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Michelle Brandon
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Modern/Contemporary
United States
Washington D.C.
Washington, DC

KEIGWIN + COMPANY

by Michelle Brandon
March 2, 2012
Washington, DC
KEIGWIN + COMPANY (K+C) returns to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on March 2-3, 2012 at 8pm. The program presented at the Eisenhower Theater includes the fashion-inspired Runaway (2008), which showcases 12 dancers moving down a runway of light in striking poses and bursts of aggression, set to a driving score by composer Jonathan Pratt. The program will also include audience favorites Love Songs (2006), Mattress Suite (2004), and Megalopolis (2009). Tickets are $18-55. More information can be found at www.kennedy-center.org.

After a sold-out 2009 Kennedy Center debut at the Terrace Theater, KEIGWIN + COMPANY returns, bringing more of Artistic Director Larry Keigwin's signature provocative and witty style. The New York Times says, "Keigwin achieves astonishing feats of dancing…a parcel of pure explosive energy mediated by impressive technical skills." This parcel delivers shockwaves in a program that includes Megalopolis, a work that blends the structure of a futuristic city with the vibrancy of its late-night scene performed to a mash-up of music by Steve Reich and pop artist M.I.A. The hyper-kinetic piece has space age black and silver costumes and choreography that combines hip hop with club moves. Keigwin describes the work as "…a blend of formalism and pop. It's fun and serious."

Also on the program, Love Songs is a romantic and playful series of duets danced around the stages of love, unfolding to the sounds of Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, and Nina Simone.

Mattress Suite — set to a diverse range of music by Vivaldi, Verdi, Bill Withers, and Mack Gordon/Harry Warren — takes you behind the bedroom door in a series of duets and trios. The piece begins with the theme of love and marriage as a bride and groom express their desire for each other. But as the dance unfolds, complicated feelings take over and the dancers search for new relationships.

In the fashion-inspired Runaway, called "a thrilling coup d' theater" by Vanity Fair, 12 dancers in 1960s wear move down a runway of light in striking poses and bursts of aggression.

This tour engagement of KEIGWIN + COMPANY is funded through the Mid Atlantic Tours program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

ABOUT THE COMPANY
Founded in 2003 by Artistic Director Larry Keigwin and Associate Director Nicole Wolcott, KEIGWIN + COMPANY creates and presents Keigwin's electrifying brand of contemporary dance. K+C reaches national and international audiences and invigorates diverse communities with a refreshing vision of dance that embodies a theatrical sensibility of wit, style, and heart. Community projects and education seek to physically engage audiences and aspiring dancers in movement and the choreographic process, and bring opportunities for individuals to become more invested in dance. Since K+C's premiere performance at Joyce Soho, Keigwin has created 16 dances, including the large-scale Bolero and recent acclaimed works such as Runaway (2008), the site-specific Sidewalk (2009) and Bird Watching (2010).

Over the past eight years, K+C has presented performances throughout NYC and nationwide. K+C has received grants and generous support from National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program, The Greenwall Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The O'Donnell-Green Music & Dance Foundation, New York Foundation for the Arts, The Jerome Robbins New Essential Works Program, The Jerome Robbins Foundation, The Christian Keesee Charitable Trust, Dianne & Daniel Vapnek Family Fund, and the Royce Family Fund.

Larry Keigwin (Artistic Director) is a native New Yorker and graduate from Hofstra University, where he received a BA in Dance. He founded KEIGWIN + COMPANY in 2003 and as Artistic Director, Keigwin has led the company as it has performed at theaters and dance festivals throughout New York City and across the country.

In addition to his work with K+C, recent commissions include Works & Process at the Guggenheim, The Julliard School, The New York Choreographic Institute, and The Martha Graham Dance Company, among many others. In 2010, Keigwin was named the Vail International Dance Festival's first artist in residence, during which time he created and premiered a new work with four of ballet's most prominent stars. Also in 2010, he staged the opening event of Fashion Week: "Fashion's Night Out: The Show," which was produced by Vogue and featured over 150 of the industry's top models. In 2011, Keigwin choreographed the new musical Tales of the City, at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, as well as the new off-Broadway production of RENT, now running at New World Stages. Keigwin as most recently commissioned to create a new ballet on the Royal New Zealand Ballet in February 2012.

Keigwin's other choreographic credits include work with the pop band Fischerspooner, comedian Murray Hill, and as an associate choreographer for both The Radio City Rockettes and the Off-Broadway musical The Wild Party. Keigwin has also created Keigwin Kabaret, a fusion of modern dance, vaudeville, and burlesque presented by the Public Theater at Joe's Pub and by Symphony Space. As a dancer, Mr. Keigwin has danced at the Metropolitan Opera in Doug Varone's "Le Sacre Du Printemps" and Julie Taymor's "The Magic Flute," in addition to his work with Mark Dendy (receiving a Bessie Award in 1998 for his performance in "Dream Analysis"), Jane Comfort, John Jasperse, Doug Elkins, Zvi Gotheiner, and David Rousseve. He appeared in the Broadway show Dance of the Vampires and the Julie Taymor, Oscar nominated film "Across the Universe." He is a co-founder of the Green Box Arts Festival in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, a multi-disciplinary festival designed to increase cultural opportunities in the region, as well as provide creative residencies to choreographers.

For more information, visit www.keigwinandcompany.com.
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