Beautiful Knuckleheads Program

SEP 4 – 6, 2014 8PM

BEAUTIFUL KNUCKLEHEADS Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre DarkCirclesContemporaryDance.com

BEAUTIFUL KNUCKLEHEADS

DARK CIRCLES CONTEMPORARY DANCE SEP4 – 6 / 8PM

Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre 1300 Gendy Street Fort Worth, Texas 76107

JOSHUA L. PEUGH / founder artistic director

CHADI EL-KHOURY MIKE ESPERANZA guest choreographers

Dancers

Board of Directors

EMILY BERNET

DANNY ANCHONDO JR.

SALVATORE BONILLA

BRYAN BLACKMON

ALEX KARIGAN FARRIOR

DALLAS BLAGG

DEXTER GREEN

ALICIA CHANG

ZAC HAMMER

EVAN FARRIOR

SARAH HAMMONDS

DR. KATHRYN LARSON

STEFFANI LOPEZ

JOSHUA L. PEUGH

KELSEY ROHR

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ABOUT THE COMPANY Dark Circles Contemporary Dance (DCCD) was founded by Joshua L. Peugh and Cho Hyun Sang and had its first performance in the spring of 2010 in Seoul, South Korea.

Since then, the internationally acclaimed company has performed all over Asia, Europe, and North America.

Commended for innovative combinations of classical technique and modern movement styles, DCCD explores the depths of human connections within a multicultural framework, taking a cross-cultural approach to the moving body.

The Company’s newest branch - based in North Texas and lead by internationally award-winning choreographer Joshua L. Peugh - bridges the gap between East and West. Hailed as “a rising star in the Dallas dance arena” (DIYdancer.com), DCCD made its American debut in 2013 and was soon after recognized in the top ten of TheaterJones’ “2013 Review: The Year in Dance.” It has been praised as “frequently stunning, and always fascinating” (DFW.com).

DCCD is dedicated to bringing the progressive work of international choreographers and dancers to a worldwide audience. It strives to educate the public on the power of movement in communicating ideas.

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Dear Friends, Welcome to our Fall Series at the Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre!

DCCD’s inaugural season in North Texas was met with excitement and praise taking top slots on the Dallas Morning News, Star-Telegram, and TheaterJones’ lists of the best dance performances of 2013. We also performed at international dance festivals in Houston, New York, Canada and Germany as well as joining Dallas Black Dance Theatre II at Dallas City Performance Hall and Avant Chamber Ballet at the Eisemann Center as their guest company.

In January, we participated in the first annual Dancers Give Back Dallas performance to raise money for Micaela’s Army Foundation, which supports pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancer patients and their families.

Our second season promises more exciting opportunities to tour as well as to continue outreach in the local community, but it begins tonight with three premieres.

I met Chadi El-Khoury nine years ago before he began his dance training. I have watched his career unfold in the last few years and am very excited to introduce North Texas audiences to his soothing and absorbing work. I am also happy to offer him the opportunity to ripen his choreographic voice through the use of DCCD’s thoughtful dancers.

Last spring, guest choreographer Mike Esperanza and I met at a dance festival in New York where Dark Circles and Mike’s BARE Dance Company performed side-by-side.

Mike’s work had been on my radar for a while, and I was pleased to meet him and see his choreography live. He has a unique voice and creates fascinating images with the moving body in light and space. Tonight, you will see the world premiere of NUCLEUS, which we have commissioned for this program.

Beautiful Knuckleheads—my new creation for this evening’s program—came about quite by accident. Finding music and something to dance about can be quite difficult. As I sat frustrated in my favorite coffee shop one morning, trying to find a beginning for a new work, I began to dance on my barstool. One of the baristas was playing Hall & Oates’ album Rock ‘N Soul, Pt. 1. I thought to myself, “This is great music . . .” It made me want to move; it gave me pleasure and reminded me of my childhood. I wanted to create something with a lightness; something the audience could find familiar. I hope the result is fun, and that you can find beauty in the foolishness.

Sincerely,

JOSHUA L. PEUGH founder

& artistic director

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Words in Motion C ompany P remiere

Choreography: Chadi El-Khoury Music: “Without Any Considerable Proportion� by Hunter Long Lighting Design: Nikki DeShea Smith Dancers: Emily Bernet, Alex Karigan Farrior, Dexter Green, Sarah Hammonds, Steffani Lopez, and Kelsey Rohr

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NUCLEUS W O R L D P remiere

Choreography: Mike Esperanza Music: “Fehl” by F.S. Blumm; “Freeze-Frames” & “Dissolving Clouds”

by Biosphere; “No Sorrowing” by Ben Frost; “In the Dark”, “I Put a Spell On You” and “Seems I’m Never Tired Lovin’ You” by Nina Simone Lighting Design: Nikki DeShea Smith Dancers: Emily Bernet, Salvatore Bonilla, Dexter Green (9/4), Zac Hammer (9/5 & 9/6), Steffani Lopez, and Kelsey Rohr

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BEAUTIFUL

KNUCKLEHEADS

BEAUTIFUL KNUCKLEHEADS W O R L D P remiere

Choreography: Joshua L. Peugh Music: “Kiss On My List”, “Maneater”, “Sara Smile”, and “Private Eyes” by Daryl Hall & John Oates Lighting Design: Nikki DeShea Smith SET Design: Carlos Nicholls Mejia Dancers: Emily Bernet, Salvatore Bonilla (9/4 & 9/6), Alex Karigan Farrior, Dexter Green, Zac Hammer (9/5), Sarah Hammonds, Steffani Lopez, Joshua L. Peugh, and Kelsey Rohr

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Joshua L. Peugh

is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and an Adjunct Lecturer of Dance at Southern Methodist University. In 2006, Joshua moved to South Korea to join Universal Ballet Company where he performed soloist and featured roles in the works of Ohad Naharin, Christopher Wheeldon and others. After two-and-a-half years with the company, Joshua left UBC and co-founded Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, in Seoul. Since then, he has created work for festivals all over Asia, Europe, and North America winning awards for his choreography in Korea, Japan, and Canada. He has been described by the New York Times as “an important discovery”, and has been commissioned to create new dance works for BODYTRAFFIC, BalletX, MOTION Dance Theatre, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, Southern Methodist University, and Booker T. Washington HSPVA. He has also served as a juror for the Asian Film Festival of Dallas, as Associate Choreographer for Bruce Wood Dance Project, and as a member of the adjudication panel for the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet Competition.

Chadi El-Khoury

a native of Beirut, Lebanon, spent his formative years in Dallas, Texas. He began his ballet training at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2010, Chadi graduated with a B.A. in Theology and Sociology as well as a minor in Applied Research Methods from Creighton before pursuing a B.F.A. at University of Missouri, Kansas City, Conservatory of Music and Dance. In September of 2013, Chadi was selected as a performing artist for Charlotte Street Foundation’s Urban Culture Project Studio Residency Program. Chadi has also been selected to participate in the inaugural PUSHfest Dance Festival at the state-of-the-art ODC Theater in San Francisco, California later this fall.

Mike Esperanza

Born in Manila, Philippines and raised in Southern California, Mike Esperanza has established himself as a sought after teacher and choreographer. With a BFA in graphic design from California State University, Fullerton, Mike’s approach to visual construction has influenced a unique movement orchestration on stage described as “captivating visuals of impeccable lines and shapes” Jessica Abejar, Broadway World. His works have been commissioned by prestigious college and university dance programs including Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, UNLV, and Grand Valley State University to name a few. In 2005, Mike was awarded the “Dance: Creation for Performance” grant presented by Dance/USA and the Irvine Foundation. With this distinguished award, BARE Dance Company began. Mike has also been a finalist at the Palm Desert Dance Under the Stars Choreography Festival in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 taking second place in 2009 and winning the paid engagement award in 2010. In 2011, BARE was part of the “Innerstate” roster presented by ODC Theater and funded by the Irvine Foundation. The program allowed the company to tour California and present the Lester Horton nominated show “Manhattan”. In 2014, Mike received the Steps Repertory Ensemble Commission award at the Reverb Dance Festival and became the recipient of the CUNY Dance Initiative grant creating a new work, VENIMOUS, for LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. Mike Currently teaches at Peridance, Steps on Broadway, and serves as a guest teacher at Broadway Dance Center.

Emily Bernet

is a native of Dallas, Texas and is currently pursing a BFA in Dance Performance at Southern Methodist University. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Emily has performed in works by Joost Vrouenraets, Dwight Rhoden, and Larry Keigwin among others, and has attended summer intensives with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Emily is a founding member of DCCD’s United States branch.

Salvatore Bonilla

is a native of Puerto Rico. He began his dance training at CCCEPA performing arts magnet program at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton Georgia. He is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance at Southern Methodist University. Salvatore has performed works by Bill T. Jones, Adam Hougland, and Maurice Brandon Curry. This is his first season with DCCD.

Alex Karigan Farrior

was born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Dallas, Texas. She received a BFA from Southern Methodist University. Alex has danced professionally with Amy Marshall Dance Company, BODYART, ModArts Dance Collective, and Bruce Wood Dance Project. In addition to performing, Alex has also collaborated with renowned dance photographer, Lois Greenfield, and has been featured in Ms. Greenfield’s 2011, 2012, and 2013 Breaking Bounds calendars.

Alex is currently pursing an MFA in Classical & Contemporary Dance at Texas Christian University. Alex joined Dark Circles Contemporary Dance in the spring of 2014.

Dexter Green

is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He began his dance training at the age of three at Tari’s School of Dance and later joined Revolution Dance Co. In 2011, Dexter graduated from Catholic High School. He is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance at Southern Methodist University where he has performed works by Bill T. Jones, Adam Hougland, Joost Vrouenrates, Joshua L. Peugh and Bruce Wood.

Dexter is a founding member of DCCD’s United States branch.

Zac Hammer

began his dance training at age ten with Charlotte Wendel and Densil Adams. During his early training, he apprenticed with Ballet Oklahoma, under the direction of Bryan Pitts. In 2007, Zac graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University, where his original choreography was produced as part of the main stage season. He has been cast in numerous industrials, and is a nationally recognized teacher of ballet, modern, and jazz. From 2007 to 2010, Zac toured both abroad and domestically with Parsons Dance, and for the past four years has been a dancer in the New York City cast of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Other companies include: the Nicholas Andre Dance Company, Amy Marshall Dance Company, dre.dance, and Alison Chase Performance. He continues to dance, teach and choreograph throughout the country. This is his first season with DCCD.

Sarah Hammonds

a native of Dallas, Texas, graduated cum laude from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Marketing. Prior to attending SHSU, Sarah studied dance at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she performed works by Peter Chu, Nathan Trice, Jessica Lang, Jennifer Mabus, and several others. At SHSU she had the privilege of performing in works by guest artists IMEE, Gina Swarenson, and David Justin. In 2012, she represented SHSU at the American College Dance Festival where she performed Spin Cycle Symphony choreographed

by Ashley Clos. Sarah has also performed as a guest artist with NobleMotion Dance and assisted director Andy Noble in setting his work. She joined DCCD in the spring of 2014.

Steffani Lopez

is a native of Dallas, Texas. She began her training at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center and Motion Center for Dance. Steffani has continued her training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where she is a member of Repertory Dance Company II. She has performed works by Robert Battle, Joshua L. Peugh, Andy Noble, and Dwight Rhoden among others. Steffani is a founding member of DCCD’s United States branch.

Kelsey Rohr

is from Richmond, Virginia where she started studying dance at Richmond Ballet through their public outreach program, Minds in Motion. She has performed works by George Balanchine, Adam Hougland, Ohad Naharin, Salvatore Aiello, and Joshua L. Peugh and has attended summer programs at Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She is currently pursuing a BFA at Southern Methodist University. This is Kelsey’s first season with DCCD.

Support DCCD’s FUTURE

Like most organizations creating and performing concert dance, DCCD depends on donations from big-hearted supporters like you. Please consider making a donation to Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, so we can continue to bring the universal language of movement to a worldwide audience. A donation in any amount is helpful. Donations can be made through our website: DarkCirclesContemporaryDance.com

donors DCCD is funded in part by the generosity of the following donors: Mr. & Mrs. Blake A. Bernet Scott & Renee Rohr Scott & Cherri Wallis Ric & Kim Abel Read & Steve Gendler Dr. Shelley Berg Karen P. Kriete Katherine Karigan Katie Puder Travis Acreman Van & Colette Bullock Carrie Jane Loftis Chester Alexander

Tania Albarracin

Carlos Nicholls Mejia

Amy Farrior

Daniel Buraczeski

Daniel Anchondo

Lisa Lagravinese

Heather Guthrie

Laura Vechione

Derek Bumpas

Michele Self

Alicia Chang

Jennifer Mabus

Brian Kenny

Tye Love

Leslie Peck

Dallas Blagg

Larry Lane

Katie Puder

David J. Deveau

Bridget L. Moore

Sondra Golzad

Hyun-Jun Rhee

Estela Tejeda-Moreno

Yoo-Hee Son

Patty Harrington Delaney

Angela Santoyo

Special thanks to Preston Center Dance, Kreative J, Tania Lopez, Asian Film Festival of Dallas, SMU Meadows School of the Arts, TCU School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, and Eugenia P. Stallings.

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October 17-18, 2014

The Dance Gallery Festival Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas

October 26, 2014

The Dance Gallery Festival: Level UP Ailey City Group Theatre New York, New York

January 29-31, 2014

Winter Series at the Sanders Theatre Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre Fort Worth, Texas

February 21, 2015 7:30PM

AIDS Outreach Center Benefit Concert Erma Lowe Hall Studio Theatre Fort Worth, Texas

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

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