VON USSAR danceworks Presents 6th Annual Dance Gallery Festival: Texas Experience

Press Contact:
Geena Russo
(860) 919-6850
geena@inthelights.net

 

THE DANCE GALLERY FESTIVAL
TEXAS EXPERIENCE

October 2 & 3, 2015
At Sam Houston State University

HOUSTON, August 20, 2015—VON USSAR danceworks presents the 6th Annual Dance Gallery Festival: Texas Experience, on October 2 and 3 at Sam Houston State University. The festival features original works from ten emerging and renowned choreographers in the Houston area and around the world, including Joshua L. Peugh, known for his current work in the Houston show, COLASSAL.

Peugh, artistic director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and featured as Dance Magazine’s 2014 top 25 to watch, will present SLUMP. DanceSpirit recently acclaimed Peugh for his choreography in the Vail, CO dance festival.

Nationally recognized critic Nancy Wozny hailed, ”the evening’s polish, fine dancing and choreographic invention made one memorable night.”

The Texas venue of DGF cultivates relationships between students and professionals and provides exposure for participating companies in the Houston area.The Dance Gallery Festival at Sam Houston offers beautiful state-of-the art facilities, a master class series, and paid guest artist residencies in conjunction with the festival’s performances. These one to two week residencies include choreographing a new work on Sam Houston’s upper-level students to be performed on their fall concert as well as teaching technique and choreography classes.  A juried panel comprised of Sam Houston faculty and area artists will select the resident artists.

The Choreographer and company line up for the TX Dance Gallery Festival include:

CB+ by El Human Anim – NY Houston Met – TX

Dark Circles Contemporary Dance – TX

james morrow/The Movement – MA 

Keith Johnson/Dancers – CA

Kevin James – CA 

Manuel Vignoulle – M/motions – NY

METdance Company – TX

project agora – CA

Robert Priore – DC

Shaun Boyle  & Artists – CA

VON USSAR danceworks – NYC

Ticket and Venue Information

Sam Houston State University is located at 1806 Avenue J, Huntsville, TX. The Dance Gallery Festival will be presented on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available by phone at 936.294.2339. For discounted tickets to multiple shows, email Astrid von Ussar, info@vonussardanceworks.org.

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ABOUT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY:

For more than 130 years, Sam Houston State University has been preparing students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The Measure of a Life is its Service,” echoes across SHSU’s six colleges and beyond its Texas campus through student research, creative endeavors, service learning, volunteering and more.

ABOUT THE DANCE GALLERY FESTIVAL:

The Dance Gallery Festival was created in 2007 and has since become a well-known festival with showcases in two states NY and TX. DGF partnered with Sam Houston State University in 2009 and offers paid guest artist residencies to select participating companies. The production of modern concert dance is often challenged by the scarcity of suitable and affordable performance venues. DGF addresses this problem by providing a state-of-the-art theater, complete with production staff, marketing and public relations support to showcase each choreographers work. In the festival’s 9 year history, a tremendous amount of talent has been showcased.  Our aim is to continue cultivating that talent by providing performance opportunities and increasing exposure for emerging and established dance companies. For more information please visit: www.dancegalleryfestival.com.

ABOUT TX ARTISTS AND COMPANIES:

CB+ by El Human Anim, Originally from France, is a contemporary dancer & choreographer and Gyrokinesis ® & Gyrotonic ® teacher. She has performed with Complutum Contemporary Dance Company and DaDaDanza Project in Spain, Projects in Movement and Company Contexte in Paris. In NYC, she has collaborated with Eryc Taylor Dance Company, Mare Nostrum Elements Dance Theatre Company, BalaSole Dance Company and independent choreographers.

Dark Circles Contemporary Dance (DCCD) was founded in 2010 in Seoul, South Korea. The Company’s newest branch—based in North Texas and lead by internationally award-winning choreographer and Dance Magazine “25 to Watch” breakout star of 2015, Joshua L. Peugh—has been hailed as “the area’s most exciting dance company” (Star-Telegram). The young company has been praised as “frequently stunning, and always fascinating” (DFW.com) and commended for innovative combinations of classical technique and modern movement styles. DCCD explores the depths of human connections within a multicultural framework, taking a cross-cultural approach to the moving body. DCCD is dedicated to bringing the progressive work of international choreographers and dancers to a worldwide audience. http://www.darkcirclescontemporarydance.com

A native of Chicago, IL. James Morrow is an assistant professor of dance at Salem State University and artistic director of jamesmorrow/TheMovement. Coming from an urban background, Morrow yearns to see the classical vocabulary prevalent in concert dance integrated into the hip-hop culture with which he is submerged. His movement has become a fusion of modern, contemporary, and urban dance styles. He received a fellowship to Hollins University/The ADF (2011) where he earned his MFA in dance. Morrow was on Faculty at the American Dance Festival (2010), recipient of Bates Festival Teacher Fellowship (2013), and Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow in Choreography (2014). www.jamesmorrowthemovement.com

Keith Johnson/Dancers is based in Long Beach, CA and was established in 1998 by Keith Johnson. Johnson has danced with Creach/ Koester, Bill T. Jones /Arnie Zane Dance Company, Doug Varone and Dancers, and continues to perform with Nancy Bannon and Colleen Thomas. His choreography has received numerous honors. Johnson is a full professor at CSULB and continues to present his work throughout the US.

Kevin James is from Atlanta, Georgia, where he trained with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education.  He graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance.  He has danced with Sarasota Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, and Smuin Ballet.  Kevin has choreographed for Summer Dance Company as well as Smuin Ballet’s 2015 Choreography Showcase.

Manuel Vignoulle, Former dancer at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (New York) and Geneva Ballet (Switzerland), Manuel Vignoulle, French choreographer based in New York, performs his own work in France, Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Canada and USA. He has been commissioned by Ailey II, Whim W’him, The Satellite Collective, 10 Hairy Legs, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, Steps Repertoire Ensemble, The Ailey School, Rutgers University, and Antigel Festival. To see more of his work: www.manuelvignoulle.com.

Houston METdance, founded in 1995, strives to educate and revitalize a passion for dance through the finest instruction and performance. METdance continues to be a leader in the vitality and diversity of Houston’s dance community. The Professional Company has performed throughout the US in dozens of theaters receiving high acclaim, performing works by some of the most influential and talented choreographers of our time.  www.METdance.org

project agora:

Kara Davis danced for Atlanta Ballet, Ohio Ballet, SF Opera, Amy Raymond, Margaret Jenkins, Alex Ketley, Robert Moses, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Val Caniparoli/ACT. She is a founding member of KUNST STOFF and Janice Garrett & Dancers. An MFA graduate from Hollins University, she currently teaches at Mills College and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School.

Bliss Kohlmyer has danced and toured internationally with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Sean Curran Company, and Robert Moses’ Kin. Recently, Bliss has been commissioned by Robert Moses’ Kin, Jacksonville Dance Theatre, and Moving Current. She received her MFA from the University of Washington and is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of South Florida.

Robert J. Priore dances with Company E. Robert is also the Choreographer-In-Residence for the City Dance Conservatory as well as the Artist-In-Residence. Robert is one of two chosen artists this season for the prestigious “Local Commissioning Dance Project” at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Last year he received the “Audience Choice Award” at the Dance Gallery Festival.

Shaun Boyle (& Artists) has performed with both classical ballet and contemporary companies including Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and BalletMet. Her choreography has been showcased in the United States and Europe at venues such as the Joyce Soho Theater in New York and The Robin Howard Theatre in London. Shaun currently teaches at the Dance Department at the University of California, Irvine.