ARTISTIC ‘COLLISIONS’ CREATE HARD-HITTING SHOW FOR ARIZONA DANCE COMPANY

In pursuit of artistic collaboration, CONDER/dance reaches dynamic results in their season finale, Collision.  Set for May 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. and May 10 at 2:00 p.m. in the Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse at Mesa Arts Center, Collision showcases the local dance company’s power and innovation.              Three works by company founder and artistic director Carley Conder, two works by company member Christina Harrison and a commissioned piece by Mary Fitzgerald, ASU dance faculty, are featured.  Concert highlights include guest performances by Keith Johnson/Dancers (Los Angeles), Nugent Dance (Los Angeles), Robert Dekkers (Ballet Arizona) and Crossing 32nd Music Ensemble.           According to artistic director Conder, Collision uses dance to examine issues and emotions arising from the current social landscape. A common thread of underlying tension and unrest unifies the nine pieces that make up this hard-hitting performance.           “Each dance walks a fine line balancing outrage, humor, detachment and resolution.  It is wonderful to see how each choreographer has responded to our tumultuous era and how these experiences are manifested in their work,” she explained. One example is Conder’s newest work, Moving Target.  A full company piece,  Arizona-born composer Steve Ricks created the dance’s sound score which is performed live by Crossing 32nd Music Ensemble.  Moving Target searches to illuminate the human desire to control one’s environment by juxtaposing two themes:  the turbulent forces of nature and the calculated processes used to impose order on chaos.           Conder also choreographed two other pieces for the show, the private sector to music by Astor Piazzolla and L'estate (Summer), music by Antonin Vivaldi.  the private sector was a Northwest Regional Gala Winner in the American College Dance Festival 2007. Other pieces scheduled for the concert include The Defining Line and Ode to the Blue Nude, choreographed by Christina Harrison, The Weight of Light, choreographed by Mary Fitzgerald and composed by Glen Hackbarth with video art by Natalia Jaeger, a new work by Keith Johnson/Dancers entitled The Presence of Absence, a solo work Circa One, by guest Stephanie Nugent and IV:XI, a new pas de duex by Ballet Arizona company member Robert Dekkers.  “This season has provided us with some very inspiring partnerships with art forms other than dance,” Conder said, “Our close work with composers, video artists, visual artists and musicians have been fortuitous ‘collisions’ with fellow artists.  It’s   created a rich palette of images and ideas that have pushed the choreographic work and performances to a new level for CONDER/dance.” Tickets are available at the Mesa Arts Center box office.   WHAT:  Collision, CONDER/dance season finale WHEN: May 9 & 10; 8:00 p.m., May 10; 2:00 p.m. WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse,        One East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85211 TICKETS: $20 general admission, $18 students/seniors BOX OFFICE:  480-644-6500, www.mesaartscenter.com INFORMATION: 480-570-3263, carley@conderdance.com, www.conderdance.com

 

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