Soaring. Photo: Rachel Neville
Four New Works plus Return of “Star Dust” – The Ballet Tribute to David Bowie
Complexions Contemporary Ballet returns to The Joyce Theater in New York City from November 14-26 with three different programs over a two week span.
Under the artistic direction of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, the season will feature four world premieres in addition to audience favorites, as the company continues to lead the way with its unparalleled approach to contemporary ballet. Filled with a roster of some of the most diverse and exciting young stars, Complexions explodes onto the Joyce Theater stage with their signature style of athleticism, virtuosity and passion.
The programs feature a range of techniques and musical styles, moving from classical virtuosos such as Niccolò Paganini, modern composers Arvo Part and Gavin Bryars to electronica and the catalogue of rock legend, David Bowie.
This season, Complexions welcomes back Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer, Jae Man Joo who will premiere a new work for the season, “Goodnight” is inspired by the powerful stillness and imagery evocative of Asian paintings and architecture which are mysteriously shrouded in beauty and tranquility. Set to the spare yet extraordinarily emotional works of modern composers Arvo Part and Gavin Bryars, this new work delves into and investigates a different element of the signature Complexions style.
In the first week’s program, Complexions will premiere several new short works each with different inspiration. The first will be Complexions’ Dwight Rhoden’s “Duo.” Set to the music of Niccolò Paganini’s “Caprices,” this quartet of dancers will examine the brisk and complex nature of the compositions and emphasize the unison and camaraderie of two figures as they cut through space, interpreting the music’s velocity. Next will be acclaimed stage, television and event choreographer Dee Caspary with “Summertime,” a trio moving to George Gershwin’s heartrending classic of the same name sung by Annie Lennox. Finally, celebrated Israeli dancer and choreographer, Ido Tadmor will present “Postponed Conversations,” a duet featuring Robert Schumann’s “Symphonic Etudes Op.13,” played live by world renowned Israeli concert pianist, Daniel Gortler. Gortler will lend the work his poignant take on Schumann’s composition which will be brought to life by a couple that is confronted with the profound emotions behind unspoken words.
Returning this season due to popular demand are two full company works. “Gutter Glitter,” a work that is simultaneously edgy and soft, set to electronica and finds the spark of rare beauty and inspiration in unexpected places. The work is symbolic of a dynamic rise from the bottom, which illuminates the struggle of rediscovering the light after being in darkness. The work is part of Complexion’s “The Collage Series,” an ongoing initiative to present new dance works in a visual collage format that seeks the line of commonality within diverse elements. Also returning is the runaway hit “Star Dust,” a ballet tribute to the genre-bending innovation of one of the most prolific rock stars of all time, David Bowie. This ballet takes an array of Bowie’s hits and lays a visual imprint inspired by his unique persona and restless artistic invention, resulting in a rock opera production in his honor.
During the run, Thursday, November 16 will be dedicated to Complexions’ annual fundraising gala. Proceeds from this gala benefit performance will continue to help build Complexions’ educational initiatives through scholarships, mentorship programs and the continued development of Rhoden’s and Richardson’s methodology of dance training. Complexion’s educational initiatives were offered in five cities this past year, allowing the company the ability to mentor and train hundreds of dancers. The gala will give audiences an opportunity to see the next generation of performers as they grace the Joyce stage. In addition to the company work, “Star Dust,” there will be a performance by the students of Complexions’ pre-professional program, and guest performances by Complexions Co-Founder Desmond Richardson alongside of Israeli dancer and choreographer, Ido Tadmor among others.
Tickets range from $10 to $66 and can be purchased online at www.Joyce.org. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 212-242-0800. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue (at the corner of 19th Street), New York, NY 10011.
For the most up-to-date schedule for all Complexions Contemporary Balletprogramming, follow Complexions via the below links and visit www.complexionsdance.org
Twitter: @ComplexionsNYC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/complexionsdance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complexions_ballet/
Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Complexions) was founded in 1994 by Master Choreographer Dwight Rhoden and the legendary dancer Desmond Richardson with a singular approach to reinventing dance through a groundbreaking mix of methods, styles and cultures. Today, Complexions represents one of the most recognized and respected performing arts brands in the world. Having presented an entirely new and exciting vision of human movement on 5 continents, over 20 countries, to over 20 million television viewers and to well over 300,000 people in live audiences, Complexions is poised to continue its mission of bring unity to the world, one dance at a time.
Complexions has received numerous awards including The New York Times Critics’ Choice Award.
It has appeared throughout the US, including the Joyce Theater/NY, Lincoln Center/NY, Brooklyn Academy of Music/NY, Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts/New Orleans, Paramount Theatre/Seattle, The Music Center/Los Angeles, Winspear Opera House/Dallas, Cutler Majestic Theater/Boston, New Victory Theater/NY, and Music Hall/Detroit, The Bolshoi Theater, The Kremlin, The Mikhailovsky Theater, Melbourne Arts Center, and will make its debut at the Kennedy Center in 2017, as a part of Ballet Across America.
