika and the Zambezi Marimba Band includes guest performers from the Capoeira club and guest musicians The performances will be at the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance.
INISH celebrates a decade of Irish Dance and Music at Williams College with "Imeacht" (Going). For over a century up to the present, Irish and Scottish emigrated for many reasons, landing in different locations. These journeys inspire the Irish and Scottish Traditions of dance and music presented by the INISH company. Featuring choreography by Holly Silva, guest Allison Fippinger, and students, with musical director John Sauer as well as guest bagpiper and drummers, this production has much to offer one and all. Come experience dancing, music, stories and songs with INISH Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15 on the
Kusika and the Zambezi Marimba Band’s Spring Dance Concert is entitled "Pavement!" "Pavement!" identifies and examines voices of transnational liberation movements.
"The works presented come out of my fascination with familiar storylines of conflict, incarceration, liberation, love and the body’s role in providing the illustrative shape of those stories," says Nia Love, choreographer and Kusika co-artistic director. "The body can convey profound meaning through the simplest of gestures, and the analysis of familiar human action provides an opportunity to recognize and re-frame ourselves in each other."
Guest jazz musicians The Antoine Roney Trio join the ensemble for performances Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. on the MainStage. Kusika and the Zambezi Marimba Band are directed by Nia L.A. Love and Tendai Muparutsa.
In 2013, Sankofa studies abroad, learning first about the roots of step in South Africa before traveling to Brazil and India. Incorporating international rhythms, movements, and flavors into their choreography, Sankofa uses innovative routines to expand stepping as an art form and present a dynamic performance. The word "sankofa," from the Akan people in Ghana, loosely translates to "reaching back in order to move forward." Sankofa was formed in the fall of the 1996-97 school year by five women from the class of 2000. Performances will be Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. on the MainStage.
On Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m. on the MainStage, CoDa will present an exciting season finale comprised of faculty and student choreography, live music, and a visual feast of evocative lighting, costumes and projections. The performances will mark the premiere of a full-length "Rite of Spring," set to Igor Stravinsky’s historic score, which itself premiered in Paris 100 years ago, on May 29, 1913. Featuring original choreography by artistic directors Erica Dankmeyer and Janine Parker, with Nia Love and Kimberly Liu ‘13, CoDa’s "Rite" features the dramatic two-piano version, performed live by artist associate Elizabeth Wright and artist-in-residence Doris Stevenson. These superb musicians will also perform an original composition written for them by associate professor of music Ileana Perez Valazquez. Original work by student choreographers will round out this adventurous evening of original dance and music
For tickets, visit the Williams ‘62 Center Box Office Tuesday through Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m. or call 413-597-2425. For more information: 62center. williams.edu.
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