“Better Together” – METdance announces 23rdseason

METdance
2808 Caroline St.
713-522-6375
www.metdance.org

Media Contact:
Lindsay Peyton, Cadence Enterprise
281-636-1361
Lindsay@cadenceenterprise.com

“Better Together” – METdance announces 23^rdseason

Season packages now available

HOUSTON – Aug. 8, 2018 – METdancewants to celebrate the great heights that can be reached by working together.

The nonprofit’s 23^rdseason, entitled “Better Together,”will highlight the company’s dynamic work as an ensemble, focusing on the themes of connection, collaboration and partnership.

“We believe our efforts as a team provide the freedom to explore the infinite possibilities that dance can express,” METdance artistic director Marlana Doyle said. “The season will feature works generated from deep collaborative efforts, pieces dependent upon emotional and physical connectedness and the development of athletic, yet sensitive partnering.”

The fun begins with the Midtown Mixerfundraiser, slated for 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 2808 Caroline. This one-night-only event will feature food, drinks, silent auction and of course dance. Tickets are $40 per person.

Running from October to June, the season will include:

• Season Kickoff— a free performance at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St,at8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6. Join METdance as it dives into its 23^rdseason, including audience favorites from Robbie Moore, Christian Denice, our 2018 Emerging Choreographer awardee Tsai Hsi Hung and an excerpt from a forthcoming piece by Joshua Manculich.  The Program will include a guest appearance by MET too Youth Company.
• Reaching Out –7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 at the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center, 611 W. Higgins St. in Humbleor 7:30 p.m. on April 5, 2019, at Sam Houston State University, 1905 University Ave. in Huntsville.Tickets $20/$10 w/a valid student ID. “Reaching Out”is part of METdance’scontinuing initiative to make its world-class brand of dance more accessible to Houston’s surrounding communities and universities. These in-house residencies will include master classes and a performance providing a wide range of METdancerepertory and preview excerpts of new works before they premiere.
• When We Take Flight –7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, Saturday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov.17at Midtown Arts and Theatre Complex Houston (MATCH),
  Tickets: $25. Featuring works by the award-winning NYC-based Kyle Abraham, Bridget L. Moore and Sean Carmon, as well as a world premiere by Princess Grace Awardee Joshua Manculich.
• MET too Youth Company Open House–4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9 at Midtown Arts and Theatre Complex Houston (MATCH), 3400 S Main St, Tickets: $25 or $15 for children. MET too Youth Company provides young dancers with rigorous training focused on preparing them for dance programs at universities and a professional career in dance performance.  The MET too dancers work closely with an impressive array of successful and award-winning choreographers and dance artists.
• DUO – 8 p.m.on Thursday, Feb. 7,Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9at White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N Main St. Tickets: $23 per person or $38 per couple.An evening of intimate duets, including works by Eric Handman, Eoghan Dillon, Mariana Oliveira, Taylor Mitchell and Houston’s own Dominic Walsh.
• MET too Youth Company DUO too– 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 at White Oak Music Hall,2915 N Main St. Tickets: $25 or $15 for children. MET too Youth Company provides young dancers with rigorous training focused on preparing them for dance programs at universities and a professional career in dance performance.  The MET too dancers work closely with an impressive array of successful and award-winning choreographers and dance artists.

• Better Together –8 p.m. on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby St. Experience the unity in energy and physicality that the artists of METdancebring to the stage. The program includes a world premiere by long-time METdancecollaborator Katarzyna Skarpetowska, as well as works by HSPVA and Juilliard graduate Robbie Moore and acclaimed NYC based artist Kyle Abraham.
• MET too Youth Company Spring Concert – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 at Midtown Arts and Theatre Complex Houston (MATCH), 3400 S Main St, Tickets: $25 or $15 for children. MET too Youth Company provides young dancers with rigorous training focused on preparing them for dance programs at universities and a professional career in dance performance.  The MET too dancers work closely with an impressive array of successful and award-winning choreographers and dance artists.
• Sizzling Summer Dance –8:30 p.m. date to be announced in June 2019 at Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Dr, FREE admittance. Enjoy a diverse and entertaining program featuring a world premiere from the forthcoming 2019 Emerging Choreographer Commission awardee as well as some METdance audience favorites. The evening will include a guest appearance by MET too Youth Company.

Season packages are $105 per person and include one ticket to all five ticketed performances, as well as invitations to open company rehearsals and special events. There is an option to add on MET too Youth Company tickets for $15 each to the season package.

In addition, METdance is preparing dates for its “Moving Myths” performances, which feature captivating legends from around the world in a magical interlude of storytelling.

“Telling tales beside a campfire, four travelers teach us about the importance of honoring our unique cultures while sharing and celebrating them together,” Doyle said.“The performances focus on themes of courage andstrong heroic ideas like standing up to bullies, taking care of one’s family and fighting for love.”

The 45-minute performances are slated for:

• 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.on Thursday, Nov. 15 and Friday, Nov. 16 atMidtown Arts and Theatre Complex Houston (MATCH), 3400 S Main St.
• 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, 800 Bagby St.
• 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.on May 7 and May 10 at Midtown Arts and Theatre Complex Houston (MATCH), 3400 S Main St.

METdancehas excited, inspired, and educated audiences through its unique blend of contemporary concert dance performances and community outreach for more than 20 years.

Founded in 1995, METdance pursues a mission to educate and revitalize a passion for dance through world-class instruction and performance. The nonprofitis funded by the Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Windgate Charitable Foundation, Inc. and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

The company has traveled across the U.S., impressing critics and audiences alike while performing works by some of the most influential and talented choreographers in dance.

METdance also has a strong community outreach program, including its educational “Swing, Jive, Pop” performances. The shows incorporate history, fashion, music and the arts, while the company dances through the eras of the 1930s Lindy Hop, bops into the 1950s, grooves into the 1970s and ends with the Hip Hop music of today.

The company’s home base, the METdance Center, now serves as Houston’s second-largest dance training space, offering comprehensive training in multiple disciplines to students of all experience levels, ages 3 and older.

For more information about METdance and the upcoming season, visit www.metdance.org.

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About METdance

Founded in 1995, METdance strives to educate and revitalize a passion for dance through formal instruction and performance. With professional and youth dance companies, as well as a strong community outreach program, METdance is a leader in the vitality and diversity of Houston’s dance community. The METdance company has traveled across the U.S. to perform works by influential and talented choreographers. Helmed by founder and Executive Director Michelle Smith and Artistic Director Marlana Doyle, the company is the sister organization to the METdance Center, which opened the doors to a newly renovated facility in May 2013 in Houston’s Midtown district. For more information, visit www.metdance.org.