Dawson/Wallace Dance Project presents "Ascending Light" on stage March 14-15, 2014 at Colorado's Lakewood Cultural Center. Under the artistic direction of award-winning choreographer Gregory Dawson, this year's annual Spring Concert features original choreography by Dawson set to the Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, as well as new Dawson choreography set to a score composed personally for Dawson by contemporary jazz musician/composer Richard Howell.

Dawson explains his inspiration for creating the diptych concerts: "Handel and Howell share with the listener their respective interpretation of the life and times in which they exist. We will explore the nuances within these two diverse composers' work. To us, movement is inspired by sound, which elevates the senses that trigger locomotion. The possibilities are limitless."

Performances are Friday, March 14, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Cultural Center. The Saturday program includes admission to the company's annual gala/silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. Both take place at Lakewood Cultural Center.

Tickets are $28 for adults; $22 for students, seniors and children ages 3-12; and are available at 303.987.7845 or www.Lakewood.org/Tickets or the Lakewood Cultural Center Box Office, 470 S. Allison Parkway (Wadsworth and West Alameda Avenue). Group discounts are available. Free parking.

About Gregory Dawson

Recently acclaimed as "Denver's best choreographer" by The Denver Post, Gregory Dawson is the artistic director of Dawson/Wallace Dance Project—a Denver based company with professional presence in San Francisco. A native of Chicago, the award-winning choreographer began his training at Ruth Page School of Ballet before attending Southern Illinois at Edwardsville where he studied with the legendary Katherine Dunham. He continued his studies in San Francisco with Evelyn Schuert and Alonzo King. Dawson began dancing professionally with Theatre Ballet Canadian before returning to the Bay Area where he performed with Oakland Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theater, Sacramento Ballet and the San Francisco Opera Ballet, and eventually joined LINES in 1987. After retiring from dancing in 2005, Dawson remained with LINES/Dominican University BFA program where he is currently professor and choreographer. At LINES, his piece, "Solid Soil Beneath Our Feet" was presented at the prestigious American College Dance Festival. Dawson has also served on the faculty for the Ruth Asawa San Francisco High School for the Arts and as assistant director of the California State Summer School of the Arts (CSSSA) Dance department. In 2007, Dawson formed dawsondance SF. His piece, "Which Light in the Sky is Us," was nominated for an Izzy award.

About Dawson Wallace Dance Project

Dawson Wallace Dance Project (DWDP), formerly David Taylor Dance Theater, has been bringing high quality, innovative, contemporary ballet to Denver audiences and students of dance for more than thirty years. The company performs three signature concerts annually: Both a Fall and Spring Show which feature new choreography by the company's artistic director and guest choreographers; and an contemporary rendition of the winter holiday classic, "The Nutcracker" every December. In addition, the company performs educational programs such as "A Children's Rainforest Odyssey" and "Nutcracker in a Nut Shell" throughout the Metro Denver area and beyond. An annual summer dance intensive allows emerging artists to study with the artistic director as well as guest choreographers of national acclaim.

Dawson/Wallace Dance Project is generously supported by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), The Denver Ballet Guild, and The Diana Burk Vickery Foundation.

www.dawsonwallace.org