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D i s s o n a n c e
2018 2019 Season 12
T h e a t r e
Shawn Short, Founder/Producing Artistic Director
D a n c e
Season
Season
2015 2016
2018 2019
Fall Forward Sept 29-30th, 2018 Christmas Playlist Dec 15-16th, 2018 Conundrum Jan 26th, 2019
Rewind To Fast Forward Feb 10th, 2019 Fluid March 2nd, 2019 Shake A Tail Feather May 19th-20th, 2019 *Dates subject to change. Contact our website for updates.
Innovation is a skill that requires great sacrifice. As we celebrate our 12th season, we are reminded of our commitment to pushing boundaries and artistic excellence. This season’s theme, motion innovatively, speaks to looking at ballet through multi-lenses of culture, race, and narrative. This notion of motion takes ballet through a myriad of dance genres - capitulating to diverse artistic voices and nuance.
We continue to be a space for emerging dance artists locally, nationally and internationally. Dissonance provides a home for contemporary exploration of classical ballet and modern dance styles. In this brochure, learn more about these exciting programs, our theatrical production season, community events and how you can help us grow. We hope to see you at the theatre.
We are excited to bring you another full season of dance artistry, with six exciting productions coming to the Atlas Performing Arts Center, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Proscenium Theatre @ UMBC, Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center. This season presents new and seasoned works inspired by culture, community, music and contemporary ballet choreographic innovation. We present seven world premieres, guest choreographers Jamie Thompson (Dallas Black), DC-area modern dance pillar Alvin Mayes, and Kameron D. Sanders (Jacob’s Pillow 2018 Choreography Fellow) collaborations with DC Strings and VF Dance Theater.
Shawn Short, MFA
Founder/Producing Artistic Director Principal Choreographer
Cover Image: Moyston Henry, Karina Biancone Left Image: Tony Sewer Images (c) Shawn Short
CONTENTS
Theatrical Season Pg. 1 Ticket Information Pg. 7 Guest Choreographers Pg. 8 Meet The Artists Pg. 10 Ngoma Center for Dance Pg. 12 Give to Ngoma/DDT Pg. 14 Stay Connected With Us Pg. 16
Dancer: Allison Eguchi
2018-2019 Season
Fall Forward
Sept 29-30th, 2018 The Clarice Smith PAC
A mixed-bill evening of dance ranging from classical to contemporary dance, Fall Forward features performances from The Ngoma School students. DDT presents three world premieres Rise, The Winds of Time, and The Happy Hour. Rise explores the range of emotion three men experience in the midst of uncertainty, fear, pain, and hope. Like dust, they rise. The Winds of Time honors and gives a homegoing to soul-singer, Aretha Franklin. The Happy Hour is a tutu ballet that sheds light on life’s jovial moments of self-expression, play, and friend interaction. Dancers: Christine Motta, Phillip Fobbs
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2018-2019 Season
Christimas Playlist Dec 15th-16th, 2018 The Clarice Smith PAC
DDT presents its first holiday show featuring The Ngoma School. A medley of holiday songs through the years, Christmas Playlist blends classical ballet tutus with jazz, hip-hop, and liturgical dance forms to create an evening of celebration. DDT presents world premieres: Gospel Suite, Nutcracker Medley. Gospel artists Richard Smallwood, Walter Hawkins and Byron Cage’s inspirational music create the soulful sounds in Short’s Gospel Suite - a ballet work dedicated to the strong women that have shaped his life. Nutcracker Medley is a wonderful excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s score with original choreography by Short. 2.
Dancers: Tony Sewer & Alexix Smith
Conundrum
2018-2019 Season
Jan 26th, 2019 Robert E. Parilla PAC
Live music and festive dance takes the stage in DDT’s production, Conundrum, which is inspired by the challenge of wanting to solve a difficult problem. Short presents Polish, Twitch, That Little Bitty Thing, and Drive 3+3 to the musical genius of Tchaikovsky, Glass, Bach, and more. Conundrum features youth performance by The Ngoma School and youth ensemble Varkas Dance Theatre. DC String Orchestra adds live music to the performance.
Dancers: Karina Biancone, Moyston Henry, Tony Sewer, Heather Carlson
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2018-2019 Season
Rewind 2 Fast Forward Feb 10th, 2019 Proscenium Theatre @ UMBC
DDT presents Rewind To Fast Foward, a mixed-bill evening performance for the Greater Baltimore area. Dissonance Dance Theatre performs DDT favorites (Symphonic Dances, Key in Ebony, Gira, Sweet Poison, Prayer, Love is My Game) and new work, Rise.
Dancer: Phillip Fobbs
4.
2018-2019 Season
Fluid
March 2nd, 2019 Atlas Performing Arts Center
To have no hard edges makes one capable of constant flow. Fluid is an evening work inspired by physical theater, Afro-modern presented through contemporary ballet. Fluid is performed to the music of Ezio Bosso, Lo Cor de la Plana, Kronos Quartet, and more. Centered around a cast of strangers, nowhere but somewhere, Fluid examines human kindness and emotion through the life trials of trust, lost, betrayal and love.
Dancer: Heather Carlson
5.
2018-2019 Season
Shake A Tail Feather
May 19th-20th,2019 Atlas Performing Arts Center
Get funky and free with Shake A Tail Feather, an evening of dance inspired by the pop music of the 20th century. DDT and The Ngoma School, finishes its season with a community-filled bang. Celebration is in the air, as DDT present performs DDT. Featured Works: Silo, Journey, Bitter Blood, Rise, Big Band Suite, Love Is My Game, and student performances. 6.
DDT Trainee Dancers: Kristen King, Moses Brown
Season & Tickets Dissonance Dance Theatre hopes you will join us for a world of dance that awaits you as part of our season. DDT is pleased to announce its 2018-2019 season, presenting another exciting line-up of programs. Group sales are encouraged to purchase online where they will see discount in cart balance. Production Ticket Prices: Rewind 2 Fast Forward Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts Regular - $30.00 Senior Citizen - $25.00 Non-UMD Student - $15.00 UMD Student & Youth - $10.00 Christmas Playlist Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts Regular - $30.00 Senior Citizen - $25.00 Non-UMD Student - $15.00 UMD Student & Youth - $10.00
Conundrum Robert E. Parilla PAC $30 General Admission $20 Students $10 Youth Rewind 2 Fast Forward Proscenium Theatre @ UMBC $25 General Admission $15 Students Fluid Atlas Performing Arts Center $30 General Admission $15 Students/Seniors Shake A Tail Feather Atlas Performing Arts Center $30 General Admission $20 Students, Seniors
Purchase tickets in person: Tickets for all performances are available for purchase starting one hour prior to performances. Purchase tickets online Online ticket sales are available for all shows - visit our website www.ngcfddt.org. 7.
Guest Choreographers 8.
Kameron N. Saunders (2018 Jacob’s Pillow Choreographer Fellow) Kameron N. Saunders was born in St. Louis, MO. He is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography. He graduated from Metro Academic & Classical High School while doing his dance training at COCA (Center of Creative Arts). His performance experience includes UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, Webster University, COCADance and Ballet Eclectica – two of COCA’s student dance companies. Kameron is currently a principal dancer with Afriky Lolo; a West-African dance company in St. Louis, MO under the direction of Diadie Bathily. He has also performed as a guest artist with Störling Dance Theater in Kansas City. Kameron has worked with renowned artists such as Alicia Graf Mack, Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Sally Bliss, Christine O’Neal, Kirk Peterson, Michael Uthoff, Jon Lehrer, Kate Skarpetowska, Kirven J. Douthit-Boyd, Edgar Anido, Ray Mercer, Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Gary Abbott, DeeAnna Hiett, Cecil Slaughter, Lara Teeter, Lee Nolting, and Daisha Graf. Jamie Thompson A native of Belize, Central America, Jamie Thompson is internationally known and respected for his vision, professionalism and commitment to excellence. He spent his formative years on philanthropic endeavors through the arts. A highlight from those experiences was serving as director and choreographer for productions presented by the Rotary Club of Belize (2005-2009). In addition to his volunteerism, he began formal dance training with the Belize National Dance Company and The Dramatic Forces School of Dance. His 8.
passion for dance, stirred by the tutelage of the two institutions, led him to a successful pursuit of earning a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. After college, his professional dance experience began with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (2010-2014). Since then, he has performed with the Bruce Wood Dance Project, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, and Collin Country Ballet Theatre. Recently, Jamie, served as the Executive/ Artistic Director for the International Conservatory of Performing Arts in North Texas. Currently, he is the Founder and CEO of LyveARTS International LLC- an international organization that is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining a global arts community. Alvin Mayes (Head of Univ of MD, College Park, Undergrad Program.) Mr. Mayes is a DC-area modern dance pillar. He has choreographed regualarly for Maryland Youth Ballet, The Bender Jewish Community Center, Montgomery College in Rockville and the Community College of Baltimore County CCBC at Essex. Alvin Mayes holds a BA in Mathematics from the University of Michigan and teacher certification. He studied modern dance technique with Elizabeth Bergmann, Gloria Newman and Jan Van Dyke, Ballet with Karen Shanley and Eric Hampton, Partnering with Antony Tutor, Choreography and Improvisation with Phyllis Lamhut. Alvin Mayes’ research involves making dance for diverse communities. In summer 2012 he was invited to Manta, Ecuador to work with contemporary dance company Compañía Ceibadanza. Los Ojos Sobre Manabí, which he created there, was accepted into XI Festival Internacional “Fragmentos de Junio” 2013 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In summer 2013 he received a grant from the Greenbaum Charitable Foundation to return to Ecuador to create a new work for the youth of Manta, Escenas del Oeste, and a collaborative work with Compañía Ceibadanza, Momentos en Tiempo (por fotografías de nos famílias) and Désdamona. 9.
2018-2019 Dancerss
Allison Eguchi Co-Rehearsal Associate Senior Artist
Phillip Fobbs Co-Rehearsal Associate Artist
Momo Sakai Choreographer Assistant Senior Artist
Emma Button Senior Artist
Christine Motta Senior Artist
Jaylon Givan Senior Artist
Tony Sewer Senior Artist
Karina Biancone Artist
Heather Carlson Artist
Moyston Henry Jr. Artist
Alexix Smith Artist
Anthony Spivey Artist
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Artistic Leadership/Administrators
Sydney Crawson Apprentice
Chris Holland, LD/Technical Director
Shawn Short, MFA Founder Director Principal Choreographer
* For dancer and staff bios visit our webiste, www.ngcfddt.org
Jun 17th July 13th, 2019 Classical Ballet Contemporary Jazz Modern - Horton Pointe Musical Theater Dance
Dancer: JaKyla Lewis (c) Shawn Short
Univ of MD - Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Summer DanceLab
The Ngoma School
Auditions start December 2018 - April 2019
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Ngoma Center for Dance
www.ngcfddt.org The Ngoma School
The official school of Dissonance Dance Theatre, DC’s Only African-American managed, and nationally-recognized contemporary ballet. Serving over 200 students annually since 2014, The Ngoma School is emerging as a Washington, DC area dance-school destination for students interested in a professional concert dance career. Currently serving students as young as 5 years old, to young adults who received a late start to their professional dance training. Dance classes, workshops, masterclasses, and auditions are facilitated at Univ of Maryland College Park. We offer levels I, II, IIA, our summer program – Summer DanceLab, and our trainee program. 12.
Images: Ngoma Students (c) Ngoma Center for Dance
Black Ballerinas Matter Ngoma Center for Dance assists with the national initiative to provide more spaces to train ballerinas of color. This summer is a milestone in its efforts. Ngoma Center for Dance’s Founding Director Shawn Short, had a dream in 2012 and it is beginning to blossom. This summer completes phase one with Ngoma investing $108,000. The investment covered facility and staff costs, pointe (demipointe) shoes purchases, tutu-tacking classes, and production fees. Eight budding ballerinas begin pointe training this upcoming school year. “DC Black dance companies have always been cultural treasures to communities since 1934. The companies even helped to develop neighboring Black-majority Prince George’s county’s (Maryland) dance arts scene. We should be able to build equity in ourselves and for our communities.” - Shawn Short 13.
YOUR GIFTS MAKES HAPPEN AT WE CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE
WE CELEBRATE COMMUNITY
Ngoma Center for Dance believes in creating quality programs that build community, create jobs and enhance the arts industry of the Washington, D.C. area and beyond.
Ngoma Center for Dance is building community from “East of The River” to across the Potomac, and into welcoming Prince George’s County, MD. Since our inception in 2012, we have impacted the lives of over 5,000 patrons/ students/arts enthusiasts through dance training, workshops increasing opportunities for dancers 18 to 26 years old; particularly in Ward 7 DC.
WE TRAIN DANCERS Since Dissonance Dance Theatre’s start in 2007, we have alum dancing in Complexions, Garth Fagan, Virginia Ballet Theatre, Philadanco Dance Company, Adieum Dance, Carolyn Dorfman Dance and Deeply Rooted Dance, Universoul Circus, Cruiseships, and Broadway. 14.
IT ALL NGOMA THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
DC Commission on The Arts & Humanities Eugene M. Lang Foundation Prince George’s County MNCPPC - Arts & Heritage Division Our Individual Donors & Supporters - You Rock!
The NGOMA Circle Starting this fall, we are launching our “The Ngoma Circle” (TNC) program. Participants in the TNC will receive discounts on shows and classes, private viewings of new works in studio, and online access to interviews and previews. All the above for $50 a year! For more information, visit our website:
www.ngcfddt.org
You Can Inspire MORE! Ways to Give: ONLINE: www.ngcfddt.org/support PHONE (General Inquiry) 202-540-8338 MAIL P.O. Box 2377 Washington, DC 20013 EMAIL info@ngcfddt.org FAX
WE ARE GROWING WITH YOUR CONTINUED HELP
(CC Form on homepage)
202-399-0174
With an ambitious upcoming season, an increase in dancers entertaining, more dance programming for the general public and goals for more and more community development projects Ngoma wants to help reach your dance training goals, and enjoy great dance entertainment. 15.
Get Connected Be Informed Stay in the loop and keep up to date with Ngoma/ Dissonance Information.
Follow US Twitter: @dissonancedance Facebook: @DDTNgoma Instagram: @Ngoma_ddtdc
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Dancers: Alexix Smith, Tony Sewer (c) Shawn Short
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Board of Directors Corey McDougle MBA, Chair/Interim Tresurer Tyler Lewis, Vice Chair Shawn Short MFA, President Tisa Huff, Secretary
Dissonance Dance Theatre is a Washington, D.C.-based professional dance company founded in 2007 by Shawn Short. Since its inception, Dissonance Dance Theatre has performed for local and national audiences on the east coast and in the midwest states. Starting as a project of dear friends, Dissonance has grown to house artists from across the U.S. and beyond. A contemporary ballet that blends “classic” modern styles such as Horton, Graham, Limon with nuances of classical ballet, Dissonance is becoming known for its theatrical presence and exceptional artistry. Evoking emotional experiences in the audiences we touch, Dissonance’s cutting-edge repertoire features works that are socially and visually appealing to audiences while remaining true to its mission; challenging audience’s assumptions about the human experience through dance.
Ngoma Center for Dance (N-Go-mah) is a 501(c)3 arts organization whose mission is to provide a conduit between multicultural dance artists and their enthusiasts across generations and social classes with a deeper understanding of the art of dance through intense community integration, inspirational performance, competitive training, and artist development.
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Dancer: Christine Motta (c) Shawn Short
Dissonance Dance Theatre is a program of Ngoma Center for Dance. Ngoma Center for Dance is a registered non-profit of Washington, D.C. The information contained in this brochure is correct at the time of printing. Dissonance Dance Theatre reserves the right to make alterations where necessary without prior notice. Above: Alexix Smith Photo by Shawn Short.