Houston Contemporary Dance Company Presents INTERPLAY/OVERLAY
February 8th, 2022
1302 Houston Ave, #300
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 804-6646
houstoncontemporary.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marlana Doyle, (713) 804-6646 ext 3, marlana@houstoncontemporary.org
HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY Presents
INTERPLAY/OVERLAY
APRIL 30TH, 2022
7:30PM PERFORMANCE
LIMITED IN PERSON AUDIENCE
RESERVED TICKETS: $50/$30
HOBBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
800 BAGBY HOUSTON, TX 77002
(713)-315-2525
Houston, TX – Houston Contemporary Dance Company will continue its third Season in an exciting evening of dance and music in INTERPLAY/OVERLAY at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts April 30th at 7:30PM. We will present World Premieres from New York based choreographer Ja’ Malik and HCDC Resident Choreographer Robbie Moore featuring live music by genre-bending, multi-instrumental Houston duo Say Girl Say. The evening will also include a reprisal of Intersections (with its four sections rearranged) by Joe Celej and a special guest by Contemporary West Dance Theatre from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ja’ Malik is quickly becoming an in-demand choreographer based in Harlem, New York, who has created works for North Carolina Dance Theater 2, Oakland Ballet, and CityDance Ensemble of Washington D.C. The New York Times mentioned that “Ja’Malik’s unpredictable physical inventiveness and theatrical sense mark him as a choreographer to watch.”- Roslyn Sulcas. Malik is the director and founder of Ballet Boy Productions, an organization formed in response to the growing number of deaths in America of young black men. HCDC Resident Choreographer Robbie Moore is a graduate of Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and the Juilliard School, and was recognized as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2010. Moore has performed for acclaimed artists Benjamin Millepied as a member of L.A. Dance Project and Eastman – Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Say Girl Say is a genre-bending multi-instrumental duo from Houston, Texas composed of members Brigette Yawn and Suad Ihsan, known for their hypnotic vocal harmonies, lyrical finesse, and entrancing melodies backed by eclectic instrumental production. Intersections by Joe Celej is inspired by Sol LeWitt’s work, A Square Divided Horizontally and Vertically into Four Equal Parts, Each with a Different Direction of Alternating Parallel Bands of Lines (1982). Each section
will live and move on the horizontal, vertical and diagonal planes as is demonstrated in LeWitt’s work. The four sections of the piece can be arranged in any order, and will be randomly done so prior to each performance. In this way, every subsequent viewing of the work potentially offers viewers a “new” work to experience. The mood of the work is existential in nature and focuses on the idea that our individuality is both isolating and a commonality that we all share.
INTERPLAY/OVERLAY is funded in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Dance Source Houston’s Groundwork Grant program, National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts. We would also like to thank the Larry Keigwin Charitable Foundation for their support of this performance.
ABOUT SAY GIRL SAY
Say Girl Say is a genre-bending multi-instrumental duo from Houston, Texas composed of members Brigette Yawn and Suad Ihsan, known for their hypnotic vocal harmonies, lyrical finesse, and entrancing melodies backed by eclectic instrumental production. What began as a casual friendship in 2012, grew into a local staple within Houston’s artist community. In May 2015, the band released their first self-titled record “Say Girl Say”, an all-acoustic album featuring ukulele, guitar, harp, and violin, accompanied by many sounds of worldly percussion. Since then, Say Girl Say’s sound has evolved over the years while writing and recording their sophomore album “Let My Hair Down”, which debuted May 2021. “Let My Hair Down” is a concept of finding yourself by stumbling through the human experience in search of love, empowerment, forgiveness, and compassion.
ABOUT HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY
Houston Contemporary aims to lead and innovate performing arts in Houston by drawing upon the director’s long tradition of inclusiveness and diversity within all facets of the organization. HCDC sets itself apart by employing high caliber performing and choreographic artists from across the country. In setting high technical and artistic standards, HCDC is currently the only contemporary repertory company to provide Houston audiences with opportunities to view works created by some of America’s most exciting dancemakers that speak to and are representative of the full spectrum of Houston’s diverse populace, while supporting talented Texas based artists as well.
Marlana Doyle, is originally from Massachusetts and graduated from Point Park University in 2001 with a BA in Dance. Marlana is the former Artistic Director of Met Dance, where she held various positions for seventeen years. Under her direction, Marlana’s vision and leadership catapulted the company to new levels of excellence and growth while holding tightly to the company’s long tradition of diversity and versatility in its dancers, choreographers, collaborators, and content. Marlana is the President & CEO of the Institute of Contemporary Dance which houses Houston Contemporary professional concert dance company and HC2, a youth training company. Marlana is a member of Dance Source Houston, International Association of Blacks in Dance and Dance USA, spending 2009-2012 as an emerging leader at Dance USA. She was awarded the Dance USA Leadership Mentee Fellowship for the institute of training in 2012 and was a mentor for the same program in 2019. She served for three years as a Dance USA Board of Trustee member and served as the Artistic Director Council Chair. Marlana has also served in collaboration with the Houston Arts Alliance, Fresh Arts, Dance Source Houston and is also a part of the SPA’s Educational Committee. As a performer, Marlana has danced and generated roles in a range of works by renowned choreographers and artists. Marlana is also a guest teacher and an award-winning
choreographer for her many students in Houston and throughout the United States. She has choreographed for the City of Houston, Levi’s and Walmart, Mercury Ensemble, Apollo Chamber Players, Houston Chamber Choir, Houston Symphony, TUTS, University of Houston, Sam Houston State University, Lamar University and University of St. Thomas.
For more information about INTERPLAY/OVERLAY and how to purchase tickets, please visit:
Houston Chronicle Article:
Houstonia Article:
Houston Contemporary YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=l_Sj952NI7g&feature=emb_logo
FOR CALENDAR LISTING:
Who: Houston Contemporary Dance Company
What: “INTERPLAY/OVERLAY
When: April 30th, 2022
Where: Hobby Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30PM
*Tickets are on sale at www.houstoncontemporary.org
Why: To be an innovative non-profit repertory dance company transforming how Houston experiences dance as an art form that moves, unites, and inspires.
Contact: Marlana Doyle (Founder & Artistic Director) marlana@houstoncontemporary.org;
INTERPLAY/OVERLAY is funded in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Dance Source Houston’s Groundwork Grant program, National Endowment for the Arts and Texas Commission on the Arts. We would also like to thank the Larry Keigwin Charitable Foundation for their support of this performance.
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