CityDance 2 014 – 2 015
CityDance
O N S TAG E P R E S E N T I N G TO DAY’S B E S T DA N C E
Presenting and producing professional dance at venues across the DC metropolitan area
SCHOOL & C O N S E R VAT O RY TR AI N I N G TOMO R ROW’S PRO FESS I O NAL S
Training young dancers for professional careers
REACH DC T E AC H I N G I N O U R C O M M U N I T I E S
Providing free dance education programs for thousands of students each year
Bringing great dance to the DC metropolitan region Alexe Nowakowski
citydance.net
Executive Director
Dancers: Conservatory students Lara Segrillo & Leonardo Moraes Photo: Theo Kossenas – Media 4 Artists
Dancer: K. Kimura Company: Jessica Lang Photo: Takao Komaru Thumbnail Ignite artist: Sarah J. Ewing Photo: Maggie Picard
O N S TA G E
CityDance OnStage brings acclaimed international companies to the region’s most prestigious performance venues and supports talented, emerging choreographers to create and present original work.
O N S TA G E T H I S S E A S O N
+ Dance Theatre of Harlem (October): “One of ballet’s most exciting undertakings.” – The New York Times + Jessica Lang Dance (March): “Lang is a master of visual composition.” – Dance Magazine + G allim Dance (April): “…excellent, inventive and impressive.” – The New York Times Co-presented with Washington Performing Arts.
+ DREAMscape (May) - CityDance’s Annual Dance Spectacular at the historic Lincoln Theatre on U Street. An evening of dazzling performances by dance superstars from around the country. Co-produced by Rasta Thomas
“Finally D.C. has a gala of its own!” – Washington City Paper “Virtuosic … the audience went wild.” – The Washington Post Proceeds support CityDance’s DREAM program See back page for full ticket information and calendar of events. O N S TA G E I G N I T E
CityDance seeks out rising choreographic stars and provides them resources to create and present new work. Artists receive marketing, public relations and administrative support, in addition to free rehearsal space. MEET THIS SEASON’S IGNITE ARTISTS
“CityDance treated us to one of the most thoroughly enjoyable evenings
Asanga Domask (Sri Lanka) is the founder and artistic director of SerendibDance, a Sri Lankan
of dancing I’ve ever seen.”
traditional and folk dance company. “As long as Asanga Domask is at work, she ensures the future of traditional Sri Lankan dance.”
- 2014 DREAMscape audience member
– The Washington Post
Sarah J. Ewing (Australia) is the founder and artistic director of S.J. Ewing & Dancers. She’s a recipient of the 2013 Local Dance Commissioning Project from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “Ewing embraced simplicity and efficiency in her movement and overall aesthetic, and I luxuriated in it.” – Rick Westerkamp, DC Metro Theater Arts.
Jason Garcia Ignacio (Philippines) is an internationally acclaimed dancer, teacher and choreographer. He has won: the 2009 DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Emerging Artist; the 2009 Metro DC Dance Award for Outstanding Individual Performance and was the 2010 recipient of the Local Dance Commissioning Project from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. One of the “Top 20 Showstopper Artists” – Washingtonian Magazine
Robert J. Priore (USA) has created celebrated works on companies such as Dayton Contemporary Dance and Nomi Dance Company. This season he’ll debut work across the nation, from The John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts Millennium Stage to The Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City and the Gaertner Performing Arts Center in Houston, Texas. “As the Choreographer-in-Residence, Rob contributes an essential artistic element to the development of the Conservatory.” – CityDance School & Conservatory Artistic Director Lorraine Spiegler
Conservatory students: Allegra Kirksey Thumbnail: Makani Yerg Photos: Theo Kossenas, Media 4 Artists
S C H O O L & C O N S E R VAT O R Y
The CityDance School & Conservatory prepares young dancers for 21st century careers. With training that is steeped in a Vaganova-based ballet curriculum, integrated with core contemporary techniques and augmented by world dance forms, CityDance graduates are prepared for the virtuosic requirements of a modern-day dancer.
Led by Artistic Director Lorraine Spiegler, the School & Conservatory is home to a world-class faculty including Ballet Mistress Ludmila Morkovina and Ballet Master Anatoli Kucheruk. The School & Conservatory is founded on four pillars: superlative training; a diverse curriculum; experience with the professional world; and rich performance opportunities. BUILDING BRIDGES TO THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD
CityDance believes that aspiring young artists must have direct interaction with professionals and exposure to a diversity of cultures, perspectives and genres of dance. Funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the School & Conservatory invites artists from around the world to work with students. Recent residencies include: Hubbard Street 2 (Chicago); Ronald K. Brown / Evidence (New York); Alex Neoral (Brazil); Koresh Dance Company
“When a CityDance graduate goes out into the real world, they are more equipped than many adults and professionals I know.”
- Maleek Washington, CityDance Guest Artist, Collaborator with Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion
The CityDance School & Conservatory is located at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland
(Philadelphia), and Vishal Kanoi (India). CityDance’s Master Series are classes held every
TA K I N G T H E S TA G E
Saturday and taught by guest master teachers hailing
CityDance students perform often in the CityDance
from around the region and the country in a variety
Studio Theater at Strathmore, in Strathmore Music
of disciplines.
Center’s 2,000-seat concert hall, and with CityDance OnStage and Ignite artists on stages across the DC
In Fall 2013, CityDance established a partnership
metropolitan area. For the 2014-2015 season, students
with Dance Theatre of Harlem which includes: an
will perform at Sidney Harman Hall in the VelocityDC
annual summer intensive; master classes; setting
Dance Festival; The Phillips Collection with Ignite artist
company repertory, and welcomes DTH teacher and
Jason Igancio; Lansburgh Theatre with Gallim Dance;
former principal, Andrea Long, in residence for the
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with
2014-15 school year as a guest faculty member.
Ignite Artist Robert J. Priore, and at the Historic Lincoln
“The partnership and collaboration with CityDance
Theatre in CityDance’s annual DREAMscape gala.
highlights the very best of the of what Dance Theatre of
C I T Y D A N C E AT M A D E I R A & P O T O M A C
Harlem is about – using the power of art to encompass
Bringing its stellar faculty and curriculum to area
excellence both on stage with professionals and in the
schools, CityDance has been directing the dance
studio with young dancers.” –Virginia Johnson, Artistic
program at the Madeira School for ten years and
Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem
provides classes at the Potomac School. Both schools are located in McLean, Virginia.
DREAM students at Lincoln Theatre Thumbnail DREAM students rehearsing for Wizards halftime Photos: Barbara L. Salisbury
REACHDC
ReachDC is at the heart of CityDance’s vision for a thriving DC arts community, where every child, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to the benefits of an arts education and where worldclass dance is available to all.
Led by Director Kelli Quinn, ReachDC provides thousands of area students with fundamental exposure to the arts, by providing free in-school and after-school programs, summer camps and field trips to professional performances. Community partners include: DC Public Schools; DEA Youth Dance Program; KIPP DC Charter Schools; Montgomery County Department of Recreation; The Sitar Arts Center; Springboard After School, and Washington Performing Arts. CityDance was a 2013 Finalist for the President’s National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award and the 2014 Winner of DC Mayor’s Arts Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Art.
R E AC H D C ’S D R E A M P R O G R A M
An intensive 32-week after-school program, DREAM is ReachDC’s flagship program. Students in grades three through five learn the technique, history and evolution of a wide variety of genres, perform throughout the city, attend professional performances and engage in community service projects. Through dance, students learn to create success in their lives and to positively impact their communities. DREAM’s annual highlights include performing at Washington Wizards halftime and at the historic Lincoln Theatre with many of their favorite dance superstars.
“Dancing for many people, including me, is the best
DREAM ALUMNI
SUMMER
feeling in the world.”
In 2012, the DREAM Alumni program was launched
CityDance offers Dancing in One Language summer
for 6th to 12th grade DREAM graduates. Students
camps to DREAM students as an extension of the
continue their dance training; participate in a spring
programs offered during the year. Students take
break field trip to NYC; receive academic tutoring and
dance classes in a variety of genres, attend field trips
support in preparing for college, and have the option
to DC cultural attractions, and perform for their peers
to mentor fellow students and participate in summer
and community.
- Milena Moratto, Oyster-Adams Bilingual School
internships at CityDance. DANCE ACROSS DC
A cast of CityDance artists offers a performance series, Dancing in One Language, to schools across the
“Not only is DREAM fun, but you get to grow as a dancer and a person. You inspire others and others inspire you.”
region. Students come to understand how dance is a
– DREAM alumni Chyna McLeary. Chyna
universal language giving them a voice in their community.
has been with CityDance for seven years and started as a DREAM student at CW Harris Elementary.
2 014 -15 S E A S O N C A L E N D A R
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ms. Karen Thomas, Chair Ms. Emily Lenzner, Vice Chair
Ms. Kay Kendall, Secretary
O N S TAG E P E R FO R M A N C E S
STUDENT PERFORMANCES
Dance Theatre of Harlem
CityDance Conservatory students
Fri, Oct 17 - Sun, Oct 19
in VelocityDC Dance Festival
Sidney Harman Hall • $30-65
Thu, Oct 9 - Fri, Oct 10 at 8:00 PM
co-presented with Washington Performing Arts
Sidney Harman Hall • $18
Jessica Lang Dance
Ms. Marcy Butler, Treasurer
Sat, Mar 28 at 8:00 PM
Mrs. Lauren Talbott, Vice Treasurer
GWU Lisner Auditorium • $25-38 co-presented with Washington Performing Arts
Mr. Scott Logan
Mrs. Barbara Josephs Liotta
Gallim Dance Thu, Apr 16 - Fri, Apr 17 at 8:00 PM
Ms. Nancy Tartt
Ms. Linda Potter
Lansburgh Theatre • $30 + Appearance by Conservatory students
CityDance Conservatory as guests of Maryland Classic Youth Chamber Ensemble Sun, Dec 7 at 7:00 PM Music Center at Strathmore Concert Hall • $20
CityDance School & Conservatory as guests of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Sun, Dec 14 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM Music Center at Strathmore Concert Hall • $28 - 88
co-presented with Washington Performing Arts
Ms. Alexandra Nowakowski, ex-officio
DREAMscape: CityDance Annual Gala Sat, May 9 at 7:00 PM
Historic Lincoln Theatre • $25-38 + Appearance by Conservatory & DREAM students co-produced by Rasta Thomas
WE’D LIKE TO THANK OUR MAJOR SPONSORS
O N S TAG E I G N ITE
DREAM students perform at Washington Wizards Halftime performance Fri, Mar 6 at 8:00 PM Verizon Center
Creating the Magic Annual Conservatory Concert Sat, Feb 28 - Sun, Mar 1
Agriculture Federal Credit Union
S.J. Ewing’s Australia Home Land
Barbara Epstein Foundation
Sun, Sept 21 at 5:00 PM
Bender Foundation
Hill Center • FREE
Be the Change! DREAM Year-End Celebration
Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
+ Featuring Conservatory & DREAM students
Sun, May 10 at 2:00 PM
Clark Charitable Foundation
Jason Garcia Ignacio’s The Dream of Realities
Clark-Winchcole Foundation
Thu, Nov 20 at 6:30 PM
Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Harman Family Foundation Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Philip L. Graham Fund United Way/Combined Federal Campaign World Bank Community Connections Fund
Dancer: Emily Haughton, Photo: Theo Kossenas, Media 4 Artists
Commonweal Foundation
The Phillips Collection • $20 + Featuring Conservatory students
Robert J. Priore’s Ascendance
CityDance Studio Theater at Strathmore • $25
Historic Lincoln Theatre • FREE
Annual Children & Youth Concert (1:00 PM) Annual Conservatory Concert (7:30 PM) Sun, June 14 Music Center at Strathmore Concert Hall • $20
Sat, Jan 10 - Sun, Jan 11 • $25
CityDance Studio Theater at Strathmore + Featuring Conservatory students & alumni
Asanga Domask’s SerendibDance in Ranga Dhaaraa Sat, Mar 28 - Sun, Mar 29 • $25 CityDance Studio Theater at Strathmore + Featuring Conservatory students
For more info & tickets, please visit
citydance.net
Dancers: DREAM students Photo: Barbara L.Salsibury Cover Dancer: Conservatory student Mariano Zamora Photos: Theo Kossenas – Media 4 Artists
Administrative & ReachDC Offices 1111 16th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 202.347.3909 CityDance School & Conservatory The Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, Maryland 20852 301.581.5204
citydance.net