Our 2011 Isadora Duncan Birthday Celebration takes place Monday, May 23 beginning with a special VIP Cocktail Reception at 6:00 p.m., which includes the Insider Preview performances by The Isadora Duncan Dance Company of excerpts from two newly reconstructed Duncan dance works, a solo by Lori Belilove with live piano accompaniment, and historical commentary by special guest speakers. The Birthday Celebration continues at 7:30 with performances of Isadora's signature solos performed by Company soloists Beth Disharoon, Danielle Kwozko, and Faith Kimberling, followed by group dances with the entire Company. Closing the evening will be a showing of Artistic Director Lori Belilove's new work-in-progress Scarf Variations. We will treat you to a fun and inspiring romp through Isadora's sensational life…with dancing, bubbly and birthday cake. Wear your favorite scarf!

Monday, May 23, 2011
6:00pm, VIP Cocktail Reception and Insider Preview

7:30pm, Birthday Performance & After-party

City Center Studios, 5th Floor
130 West 56th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues), New York City

TICKETS:

$60/advance* $65/door (VIP Cocktail Reception, Insider Preview, Birthday Performance and After-party)
$30/advance* $35/door (Birthday Performance and After-party)

GROUP RATE:
10+ tickets purchased in advance
$50 (VIP Cocktail Reception, Insider Preview, Birthday Performance and After-party)
$25 (Birthday Performance and After-party)

*Advance tickets on sale now until Friday, May 20. Order online www.isadoraduncan.org, call 212-691-5040, or email Julie at info@isadoraduncan.org. Seating is limited; for a guaranteed seat, purchase in advance.

VIP Cocktail Reception
VIP guests will have an exclusive viewing of excerpts of two nearly lost and reconstructed Duncan dance works that the Company has been rehearsing since January. The Rakoczy March, an exuberant call to freedom and unity with music by Hector Berlioz has not been seen on the concert stage since the 1930's, and The Slow March, a weighty expression of prophetic destiny created after the tragic death of Isadora's two children with music by Franz Schubert will both be performed. Both group works for 7 dancers, these dances show a fabulous spectrum of Duncan's choreographic range.

Guest speakers will highlight Duncan's pioneering work and influence on modern dance as well as her exceptional role in the women's liberation movement of early 20th century America. Guest speakers include the critically acclaimed actress Dana Ivey, Deborah Jowitt, noted dance historian and dance critic for Village Voice, and Lori Rotskoff, women's studies scholar, Barnard Center for Research on Women.

Performance and Birthday Celebration
Lori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan Dance Company will perform Duncan's signature works, including Mother, Revolutionary, and The Many Faces of Love, along with a work in progress-showing of Artistic Director Lori Belilove's new work Scarf Variations with music by the Balanescu Quartet.
After the performance, join us and celebrate Isadora with a special champagne toast and birthday cake in honor of the grande dame of modern dance. The pre-eminent Isadora Duncan Dance Company will be joined by apprentices to the company and members of its junior troupe "The Beliloveables," and additional guest dancers. Guests are invited to wear their favorite scarf and tunic!

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).