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Friday, June 18, 8:30 P.M., at the Ford Amphitheatre
(Los Angeles, CA) April 19, 2010 – The L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) teams up with the a capella group Sonos in a double bill with BODYTRAFFIC to present "MADE IN L.A.", an evening of contemporary dance, theatre, and music highlighting the unique and dynamic visions of these young, vivacious companies of Los Angeles, on Friday, June 18, 2010, 8:30 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre. The performance marks the opening of the Ford's 2010 Dance Series, 17 events reflecting the strength and scope of dance in Los Angeles.
The program opens with the Ford Amphitheatre premiere of "Transfigured Night" presented by BODYTRAFFIC, choreographed by renowned Israeli choreographers Guy Weizman and Roni Haver, and performed to Arnold Schoenberg's "Verklarte Nacht." The second half offers the world premiere of "Gods and Marionettes" presented by LACDC, with co-direction and choreography by Kate Hutter, co-direction and text by David Bridel, and music composed by Christopher Harrison and performed live by SONOS a capella group.
The work of LACDC, SONOS and BODYTRAFFIC, with their large casts, engaging set pieces and the collaboration of multiple disciplines, is well suited for the singular features of the Ford Amphitheatre. The theatre's outdoor environment will enhance the choreography, staging, and interactivity of the performance. Together these elements create a captivating and visually intoxicating theatrical experience for audiences of all ages, grappling with potent stories of the human spirit and the will to survive.
LACDC and BODYTRAFFIC are committed to providing Los Angeles with today's most innovative dance productions performed by local artists at the top of their field. These companies are honored to extend their work to new audiences, as well as draw current fans to this exciting outdoor venue. Also, by sharing the program, LACDC with SONOS and BODYTRAFFIC will help unify the Los Angeles arts community and build stronger connections with audiences interested in multi-disciplinary performances.
The world premiere of "Gods and Marionettes," performed by LACDC and SONOS, fuses song, dance and theatre in a captivating and terrifying new take on Greek Tragedy. When atrocities befall a family and a nation, who is responsible – the men and women whose decisions lead to chaos? Or the Gods – mischievous, whimsical, and fatally equipped with power and authority? Telling a tale both ancient and modern, a tale of fatalism and freewill, "Gods and Marionettes" pits mortals and immortals against each other in a desperate battle for control of the world. The cast will include dancers, vocalists and an actor who guide the audience through the onstage experience adding surprising facts and "pop-ups" about the story in correlation to current events.
Critically acclaimed "Transfigured Night", presented by BODYTRAFFIC, premiered in 2009 at the Sinai Temple to a sold out crowd. Debra Levine, dance critic for the Los Angeles Times, noted that "confident professionalism was in evidence across every performance element – décor, costume, lighting, and in the super-contemporary choreography requiring robust modern dance technique." "Transfigured Night" is inspired by the book "The Sabbath" by Abraham Joshua Heschel which depicts various ways people transcend trying times by keeping the "in-between" moments in life sacred and striking a significant balance between work and rest. The piece is choreographed by Guy Weizman and Roni Haver, who are both Israeli choreographers living and working in the Netherlands. "Transfigured Night" is set to "Verklarte Nacht," Arnold Schoenberg's earliest important work. The set, designed by Ascon de Nijs, is made up of thirteen 12' light poles that change angles throughout the piece and depict crumbling architecture during World War II.
Tickets for "Made in L.A." are $25 general admission, purchased by June 11, $30 thereafter; $12 for full-time students with ID and children 12 and under; and $75 VIP tickets with reserved preferred seating and a pre-performance reception. Purchase three or more Ford Theatre events and pay only $20. For General Admission and VIP tickets, log on to www.FordTheatres.org or call the Ford Box Office at (323) 461-3673. For group tickets sales call (323) 769-2147; additional information and sponsorship opportunities call (310) 871-0621.
The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd., East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink. The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request.
On-site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening. For evening amphitheatre performances only, there is FREE non-stacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford located at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the "kiss and ride" area.
This event is part of the Ford Amphitheatre 2010 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.
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EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: CALENDAR LISTING
WHAT: L.A. Contemporary Dance Company with Sonos, and BODYTRAFFIC Present "Made in L.A." An Evening of Contemporary Dance, Theatre and Music
DATE: Friday, June 18, 8:30 PM LOCATION: Ford Amphitheatre 2580 Cahuenga Blvd., East Hollywood, CA 90068
TICKET PRICES: $25 general admission by June 11, $30 thereafter; $12 for full-time students with ID and children 12 and under; discounted group ticket sales; and $75 VIP tickets, reserved preferred seating and a pre-performance cocktail reception.
INFORMATION & TICKETS: (323) 461-3673 www.LADanceCo.org www.FordTheatres.org
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) is a non-profit organization that offers Los Angeles a resident repertory dance company that is recognizable by the community as a source of professional and innovative concert dance. By affording choreographers and dancers the opportunity to create concert length work in an experimental and collaborative environment, LACDC strives to foster the development of new forms in the contemporary dance genre relevant to today's audiences. www.LADanceCo.org
Sonos (Vocals, Gods and Marionettes), emerging in 2009 from the college a cappella scene, Sonos turns the genre on its head with bold interpretations of C21st classics. On their Verve debut "SonoSings," the vocal group reinvents Radiohead, Bon Iver & Fleet Foxes and dazzles with unique twists on the mainstream such as a dark, trip-hop Jackson 5 cover. Recent appearances include live radio sessions on NPR's Weekend Edition, KCRW, BBC Americana, Sirius/XM; collaborations with novelist Margaret Atwood at UCLA Live and the beloved Young@Heart Chorus; plus performances all over the country including the Sundance Film Festival. 2010 sees Sonos touring widely as well as embracing projects in dance with Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company and science/theater with bestselling author and psychologist Dr. Daniel Levitin ("This Is Your Brain on Music"). A new Sonos album featuring covers, collaborations and originals, will be available in the fall. More recently, Sonos received a CARA Award (2010 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards) for best Pop/Rock song with "I Want You Back." www.sonosings.com
BODYTRAFFIC, based in Los Angeles, commissions today's most innovative choreographers to create work on local professionals. The company serves as a community vehicle for dancers, choreographers, visual artists, composers and musicians, providing all with an opportunity to experiment, create, and present new work. Through performances, master classes and workshops, BODYTRAFFIC inspires creative potential in people of all ages. www.BodyTraffic.net
David Bridel (co-director and writer, "Gods and Marionettes") is a director, choreographer, writer, and teacher of acting, movement and clown. The Los Angeles Times writes: "Bridel is the real thing, one of the most inventive, scholarly, and vastly challenging voices on the current theatrical scene." David's productions ofShakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen, Corneille, Moliere, Ionesco, Pirandello, Dumas and others, as well as his own new plays, have been seen in Los Angeles, New York City, Tel Aviv, London, and Edinburgh. He is the co-artistic director of the Franklin Stage Company, in Franklin, New York which he co-founded in 1997. For Academy Award winner William Friedkin, David has choreographed four operas, two in Los Angeles and two at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, as well as The Soldier's Tale at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, in association with the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company. He has also served as Commedia dell'Arte Movement Specialist for the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. David's original plays have been performed in Edinburgh, in London, at Franklin Stage, in Los Angeles, at Shakespeare and Company, and at the Roy Hart Theatre in Malerargues, France. He is currently the Associate Director and the Head of Movement for the MFA program at the University of Southern California, and runs his own Clown School in Los Angeles.
Christopher Harrison (composer / arranger, "Gods and Marionettes") lives in Los Angeles where he writes, arranges, records, mixes, produces, and performs music. He studied music composition at UCLA and music production at Asylum Studios under composer/producer Gabriel Mann. He serves as principal arranger and producer for Sonos, an LA-based vocals+electronics music collective.
Kate Hutter (co-director and choreographer, "Gods and Marionettes") is co-founder and Artistic Director of the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) as well as an independent choreographer in the Los Angeles area. Kate is an alumnus of the Walnut Hill School and a graduate of the University of Southern California with a BFA in Theatrical Design. She also holds a MFA in choreography from Purchase College, SUNY. Kate's choreography has been nominated for two Lester Horton Awards in the small ensemble category. Kate has been commissioned to create work for Beverly Hills High School, Orange County School for the Arts, Palos Verdes High School, Walnut Hill School and served as guest artistic director for the USC Repertory Dance Company in 2008. Kate continues to create new works for the L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, choreograph for theater productions, commercials and commissions, teach open classes at the Brockus Project Space and develop new ways of bringing dance to the public and educating students through LACDC's outreach programming.
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