Dissonance Dance Theatre Press Kit 2018

Perfoming Since 2007

Dissonance Dance Theatre Shawn Short, Founder/Producing Artistic Director

Washington, D.C.

“One of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC�

- Dance Spirit Magazine

www.ngcfddt.org For Bookings Contact: Shawn Short

Founder/Producing Artistic Director

Principal Choreographer

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2377 Washington, DC 20013

Sshort@ddtdc.com Tel: (202) 540-8338

Resident Ballet of Ngoma Center for Dance

Press Kit

Company Dancers in Short’s Key In Ebony

DDT in Short’s 2017 world-premiere Habibi

DDT in Kjara Staric Wurst’s Be Human

Dissonance Dance Theatre Size of Ensemble

10 professional company plus up to an additonal 10 apprentices for productions requiring a larger cast.

Education/Residency Fee Minimum: $800 Maximum: $12,000

Touring Fee Range Minimum: $6,500 Maximum: $40,000

Availability

September 1 - December 22, 2018 January 5 - May 11, 2019

Audience

*All Ages Can customize performances around LGBT, African-American, or youth/family programs experiences.

Technical Specification

Stage Dimensions: 35’ X 24’ (repertory); 35’ X 36’(story ballet); 24’ X 20’(outreach, lecture demos, etc) Stage: A white CYC across back of stage; Marley floor Audio Support Equipment: Sound system with speakers and with back stage monitors ; CD system; a portable microphone Lighting: For productions: A basic blue wash, a warm or red wash, amber wash, basic morning, daylight, and evening lights and 1 to 10 specials plus at least 3 - 5 technicians.

Co-Presentor/Produce Projects Welcomed!

Past Co-Presentors: Dance Place - Washington, DC - (‘17) Atlas Performing Arts - Washington, DC - (‘11 - ‘17) Past Performing Venues: Ernst Theater - Annandale, VA Univ of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Performing Arts Center - Milwaukee, WI Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) - NYC, NY Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Washington, DC Horowitz Visual & Performing Arts Center - Columbia, MD United States Conference on Aids/Black Aids Institute - Washington, DC Howard University Alumni Ball - Washington, DC *Painted Bride - Philadelphia, PA *Blumenthal Performing Arts Center - Charlotte, NC *Jazz at Lincoln Center - NYC, NY *Current Season

Dissonance Dance Theatre has over 105 works in its repertoire ranging from classical/contemporary ballet to folkloric to theatre dance and more. We focus on innovation, constantly creating new works and reprising works of merit.

Many of our works can be itemized to create evenings of many different themes. In addition, the company presents longer works that stand as sole presentations.

Check out our digital repertoire library on our website: www.ngcfddt.org/repertoire/

Letter From The Producing Artistic Director

Greetings, I want to thank you in advance for taking the time to read about Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT). DDT turns 11 years old, with our 2017-2018 theatrical season.

As Founder and Producing Artistic Director, I am humbled and excited to share with you what great opportunities DDT can provide your art-supporting community.

Our dance repertoire ranges from contemporary ballet to expressive modern dance, delighting audiences with enlightening narratives, and human reflection through kinesthetic refinement.

We serve communities through educational workshops, that we conduct prior or after performances. Community engagement is key to our mission and vision as we challenge audience’s assumptions about the human experience.

Enjoy learning more about Dissonance Dance Theatre as you turn each page. We would like that.

Yours in Dance, Shawn Short, MFA

Table of Contents Vision, History & Outreach Pg 1 Press Pg 2 Dancers Pg 4 Education Pg 7 Residency Activites Pg 8 Outreach Pg 9 Presenting Becomes Partnership Pg 10 Bio: Shawn Short, Founder/AD Pg 12 Bio: Chris Holland, TD Pg 14

Dancer: Shannon Evans

Damon Foster in a remount of Assadata Dafora’s Ostrich

Vision Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) is an artistic vision combined with vigorous athleticism. True to its own distinctive style, DDT is eager to encompass diverse artistic challenges through cultural influence and styles. Choreographic style of Principle Choreographer Shawn Short takes a humanistic and objective view on movement. DDT dancer’s rise to the creative challenge in an ecstatic display of physical beauty and honesty.

History Dissonance Dance Theatre is a Washington, DC-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 mid-west states. Starting as a project of dear friends, Dissonance has grown to house artists from across the US 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.

Outreach Our parent organization, Ngoma Center for Dance, believes in dance education and Dissonance Dance Theatre, Ngoma’s resident ballet, is a main component to Ngoma’s outreach success. We teach workshops and master classes, as well as conducting lecture demonstrations and open rehearsals - other specifically-tailored educational activities are created for any venue through out the United States and the world.

1.

PRESS

“Short exhibited quite a range, as did his dancers. From intimate and intricate duets to hard-hitting group sections, Habibi stayed varied and entertaining.”

– Carmel Morgan, CriticalDance (Dec 10, 2017) This is the 3rd show that I’ve attended with Dissonance Dance Theatre and every time I leave being more amazed than the last at the diversity, talent, and creativity of the performers and choreography. This dance company is without a doubt a hidden gem in DC. I would encourage all who are interested in ballet to go to an upcoming show and support their work.

– Eric Pope, Patron (Oct 17, 2016)

“We were thrilled to have Dissonance participate in Velocity DC 2012! We hope you had a positive experience and we look forward to working with you in future seasons!”

- Samantha Pollack, Director of Programming (Washington Performing Arts) “One of the 11 small-but-mighty emerging dance companies outside of NYC and LA” - Dance Spirit Magazine (Feb ‘16) “There was no telling what was coming onstage each time the lights cam up, but golly, the dancers Short has working for him are good.”

- Rebecca Ritzel, Washington Post (2013) “Incredibly connect emotional/physical choreography with stunning and engaging performers” - Artists’ Bloc (2009) The Washington Post describes Dissonance Dance Theatre as “Ambitious and Evoking”

2.

Dancers: Jaylon Givan, Heather Carlson

3.

Dancers

From L to R: Emma Button, Allison Eguchi, Christine Motta, Jessica Potts, Momo Sakai, Daniel Artis, Heather Carlson, Philip Fobbs, Jaylon Givan, Moyston Henry Jr., Karina Biancone, Madeleine Hobbs, Mckenna May, Samuel St Juste, Anthony Spivey

4.

DDT’s Christine Motta and Jaylon Givan in rehearsal

5.

6.

DDT’s Philip Fobbs in rehearsal

7.

Education

Residency Activities Dissonance Dance Theatre is very, very...Flexibile company. We are able to work with institutions of varying student levels and financial restrictions.

Dissonance Dance Theatre will be able to create a unqiue residency experience customized to your school’s population either through the activities mentioned here or through our many add-on activities such as single master classes, lecture/demonstrations, open rehearsals, as well as full performances.

Images: Various workshop and master class images.

Master Class Workshop Repertory Workshop Choreography Workshop Specialty Workshop Customize Your Residency

8.

Outreach Youth K-12 Activities Lectures/Demonstrations & Master Classes Combines age-appopriate lessons in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, and Creative Movement techniques with hands-on tutorials in choreography.

Professionals Professional Classes Summer DanceLab (UMD) University of Maryland, College Park

At-Risk Populations DDT conducts Dawn, a program for underserved male dancers in need of professional training.

Through our financial assistance program, we provide arts access to most income levels.

Public access to the collaborative process including Q&As at selected performances and showings give audiences greater insight into both the arts form of dance and the subject matter presented.

Images: Various images from outreach efforts.

9.

Presenting...Becomes Partnership Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) prides itself in cultivating and maintaining positive relationships with our presenters. To that end we are able to off the following to help aid your staff.

PERFORMANCE *Pre-show meet and greet with members of DDT. *Select specific repertory suited to your audience’s sensibility. *Post-show Q&A with artistic team and dancers.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION DDT will work in partnership with your organization to select residency activities that are mutually beneficial such as master classes or open rehearsal. We have found that offering such activities leading up to performance helps grow audience for the company and the presenter alike.

COMPANY ACCESS Dissonance Dance Theatre is happy to offer the following materials and services for your organization to use to help promote the upcoming engagement:

*High quality images *High quality video *Pre-recorded interview with Shawn Short *Reviews *Interaction through our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram pages *Availability for interviews for print, TV or radio.

STAFF

Shawn Short, Founder/Producing Artistic Director sshort@ddtdc.com

10.

Emma Button in company class

11.

12.

Photos courtesy of Sergey Apasov

Shawn Short,MFA

Founder Producing Artistic Director/Principal Choreographer Growing up in the Washington, DC area. Shawn has studied with nationally and internationally acclaimed artists including faculty and dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Lines Ballet, Washington Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dance Institute of Washington, Dance Alloy, Philadanco, Towson University, Baltimore and Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts. As a student of ballet pedagogy, Shawn studied with John White, Margarita De Saa and the Washington School of Ballet Director Kee Juan Han. Shawn is a Pointe Magazine’s Video of the Month Editors’ Choice award recipient for his contemporary ballet work, Caught in 2013. A 2014 Princess Grace Award (NYC) in Choreography nominee, Shawn holds a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Theatre Management from Howard University and a MFA in Dance at University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a focus on dance history, arts administration and somatic.

Shawn is a fiscally sponsored artist through the New York Foundation for the Arts. Shawn has choreographed for The Dance Institute of Washington, The Washington Ballet School of Ballet @THEARC. His has presented his works at the Capital Fringe Festival, Greater Washington Urban League National Conference, Southeastern University, Artists’ Bloc 12X6 Series, Harke Theatre, Jack Guidone Theatre Space, Atlas Performing Arts Center, THEARC Theatre, Joe’s Movement Emporium, DC Parks and Recreation, Sidney Harman Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, PBS Broadcasting, VelocityDC, and Brooklyn Arts Exchange.

His performance credits include work with K2 Dance, Adrian Bolton Dance, El Tearto de Danza Contemporeanea El Salvador, and Bolton/Smith. He has also served as a guest artist with Dance Alloy in Pennsylvania.

He has been commissioned by Catholic University of America’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music to choreograph Mother’s Blood (2008), VF Dance Theater for their Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts to choreograph Genotype Called Love for their Terrace Theatre production of Futurology (2012).

13.

Chris Holland,MFA Lighting Designer/TD

Chris Holland as been working with DDT since 2010. Other companies he has designed for include The Clarice at the University of Maryland, Intersections Festival at Atlas Performing Arts Center, DC Source Festival, Doorway Arts Ensemble, Pinkyswear Productions, Moveius Contemporary Ballet, Taurus Broadhurst Dance, and assisted for the Houston Ballet.

Chris is also a resident artist for Landless Theatre in Frederick, and is a Production Manager for Charm City Fringe. He earned his MFA from Purdue University, and his BFA from the University of Kentucky. Upcoming projects include shows with Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick.

DDT in Jamie Thompson’s Journey

14.

DDT in Short’s Beauty Only Knocks Once

DDT in Kjara Staric Wurst’s Be Human

15.

Company dancers William Wilson and Momo Sakai

Dissonance Dance Theatre P.O. Box 2377, Washington, D.C. 20013 202-540-8338 (o) info@ngcfddt.org 202-399-0174 (f) www.ngcfddt.org