CONNECT TRANSFER (new version)
by Shen Wei Dance Arts

Heralded by The New York Times as “startlingly imaginative,” the China-born Shen Wei incorporates Eastern and Western aesthetics into exquisite works of timeless originality. Since its early inception at the ADF in 2000, Shen Wei Dance Arts continues to gather critical acclaim for its world-class performers and riveting premieres. Blowing ADF audiences away with the original’s premiere in 2004, Shen Wei continues with a new version of Connect Transfer to make its world debut at the ADF this summer.

Connect Transfer (new version) is commissioned by the ADF with support from the Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Awards for New Work.

REVELATIONS by Ailey II

Revelations, Revelations, Revelations! Inspired by Ailey’s “blood memories” of Texas, the blues, faith and the gospel, Revelations (1960) is a spiritually wrenching work that explores the deepest sorrows and highest joys of the ever-resilient human heart. Performed by Ailey II, this signature work stands as a tribute to the pioneering vision of Alvin Ailey and the classic beauty of African American modern dance. For over 30 years Ailey II has brought audiences to their feet with its technique-driven dancers who dazzle the heart and bring life to the soul.

CAUGHT by David Parsons

Getting his start as a lead dancer with Paul Taylor, David Parsons is one of America’s most favored artists. His signature piece Caught (1982) is a clever solo of atmospheric dimensions featuring one performer’s defiance against a web of strobic flashes, inducing the illusion of a dancer in free flight. Performed to the enticing music of Robert Fripp, Caught is one hot ticket that is wildly exciting.

José Limón’s CHACONNE, THE MOOR’S PAVANE
& Jirí Kylián’s EVENING SONGS
by Limón Dance Company

For José Limón, to pursue the “American dream” was to become a choreographer of modern dance. Years after Limón’s death, director Carla Maxwell and the Limón Dance Company continue to bring this artist’s work and vision to audiences across the globe. The company will perform The Moor’s Pavane (1949), widely regarded as Limón’s masterpiece, which premiered at ADF over 50 years ago. Based on the drama and passion of Othello, Limón’s work is yet another version of this Shakespearian classic. The program will also include Limón’s solo Chaconne (1942), and the company shows off its classic lines in Jirí Kylián’s Evening Songs (1987), set to the deep choral sounds of Antonín Dvorák.

Asadata Dafora’s AWASSA ASTRIGE/OSTRICH,
Eleo Pomare’s LAS DESENAMORADAS &
Talley Beatty’s MOURNER’S BENCH
by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC)

For over 30 years, DCDC has worked to bring high quality dancing and education to diverse communities across the country. Holding the largest collection of classic works by African American choreographers, the company will revive three works uniquely rooted in the African American tradition. Talley Beatty’s Mourner’s Bench (1947) presents a sorrowful but empowering account of a life lost to racial bias, while Eleo Pomare’s Las Desenamoradas (1967) offers the tunes of jazz legend John Coltrane. Choreographed by Sierra Leone native Asadata Dafora, the company’s performance of Awassa Astrige/Ostrich (1932) will feature the first African dance formally staged in U.S. theaters in this stunning enactment of the ostrich as a stately animal.

DCDC performances are funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Southern Arts Federation and the North Carolina Art Council.

Alwin Nikolais’ CRUCIBLE & TENSILE INVOLVEMENT 
by Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company

ACCUMULATION, PRESENT TENSE & SPANISH DANCE
by Trisha Brown Dance Company

A formative member of the Judson Dance Theater in the 1960s, Trisha Brown quickly emerged as one of the greatest choreographers from that era. This summer the ADF will present three of Brown’s most celebrated works. Debuting in France in 2003, PRESENT TENSE offers aerial choreography to the brilliant sounds of renowned experimentalist John Cage. The company’s dynamic program will also include Accumulation (1971), a witty solo performed to music by the Grateful Dead, and Spanish Dance (1973), a classic work set to the Bob Dylan rendition of Early Morning Rain by Gordon Lightfoot.

WORLD PREMIERE by John Jasperse Company

Noted by The New York Times as “one of the hottest—and brainiest—choreographers on the downtown scene,” John Jasperse and his company aim to challenge and engage audiences through dances that present enticing thoughts with rich delivery. The New York company’s work has been seen widely in Europe and in South America. This summer the company will perform a world premiere commissioned by the ADF.

New work commissioned by the ADF with support from the Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Awards for New Work.

RUST by Eiko & Koma

Masters of stillness and dominators of grace, the Japanese-American couple Eiko & Koma are widely known for their exquisitely slow dances which resonate with focus and radiate with good intent. The couple’s work focuses on the power and strength found in the subtle nuances of movement commonly overshadowed by the excessive flash and busyness of everyday life. This summer the truly original couple will perform Rust* nearly two decades after the premiere at the ADF in 1989.

*Performance contains nudity

LES NOCES by ZviDance

Israeli choreographer Zvi Gotheiner is “one of those rare choreographers who is able to convey human dilemma and aspiration through movement” (The Village Voice). This summer the “impressive movers,” (The New York Times), of ZviDance will perform Les Noces (2006), a work that takes a contemporary look at the institution of marriage, reanimating the aggressive paganism of Stravinsky’s score. The piece will incorporate lighting design by Mark London and video projection by Ray Roy.

Martha Clarke’s NOCTURNE by Pilobolus

Creator of the sensational Garden of Earthly Delights (1984; re-envisioned 2007 at the ADF), Martha Clarke returns to bring more fanciful visions back to life. Having joined Pilobolus as its first female member in 1973, Clarke reunites with the company in the reconstruction of Nocturne* (1979). “Frightening, poignant and grotesquely funny,” (The New York Times) this classic solo presents a decrepit ballerina who dances nostalgically for her past as a talented performer.

*Performance contains nudity.

Jonathan Wolken, Robby Barnett and Basil Twist’s
WORLD PREMIERE & OTHER WORKS by Pilobolus

As stated by The Associate Press, “If the dance world has a summer movie blockbuster equivalent, it must be Pilobolus.” Here to shake things up with their creative ingenuity, the “mind-blowing” (NYC Newsday) Pilobolus returns wrapped and stapled with one wildly exciting twist. Incorporating the talents of third generation puppeteer Basil Twist, the company “famous for wit and sensuality,” (The New York Times) will collaborate with the New York City artist to string-up some movement in an ADF commissioned world premiere. The program will also feature Michael Tracy’s sensual duet Symbiosis (2001) and two new works, Jonathan Wolken’s Razor: Mirror (2008) and Tracy's Lanterna Magica (2008).

New work commissioned by the ADF with support from the Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Awards for New Work.

UMWELT by Compagnie Maguy Marin

Maguy Marin of France returns to the ADF where she made her U.S. debut in 1983. Recipient of the 2003 Scripps/ADF Award, Marin has since been heralded as a French national treasure and one of the world’s most imaginative choreographers. This summer, the “ever ingenious” (The New York Times) Compagnie Maguy Marin will perform Umwelt* (2004). Staged in front of an arrangement of mirrors, this serious funhouse carries a stern underscore of rising tension as the dancers use simple gestures to create a visual sandstorm of everyday moments. Provocative and visually stunning, Umwelt leaves audiences vulnerable to the raw intimacy of human interaction.

*Performance contains nudity.

Support for the performance of Umwelt by Maguy Marin is provided by the Florence Gould Foundation.

AKABI by Aydin Teker

Aydin Teker’s aKabi (2005) is a dance that denies security and walks on the edge. Performed in large platform shoes created by Istanbul shoemaker Ahmet Inceel, this dynamic excerpt of Teker’s work plays with the shoes’ geometric shape to create forms that are strangely beautiful and images that make for sweet visual rewards. All the way from Istanbul, Teker and her dancers visit the ADF to perform the U.S. premiere of this sculptural work.

DUNYA ROAD & RAPTURE by Khadija Marcia Radin

A unique dance of enraptured grace and bewildering beauty, whirling is a practice and ritual of the Islamic Sufis. Well-professed in this mystical order, Khadija Marcia Radin shares her knowledge of the whirling tradition in a dual performance of Rapture (2005) and Dunya Road (the Road of Apparent Reality) (2006). Danced and choreographed by Radin, Rapture is performed to the recited poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi (b. 1207), founder of the Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervish. Performed to live improvisation on the oud by Mahbud John Burton, Dunya Road is a story whose relevance spans the halls of time from the orders of ancient Babylon to present day.

DIVERSION OF ANGELS, LAMENTATION &
STEPS IN THE STREETS (excerpt from Chronicle)
by Martha Graham Dance Company

Founded in 1926 by the legend herself, the Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldest and most celebrated contemporary dance company in America. Dancing to the original score by Wallingford Riegger, the company will perform Steps in the Streets, the second section of Graham’s Chronicle (1936), created in response to the Euro-fascism of the 1930s. From the universal tragedies of war to the infinite blessings of love, Graham’s Diversion of Angels (1948) is a valentine performance inspired by the work of modern artist Wassily Kandinsky. The program will also feature Lamentation (1930), one of Graham’s most noted solos which focuses on the overwhelming power of grief.

CONCERTO SIX TWENTY-TWO
by Lar Lubovitch Dance Company

One of the field’s foremost choreographers, Lar Lubovitch stormed the New York City art scene bringing strong musicality, rhapsodic style and complex choreography to the playful worlds of dance and theater. Of his many works created for ballet companies and Broadway, Concerto Six Twenty-Two (1986) stands among the greatest. Set to Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, the piece is a jubilant visualization of the composer’s rhythms. Based in New York City since 1968, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company has performed in nearly all of America’s 50 states as well as more than 30 countries overseas.

AIR & WATER by Keigwin + Company

The quirky, sexy, fun Keigwin + Company entertains in a way that is infectiously delightful. Founded in 2003, this cabaret of a company combines physicality and theatricality to create witty and engaging dances. Be prepared to battle against the elements when this wild force of nature takes you on a ride with Water (2008) and the ADF commissioned world premiere of Air.

ELLA, PROMENADE & REEL TIME by Battleworks

“An immensely talented choreographic mover and shaker,” (The New York Times) Robert Battle leads his company of nine in a fierce three-piece performance of tantalizing zest. The company will present Reel Time, an ADF commisioned world premiere based on the deconstruction of a traditional gig performed to original music by composer John Mackey. The company will also present Promenade (2005) and Ella (2007). Described by The New York Sun as “a Viennese waltz” meets the “neurotic patients of Dr. Freud,” Promenade will leave you charged and invigorated, while Ella offers a solo tribute to the great Ella Fitzgerald.

Robert Battle’s TWO REDUX & Larry Keigwin’s WORLD PREMIERE
by PARADIGM

PARADIGM unites senior performers Carmen deLavallade and Gus Solomons jr for a performance that resonates with personality like the aging of fine wine. The multigenerational collaboration will feature two short ADF commissioned duets, choreographed separately by Robert Battle and Larry Keigwin to showcase the effervescent passion of these two admired performers. Battle’s premiere, Two Redux, will play as a rework of his comical Two (1995), while Keigwin’s duet will shake things up to the smash hit sounds of Billy Idol’s Dancin’ With Myself.

New works by Robert Battle and Larry Keigwin are commissioned by the ADF with support from the Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Awards for New Work.

PARADIGM (photo: Tom Caravaglia)

3 EPITAPHS, CHANGES & PROMETHEAN FIRE
by Paul Taylor Dance Company

Acclaimed by TIME Magazine as “the reigning master of modern dance,” Paul Taylor is unstoppable with more than 50 years of ingenuity and a myriad of dances to his name. Flowing with creativity Taylor continues with CHANGES, a new work based on the radicalism of the 1960s. Noted as “One of the few indisputably great dance companies in the world,” (The New York Post) the Paul Taylor Dance Company will also perform 3 Epitaphs, an earlier work set to a mix of New Orleans jazz and Southern American folk music. The program will close with a riveting performance of Promethean Fire (2002), an ADF commissioned work choreographed to J.S. Bach and lighting design by Jennifer Tipton.

Twyla Tharp’s SINATRA SUITE & SWEET FIELDS
by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

Do you love Frank Sinatra? Do you love dance? Then come see the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet perform two classic works by sensational Movin’ Out choreographer Twyla Tharp. Set to the hymns of composer William Billings, Sweet Fields (1996) is a spiritual work that pays homage to the Shakers who danced themselves into religious ecstasies. Contrastingly, Sinatra Suite (1984) features a ballroom couple dancing in and out of young love to a medley of Sinatra classics. A “…sophisticated, young company that has the dance world talking,” (The Star-Ledger) the Aspen Sante Fe Ballet is the chosen company to perform this classically Twyla program.

Donald McKayle’s GAMES
by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble

Created by one of the greatest choreographers in modern dance, Games (1951) is a bittersweet tale of a group of rambunctious street kids. Described by The New York Times as “an instant classic,” Donald McKayle’s Games has captivated audiences for over 50 years. This summer the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble will perform an ADF commissioned reconstruction of this classic work. Founded in 1970, the Denver-based ensemble continues its mission of bringing dance and appreciation for the arts to groups and individuals across the nation.

The reconstruction of Games by Donald McKayle has been made possible through support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

HOME & LUX by Doug Varone and Dancers

“Rarely do you find a choreographer so dedicated to the full and generous complexity of the human spirit” (The Chicago Tribune). Exceptionally passionate, Doug Varone presents two intricately woven works both saturated with nuance and intensity. Critics have hailed Home (1988) as a touching duet depicting the “subtle shades of acceptance, rejection, tender passion and greedy need between two people sharing a life,” (The Baltimore Evening Sun) while Lux (2006) is an exhilarating 22 minutes of nonstop dancing. Holding over eleven New York Dance and Performance Awards as a company, Doug Varone and Dancers will definitely impress.

FOR YOU & WALKING OUT THE DARK
by Ronald K. Brown/Evidence

Since 1985, Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE has created quite the buzz with its sophisticated fusion of West African dance, modern, ballet and street/club styles. Known for its spiritually centered content, the company’s repertoire features storytelling and the frequent theme of redemption through transformation. Set to music by Philip Hamilton and the vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, the first section of Walking Out the Dark (2001) offers a resolving look into what impedes our ability to help others in a time of need. Brown will also perform For You (2003), a solo tribute to the legacy of the late ADF Co-Director Stephanie Reinhart and for all those we have lost too early in life.

ANOTHER EVENING: SERENADE/THE PROPOSITION
by Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company

Tony award-winner Bill T. Jones and his stellar company return with the world premiere of Another Evening: A Serenade. Laying its roots at the ADF as Another Evening (original title) in 2005, this powerful work continues as an ever-evolving examination of life’s big questions and the role of hope in the wake of tragedy and disaster. Initially inspired by the events of 9/11, this sociopolitical hybrid of dance and theater examines the intimacy of the human spirit through a meaningful deconstruction of personal stories, eclectic sound and sophisticated movement. The new version will feature a blended accompaniment of music by electric cellist Christopher Lancaster and dialogue by Andrea Smith.

Solo from EDUCATION OF THE GIRLCHILD:
an opera (1972)
composed, choreographed
and performed by Meredith Monk

Meredith Monk is perhaps the most profoundly unique performer in any genre of performing arts today. She combines the talents of a composer, vocalist, choreographer and performance artist into a wholly original presentation. Recipient of countless honors and the 1996 Scripps/ADF Award, she has performed to critical acclaim in prestigious venues throughout the world. Awarded first prize in musical theater at the Venice Biennale in 1975, Education of the Girlchild: an opera (1972) is one of Monk’s most celebrated works. This summer Meredith Monk will grace the ADF with her exquisite voice and renowned presence in the solo which comprises Part II of this legendary work.

PAST/FORWARD
Laura Dean’s TYMPANI, Mark Dendy’s WORLD PREMIERE,
Erick Hawkins’ NEW MOON & Hanya Holm’s JOCOSE
performed by ADF Dancers

Back by popular demand, the ADF announces the second Past/Forward program. The ADF will present three reconstructed works and one ADF commissioned world premiere. Drawing from the success of last year’s Sky Light, the ADF brings back another work of the 2008 Scripps/ADF recipient Laura Dean. Rodger Belman, a former member of Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers, will reconstruct the choreography of Tympani (1980) and Jason Cirker will reconstruct the music. Don Redlich will collaborate with ADF dancers, Dance Notation Bureau stager Sandra Aberkalns, and Pamela Pietro to bring Hanya Holm's Jocose (1984) back to life, a work originally created by Holm for the Don Redlich Dance Company. Katherine Duke, Artistic Director of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, will collaborate with ADF dancers in the reconstruction of Hawkins’ New Moon (1989), and New York dance and theater artist Mark Dendy to create an ADF commissioned world premiere.