
The Ohio State University Department of Dance presents, Dance Uptown on Thursday-Friday, May 26-27, at 8 p.m. in Mershon Auditorium, 1871 N. High Street. After 12 years of producing Dance Downtown at the Capitol Theatre, the department is bringing its popular May concert back to campus. The program features a roster of progressive and professional choreographers, each working with African or African-influenced music: from B.B. King to 60's Girl Band music; from original hip-hop deconstructions to live African drummingâ€â€Kora.
Dance Uptown will showcase works by four choreographers, including Ohio State faculty members and resident artists Susan Hadley and Michael Kelly Bruce.
With support from the Johnstone Fund for New Music, the Columbus Foundation, the Puffin West Foundation, and Dr. Roy Gottlieb, DDS, guest artist, Olivier Tarpaga, will collaborate with internationally renowned musicians Flatjie Dembele and Amadou Kienou, local musician Michael Wall, and Columbus-based visual artist Nicole Bauguss. His piece is titled, L’Ombre du Silence (Shadow of Silence)
Hummingbird, choreographed by Bruce, is inspired by the music of the extraordinary blues master B.B. King. The dance is set in a roadhouse along Highway 61 leading out of Memphis.
Back, Jack, choreographed by Hadley, celebrates girl power as expressed in the songs of 60’s girl groups like The Chiffons, The Shangri-Las, and The Dixie Cups. This performance takes a serious and humorous look at a generation of girls unwilling to take a back seat to boys and aching for freedom to make their own life choices. Support for this work provided by Arts and Humanities at The Ohio State University.
The performance will also include a commissioned work by Los Angeles based multidisciplinary artist Sabela Grimes incorporating hip-hop dance theatre.
Admission only $10! Advance tickets are available through the OSU Theatre Box Office or 614 292 2295) and The Wexner Center for the Arts. Parking is available at the Ohio Union’s South Garage (1759 N. High St) and North Garage (1780 College Rd) as well as the Arps Garage (1990 College Rd). Wheelchair accessible parking is available in front of Mershon Auditorium, in both Ohio Union Garages and in Arps Garage.
For more information, call (614) 292-7977 or visit dance.osu.edu/uptown.
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