Nicolay Dance Works Brings “Romance” to The Barn

 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Nicolay Dance Works brings a weekend of “Romance” to Dance Source Houston’s premier performance space, The Barn. Performances are February 12 and 13 at 8:00 PM. 

Featuring a diverse selection of works focused on the theme of love, the program opens with a balletic ensemble work entitled unsurprisingly – ‘Romance’.  The work is performed to John Adams’ ‘The Chairman Dances’ and explores some of the fantasy imagery in which we all engage while transitioning from the daily grind to the more exhilarating world of date night.

‘Hands On’ follows with a passionate rush through the healing power of touch.  The dancers press through their senses of isolation and fatigue to find rejuvenation and life in one another’s embrace.  With ‘Alone, Again, Anew’, artistic director Dana Nicolay worked with the original cast to build an ensemble work derived from individual signature movement phrases generated by the cast members.  Setting these phrases against one another brought forward many aspects of personal relationships, which he then developed into a broader statement about the emergence of love (and rejection) from within the fabric of a social group of distinct individuals.

The second half of the program begins with ‘Chiaroscuro’ a pointe pas de deux that plays on the meaning of its title by addressing the interplay of shadow and light.  This contrast of characteristics plays metaphorically on the differences between the sexes as they interact to find balance and meaning in relation to each other.

The program closes with ‘Mes Amis’ another work that Nicolay developed collaboratively with the cast.  In this piece each of the characters from ‘Shy Coco’ to ‘Seductive Julie’ goes through numerous interactions with other cast members to learn more about their friend’s, and their own, sensuous selves.

Now in its third year, Nicolay Dance Works currently features 11 young artists studying dance at Sam Houston State University. The company’s performance of “Beyond!” last spring at the Barn was well received by audiences including choreographer Lydia Hance who remarked, ‘If variety is the spice of life, then Nicolay Dance Works is muy caliente!‘  

Drawing on his international background in ballet, contemporary dance and Laban Movement Analysis, Dana Nicolay, strives to create dances that speak clearly and truly of human experience. His body of nearly 50 concert works has produced numerous awards and recognitions from organizations such as the American College Dance Festival Association, Regional Dance America, and the Mid-America Dance Network. He pursues an active freelance career as a teacher, choreographer and adjudicator. He holds an MFA in modern dance from TCU, is a Certified Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Analyst and serves as professor of dance at Sam Houston State University.

Performances of “Romance” are February 12 and 13 at 8:00 PM.  Tickets are $25 general admission the night of the show, $20 advance purchase at Nicolaydanceworks.com and $15 for Dance Source Houston Members on show night. The Barn – Dance Source Performing Arts Space is located at 2201 Preston, Houston TX 77003.