Open Dance Project Presents Stories to Tell: Mixed Repertory Concert at MATCH

Open Dance Project | Lenny Williams
Lenny@vignetteHTX.com | 646.872.6941

(HOUSTON, Texas, January 11, 2016) — Open Dance Project presents Stories to Tell,  a mixed repertory concert featuring the world premiere of “Pretty Boy,” a three-dance suite choreographed by Artistic Director Annie Arnoult to the songs of Woody Guthrie arranged and performed live by the University of Houston American Roots Ensemble, under the direction of Garreth Paul. Inspired by the contemporary relevance of Guthrie’s lilting criticisms of American immigration and economic policy of the 1930s, “Pretty Boy” continues Arnoult’s exploration of the body as source of resilience and strength in times of economic hardship. Stories to Tell also brings back Arnoult’s “American Me/I/We,” a pop-culture romp through the social psychology of “I” versus “we” where dancers romp, twist, sing and slide through a minimalist set of a jukebox and retro red vinyl soda fountain stools. The concert also includes new pieces and old favorites by Battleworks alumnus Jennifer Mabus, Chicago choreographer Lizzie Leopold, and Open Dance Project company member and Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist Grant awardee Alisa Mittin.

Press Review Tickets, photos, interviews and open rehearsals available by request.  Please contact Lenny Williams: lenny@vignetteHTX.com

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WHEN: Runs Friday and Saturday, February 19 and 20, 8pm
Sunday, February 21, 2pm

WHERE: The MATCH, 3400 Main, Houston, TX 77002

TICKETS: 713-521-4533 www.opendanceproject.org, www.matchouston.org,  $15-$35, Group discounts available

STAFF: Annie Arnoult (Choreographer), David Deveau (Lighting and Projection Design), Ashley Horn (Costume Design), Garreth Paul and the UH American Roots Ensemble (Music)

DANCERS: Annie Arnoult, Lauren Burke, Brittany Deveau, Abby Flowers, Elizabeth “Nalley” Grossberg, Tehillah Joy Hartmann, Taylor McAnulty, Alisa Mittin, Kate Rash, Davis Stumberg, Stacy Skolnik, Juan Ventura

THE COMPANY: Open Dance Project is a contemporary dance-theater company, under the direction of Annie Arnoult, whose ensemble-driven work transforms literary, historical, and community based source material into highly stylized performance experiences. Through a collision of dance and theater, live performance and new media, urban grit and magical realism, Open Dance Project breaks down conventional barriers between artist and audience to make dance more accessible and meaningful for both.

Open Dance Project is in residence at Hunter Dance Center, a professional training center in the Heights at 747 N. Shepherd.

FOUNDER: Annie Arnoult is the founding artistic director of Open Dance Project, presenting its inaugural season of ensemble-driven dance theater performance in 2015-2016. Arnoult returns to her native Houston from Chicago, where she was the founding artistic director of Striding Lion Performance Group and a faculty member of the Dance Program at Northwestern University. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at The School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Houston, as a core faculty member of Now & Next Dance Mentoring Project based in Washington, DC, and as the director of Hunter Dance Center, a dance training center and artistic home of Open Dance Project, opening in the fall of 2015 in the Heights.