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Thomas/Ortiz at Dance Theater Workshop 2006 - Performance Program

by April Thibeault
July 21, 2006
Dance Theatre Workshop
219 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-924-0077
Thomas/Ortiz at Dance Theater Workshop 2006 - Review

www.thomasortizdance.org
Thomas/Ortiz

THE NEW YORK SEASON
July 19 â€" 22, 2006

Artistic Directors
Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz

Rehearsal Director
Ginna Ortiz

Music Director
Janey Choi

Lighting Design
Tony Marquez

Costume Design
Fred Tances

Dancers
Sunilda Caraballo, Serge Desroches Jr., Elyssa Dole, Alexandra Gonzalez,
Ming-Hwa Yeh, Virginia Horne, Rachel McSween, Milan Misko,
Mark Taylor, Ted Thomas and Royce Zackery

Musicians
Janey Choi, violin; Ana Milosavljevic, violin; Katie Kresek, violin/viola;
Loren Dempster, cello; Joanne Lin, cello; Dan Lippel, guitar

Program A
Wednesday, July 19, 7:30 pm
Friday, July 21, 7:30 pm

UNDAMELY (2005)

Dancers: Sunilda Caraballo, Elyssa Dole, Alexandra Gonzalez,
Virginia Horne and Rachel McSween
Choreography: Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz
Music: Violin Concerti by Antonio Vivaldi
Performed by Janey Choi, Joanne Lin, Katie Kresek,
Ana Milosavljevic and Loren Dempster

FOR LOVE OR GRACE (2004)

Dancers: Milan Misko and Mark Taylor
Choreography: Ted Thomas
Music: Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez
Recorded with José Carreras

IN THE ARMS OF THREE (2006)

Dancers: Elyssa Dole, Milan Misko, Mark Taylor and Royce Zackery
Choreography: Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz
Music: Marieta Mazurka by Francisco Tarrega
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francsico Tarrega
Suite Española, No. 5 by Enrique Granados
Asturia Leyenda by Enrique Granados
Performed by: Dan Lippel

Intermission

NEVAEH (World Premiere)

Dancers: Serge Desroches Jr., Alexandra Gonzalez, Ming-Hwa Yeh,
Rachel McSween, Milan Misko, and Ted Thomas
Choreography: Frances Ortiz
Music: David Darling

We've lost all that is good in us trying desperately to get in.
What will it take?
There is nowhere to go, for all is here.., but with all our sinful
burdens, we simply cannot pass Heaven's gates.
Was the straight and narrow path worth the labor of eternity? Our
souls remain lost, there is nowhere to go, for all is here.
-Ginna Ortiz

ABLAZE (1997)

Dancers: Virginia Horne and Royce Zackery
Choreography: Frances Ortiz
Music: Ken Kirschner

MIRABELLA (World Premiere)

Dancers: Sunilda Caraballo, Serge Desroches Jr., Elyssa Dole, Alexandra Gonzales, Ming- Hwa Yeh, Virginia Horne, Rachel McSween, Milan Misko,
Mark Taylor and Royce Zackary
Choreography: Ted Thomas
Music: Noel Pointer

Program B
Thursday, July 20, 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 22, 7:30 pm

UNDAMELY (2005)

Dancers: Sunilda Caraballo, Alexandra Gonzalez, Ming-Hwa Yen,
Virginia Horne, and Rachel McSween, Jenna Blumendfeld (7/20)
Choreography: Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz
Music: Violin Concerti by Antonio Vivaldi
Performed by Janey Choi, Joanne Lin, Katie Kresek,
Ana Milosavljevic and Loren Dempster

FOR LOVE OR GRACE (2004)

Dancers: Milan Misko and Mark Taylor
Choreography: Ted Thomas
Music: Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez
Recorded with José Carreras

IN THE ARMS OF THREE (2006)

Dancers: Elyssa Dole, Serge Desroches Jr., Milan Misko and Royce Zackary
Choreography: Ted Thomas
Music: Marieta Mazurka by Francisco Tarrega
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francsico Tarrega
Suite Española, No. 5 by Enrique Granados
Asturia Leyenda by Enrique Granados
Performed by: Dan Lippel

Intermission

NEVAEH (World Premiere)

Dancers: Alexandra Gonzalez, Virginia Horne, Rachel McSween,
Milan Misko, Ted Thomas, and Royce Zackery, Mark Taylor (7/20)
Choreography: Frances Ortiz
Music: David Darling

We've lost all that is good in us trying desperately to get in.
What will it take?
There is nowhere to go, for all is here.., but with all our sinful
burdens, we simply cannot pass Heaven's gates.
Was the straight and narrow path worth the labor of eternity? Our
souls remain lost, there is nowhere to go, for all is here.
-Ginna Ortiz

CONBIVIR…(LIVING WITH) (2003)

Dancer: Elyssa Dole
Choreography: Frances Ortiz
Music: Bohuslav Martinu
Performed by Katie Kresek and Loren Dempster

MIRABELLA (World Premiere)

Dancers: Sunilda Caraballo, Serge Desroches Jr., Elyssa Dole, Alexandra Gonzalez, Ming-Hwa Yen, Virginia Horne, Rachel McSween, Milan Misko,
Mark Taylor, and Royce Zackery
Choreography: Ted Thomas
Music: Noel Pointer


Biographies

THOMAS/ORTIZ DANCE
Melding his urban athleticism with her Latin sensuality, and their combined choreographic and musical sensibilities, Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz founded Thomas/Ortiz Dance in 2001, introducing a fresh and emotionally engaging new vision to contemporary dance. The dancers from culturally diverse backgrounds perform a repertoire which explores a multitude of thought-provoking and socially-relevant themes.

Thomas/Ortiz Dance made its debut at The Bronx Academy of Art and Dance in 2001. The company has since performed at Joyce SoHo, the Merce Cunningham Studios, the Puffin Room, Clune Center for the Arts (CT), DeBaun Center for the Performing Arts (NJ), as well as performances at Bridge for Dance, Dance Space Raw Materials, DanceNow Festival, "The Remember Project" for Dancers Responding to AIDS at St. Marks Church, and Dance for Life in Bryant Park.

The Company is committed to developing new audiences for dance through a wide variety of community-based outreach and educational programs and activities, including performances, master classes, lecture demonstrations, and workshops. Mr. Thomas and Ms. Ortiz volunteer teaching dance to middle school students in New York at an after school program sponsored by the Children's Aid Society.

TED THOMAS (Artistic Director) a native New Yorker, former rapper and graffiti artist, Ted attended the High School for Performing Arts before receiving his B.F.A. from the State University of New York at Purchase. He went on to earn a Masters degree in dance and higher education from New York University. He danced with Ballet Hispanico, Elisa Monte, and the Murray Louis and Nikolais Company prior to joining the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1996. While choreographing and continuing to perform with Thomas/Ortiz Dance, Mr. Thomas was for two years Artist-in-Residence at Barnard College. He currently teaches dance at the New England Academy of Dance and at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, CT.

FRANCES ORTIZ (Artistic Director) Moving to New York from her native Puerto Rico, Frances Ortiz studied at The New World School of the Arts in Miami FL, prior to earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance at the State University of New York at Purchase. While studying for her Masters degree at New York University, she performed with Kevin Wynn, Tim Martin, and Carl Paris. Ms. Ortiz has taught dance and has been a guest choreographer at Yale University. Frances and her twin sister Ginna Ortiz are co-owners of the New England Academy of Dance in New Canaan, CT. In addition, Frances is Artistic Director of the New England Dance Theater and currently teaches dance at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, CT.

GINNA ORTIZ (Rehearsal Director) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she began her early dance training. She studied at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Purchase College. A recipient of scholarships to both the Richmond Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ms. Ortiz danced with DTH from 1994 to 1998 and subsequently continued to work with independent choreographers in New York. Ms. Ortiz is presently the co-director of the New England Academy of Dance in New Canaan, CT, and The New England Dance Theater.

SUNILDA CARABALLO, a native of Puerto Rico, began her dance training with Ballet Teatro Municipal de San Juan, and later at the School for the Performing Arts in the disciplines of ballet, jazz, flamenco, and modern dance. In 2003, she moved to New York to join Ballet Hispanico, and started touring and teaching throughout the United States with the company. In 2004, she joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in the new production Die Zauberflote, directed by Julie Taymor. She also holds a BA in Communications from the University of
Puerto Rico. This is Sunilda's first season with Thomas/Ortiz.

SERGE DESROCHES, JR. was born in Brooklyn, but grew up in Queens where he now resides. Serge is a graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts. He is currently a student at SUNY Purchase on scholarship. Serge received a Louis Falco Award for excellence in dance and the Gregg Burg Award, as well as an honorable mention from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Serge has trained at prestigious dance institutions such as Edge School of Arts, Dance Theater of Harlem, Studio Maestro, The Alvin Ailey School, Lines Ballet and The American Ballet Theater.
This is Serge's first season with Thomas/Ortiz.

ELYSSA DOLE has been a member of Thomas/Ortiz Dance since 2003. She has also worked with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Forces of Nature, Thaddeus Davis, Stephen Koplowitz and Mary Seidman and Dancers. Elyssa trained at the San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, and is a graduate of The Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. She also holds a BA from Barnard College. Her own work has been performed at several New York venues, and in 2005 she was given an award for "Outstanding Choreography" in the New York Fringe Festival.

ALEXANDRA GONZALEZ started her ballet training at the age of 3 in Miami, Florida, continuing her training in Colombia at the Ana Pavlova Ballet Academy. At age 15 she received a full scholarship to join the San Francisco Ballet School and was featured in Dance Magazine. Once she finished school, she joined the San Francisco Ballet Company under the direction of Helgi Tomasson, where she danced professionally. After moving to Miami, she was a guest performer with the Miami City Ballet, Ballet Florida, Americas Ballet, Michel Uthoff Dance Theater, and others. She joined the New World School of the Arts under the direction of Daniel Lewis, where she graduated in 2004 with a BFA in Dance Performance. Following graduation Alexandra joined Cedar Lake in New York City. This is Alexandra first season with Thomas/Ortiz.

VIRGINIA HORNE began her training in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she studied under Rosalie Woodson, Laurie Lubek, and Shamil Yagudin. Along with performing a world tour with Jean Ann Ryan Productions, she has danced with Ballet Hawaii, Colorado Ballet, and Konstantin Uralsky's ballet. She has performed as a guest artist with New England Dance Theater and Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico. Virginia has just completed the national tour of 42nd Street, the musical.
This is Virginia's fourth season with Thomas/Ortiz

RACHEL MCSWEEN
A 2001 graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Rachel currently attends the Fordham University/Alvin Ailey BFA Program. While in college Rachel apprenticed with Nathan Trice/Rituals and has performed with Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance. She has also performed works by Alonzo King, Alvin Ailey, Moses Pendleton, Thaddeus Davis, Dwight Rhoden, Hans Van Manen, Sean Curran and Troy Powell. This is Rachel's first season with Thomas/Ortiz.

MILAN MISKO Originally from Centerview, MO, Milan started dancing at the age of 13, training with Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Juilliard's summer program. Currently pursuing a BFA in dance at SUNY Purchase, Milan has danced with Storling Dance Theatre, Dramatic Truth Touring Company, and was an apprentice with Kansas City Ballet. This is Milan's first season with Thomas/Ortiz.

MING- HWA YEH was born in Kaoshiung, Taiwan R.O.C She was accepted into the Taipei National University of the Arts program at the age of sixteen and graduated with a BFA in 2005. Ming had danced with Kaohsiung City Ballet, Taipei Ballet, and The Focus Dance Company. This is Ming's first season with Thomas/Ortiz

MARK TAYLOR was born in Tucson, AZ. He studied gymnastics in Houston, TX. and qualified for the Junior Olympics at age 13. He began his dance training at Ballet Austin while studying acting at the University of Texas. He furthered his training at Houston Ballet, and then in 2002, finished his BFA in dance at the University of Hartford. Mark has danced with Dance Connecticut (formerly the Hartford Ballet), Full Force Dance Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, Pascal Rioult, and Caroline Dorfman. This is Mark's fourth season with Thomas/Ortiz

ROYCE ZACKERY A native of Atlanta, GA, Royce received is BFA from Southern Methodist University and has performed in musical theater productions of Oklahoma!, and Tommy Tune's My One and Only. After college he traveled to Germany to choreograph and teach. He has also worked with Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Ballethnic Dance Company, Nathan Trice, Niles Ford and many others. This is Royce's first season with Thomas/Ortiz


THE TED THOMAS DANCE FOUNDATION

The umbrella organization which supports the work of Thomas/Ortiz Dance is The Ted Thomas Dance Foundation. The Foundation was created to spread the joy of movement and to expand the knowledge and appreciation of dance throughout the world, especially to socio-economically disadvantaged children. The Foundation fulfills its mission by developing and performing new work through Thomas/Ortiz Dance, while keeping education at the forefront; and by encouraging the collaboration and involvement of artists of all types in the creation of works of dance that will inspire and educate.

Donations to support the work of Thomas/Ortiz Dance can be directed to:

The Ted Thomas Dance Foundation
12 Dongan Place, Suite 602
New York, NY 10040
www.thomasortizdance.org

Thomas/Ortiz Dance is currently in the process of expanding its Board of Directors. For more information, call 212.864.7827.

SPECIAL THANKS

Thomas/Ortiz Dance would like to thank the following people and organizations for their help in making these performances possible: Megan Sprenger and the entire staff at Dance Theater Workshop; April Thibeault at AMT Public Relations; Marvin Berk and Chip Tolaney at WestGroup Creative; Victor Gotesman, Noel Hayashi, and James McNeel at The Center for Creative Resources; Dr. Gregory Scott; Rick and Deb Edwards; William and Francine Dole; Ellen Essman; Ginger Perowsky; Kerrie and Bruce Ballentine; Jordan E. Krown; Delores JiJi; Barbara Achenbaum; Patrick Destra; and IBM Corp.
Virginia Horne and Royce Zackery in Ablaze

Virginia Horne and Royce Zackery in Ablaze

Photo © & courtesy of Josh Lowell


Elyssa Dole, Milan Misko, Mark Taylor and Royce Zackery in Arms of Three

Elyssa Dole, Milan Misko, Mark Taylor and Royce Zackery in Arms of Three

Photo © & courtesy of Josh Lowell


Elyssa Dole, Milan Misko, Mark Taylor and Royce Zackery in Arms of Three

Elyssa Dole, Milan Misko, Mark Taylor and Royce Zackery in Arms of Three

Photo © & courtesy of Josh Lowell


Serge Desroches Jr., Alexandra Gonzalez, Ming-Hwa Yeh, Rachel McSween, Milan Misko, and Ted Thomas in Neveah

Serge Desroches Jr., Alexandra Gonzalez, Ming-Hwa Yeh, Rachel McSween, Milan Misko, and Ted Thomas in Neveah

Photo © & courtesy of Josh Lowell

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