RIOULT Dance NY presents Two Programs World Premiere of Cassandra's Curse NYC Premiere of Polymorphous The Joyce Theater

RIOULT Dance NY, a leading American modern dance company with a classic sensibility, returns to The Joyce Theater from June 21-26, 2016 with eight performances featuring World and New York City Premieres. Tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at www.joyce.org

An established name in modern dance with a reputation for performing sensual, articulate, and exquisitely musical works, RIOULT Dance NY performs two programs. WOMEN ON THE EDGE examines the role of women in times of conflict and features the World Premiere of Cassandra's Curse, set to live music. The second program is distinguished by the New York City premiere of Polymorphous, a piece exploring the subjectivity of perception through movement and technology; Duets, a suite of magnificent duets drawn from some of Pascal Rioult's finest dances; and two repertory works.

Special events during the company's Joyce Theater engagement include a Family Matinee on Saturday, June 25 with $10 tickets available for children aged 6-14; a Curtain Chat following the Thursday, June 23 performance with members of the company, as well as a gala immediately following the performance on June 22 at Studio 450, 450 W. 31st Street, NYC.  Call 212-398-5901 for gala tickets.

RIOULT Dance NY Season at The Joyce Theater - June 21-26, 2016

PROGRAM A: WOMEN ON THE EDGE...Unsung Heroines of the Trojan War

Tuesday, June 21 at 7:30pm; Thursday, June 23* & Saturday, June 25 at 8pm; Sunday, June 26 at 7:30pm

*Stay with us for a post-performance Curtain Chat after the curtain goes down on Thursday, June 23.

Iphigenia (2013)

Iphigenia is a dance drama chronicling a young woman's transfiguration from innocent child to transcendental heroine. Based on Euripides' Iphigenia in Aulis, it focuses on King Agamemnon's decision to sacrifice his daughter - much to the horror of his wife, Clytemnestra, and his daughter's betrothed, Achilles - and Iphigenia's ultimate acceptance of her fate. Through dramatic dance scenes woven together with a recurring ensemble-the Greek chorus, the part-narrative, part-abstract piece unfolds, reintroducing audiences to this beautifully tragic story.

On Distant Shores (2011)

On Distant Shores...A Redemption Fantasy evokes the ancient myth of Helen of Troy. "I always thought Helen got a bad rap," says Pascal Rioult. In this work he sets out to redeem her, imagining she is brought to Troy against her will, where she encounters four god-like warriors. 

Cassandra's Curse (World Premiere)

The world premiere of Pascal's new work, Cassandra's Curse, is set to a commissioned score by acclaimed composer Richard Danielpour and will premiere with live music. Loosely based on Euripides' The Trojan Women, this dance reveals the character of Cassandra, whose gift of prophecy allows her to foresee the unfortunate fate of Troy, though not a soul believes her.  Her curse is a metaphor for a society's tendencies to ignore the voice of reason and to repeat its history of war and violence.

Cassandra's Curse is co-commissioned by ADF with support from the Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Award for New Dance and created in part with the support from the Made in Wickenburg Residency program with funding from the R. H. Johnson Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, WESTAF, and the Wellik Foundation.

Program B

Wednesday, June 22 at 7pm*; Friday, June 24 at 8pm; Saturday, June 25 & Sunday, June 26 at 2pm

*Gala immediately following this performance at Studio 450.  

Dream Suite (2014)

Dream Suite is a contemporary take on romanticism. The contrasting mood of Tchaikovsky's "Orchestral Suite No. 2 in C Major" is juxtaposed with more aggressive, rhythmic and athletic movement. With a palette inspired by the paintings of Marc Chagall, this thoroughly contemporary work delves into the surreal as it evolves.

Polymorphous (2015) - NYC Premiere

Set to selections from J.S. Bach's "The Well Tempered Clavier," Polymorphous explores the subjectivity of perception through movement and technology. The work takes on the very idea of polymorphism, referring to the act of something that assumes or occurs in various forms.

Duets

Duets, a series of duets and double duets drawn from Pascal Rioult's extensive repertory, captures his knack for distinctive partnering.

Bolero (2002)

Bolero, one of Rioult's most popular works, is a bold and unique interpretation of Ravel's famous musical score. Its perpetual motion and ever-changing patterns build to an inevitable climax, creating a riveting tour de force.

 For more information, please visit: www.rioult.org

AMANDA SELWYN DANCE THEATRE presents FOOTPRINTS: A Modern Dance Festival Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, NYC May 19-21, 2016 at 7:30pm

The West Side YMCA Community Arts Department and Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre present FOOTPRINTS: A Modern Dance Festival, May 19-21, 2016 at 7:30pm, at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater.  This second annual dance festival will celebrate innovative works of contemporary dance from diverse new and established voices in NYC dance. 

FOOTPRINTS will feature the following works:Dreaming into Being by Lillian Stamey and 96b; It is You, and You, and You by Jin-Wen Yu; Shaft Medley by Sue Samuels and Jazz Roots Dance Company; Untitled by Alana Marie Urda and Amalgamate Dance Company; EVO by Winnie Berger and Mook Dance Project; and Refuge by Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre. 

Performances will take place Thursday, May 19, 2016 through Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 7:30pm in the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater at the West Side YMCA, 5 West 63rd St, NY, 10023. Tickets are priced at $15 for all premium and regular seats,  $10 for Students/Children, and $10 for YMCA NYC Members. To purchase tickets, visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/957283.

Performance dates/times:

Thursday, 5/19 at 7:30PM

Friday, 5/20 at 7:30PM

Saturday, 5/21 at 7:30PM

To learn more about the West Side YMCA Community Arts Department, contact Amanda Selwyn, Director of Community Arts, at 212-912-2635, aselwyn@ymcanyc.org, or visit http://www.ymcanyc.org/westside/pages/communityarts

About Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre

Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre creates original and dynamic dance theatre that raises questions, challenges social norms and values, and magnifies humanity through dance. Productions pivot around core themes and through an interplay between athletic and pedestrian motion, activate emotional expression, character, and narrative in a rich and abstract collage. Presenting dance in an immediate, mature, and inclusive way, we engage audiences from start to finish and beckon a response of thought, feeling, and soul. amandaselwyndance.org

Founded in 2000, Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre has presented over 30 productions at NYC venues including New York Live Arts, Dance Theatre Workshop, Dance New Amsterdam, Danspace Project, Ailey Citigroup Theater, The Kumble Theater, and John Jay College. We have been presented twice at Jacob's Pillow, Westfest, DUMBO Dance Festival, Dixon Place, Dance Teacher Summit, COOL NY, Movement Research, and Pushing Progress Series. We have toured to festivals, presented open rehearsals, interactive performance events and workshops, and offer arts-in-education programming through Notes in Motion Outreach Dance Theatre to children in the NYC public schools.

"Amanda Selwyn is a master at illustrating the symbiosis of sound and movement, 
the romance of motion and emotion - she had me laughing, crying, cringing and gasping
all in the short 55-minute production." - Inside New York

"Amanda Selwyn's work is masterly and emotionally expressive, 
she is truly gifted in the art of dance making." - NYC Dance Stuff

About the West Side YMCA Community Arts Department

The West Side YMCA Community Arts Program strives to empower, educate, and maximize the potential of youth and adult emerging artists. Our classes are led by experienced instructors who create a stimulating atmosphere with lively activities, discussion and insightful feedback. We strive to create innovative performances, events, and programs that inspire, entertain, and reflect our diverse community.

About the Y

The Y is one of the nation's leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million men, women and children - regardless of age, income or background - to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation's health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net

DANCE TO UNITE presents 3rd Annual Benefit: One Way or Another Dance to Unite to Perform with Debbie Harry Live Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 6pm

Dance to Unite presents the 3rd Annual Benefit: One Way or Another on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 6pm, featuring live music from Debbie Harry at Avenues: The World School, located in Chelsea at 259 Tenth Avenue, NYC, 10001.  The evening will be a celebration of artistic excellence and cultural diversity to benefit Dance to Unite's expanding free after-school dance and education programs.  This year, Dance to Unite proudly honors Jenny Morgenthau, who recently retired after 32 years as the Executive Director of the Fresh Air Fund.  As part of the celebration, students of Dance to Unite will perform to music icon and Blondie lead singer, Debbie Harry's biggest hits live. Tickets can be reserved by making a $150 minimum donation per person at http://www.dancetounite.org/events/. The attire will be business casual.

“What I like about Dance to Unite is that we showed people that
no matter if we’re different on the outside we’re the same on the inside.”
— - Josh (age 9), program participant of Dance to Unite
“In the society we live in, unfortunately, many young teens do not have a support system. They need a place to go where it is positive and inviting. ... Often these youth are left to fall through the cracks and be forgotten. Dance to Unite will open so many doors for respect, and self-worth and give them the tools to succeed in life no matter what path they take.”
— -Tayna Carmon, a volunteer and parent of program participant

For more information, please visit: www.dancetounite.org