Atlanta’s Dance Canvas to celebrate 10 years

Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia TechDance Canvas’ 10th Anniversary Season continues with its well-known performance series on March 23 and 24 at the Ferst Center for the Arts. This season’s program will be showcasing new choreography by a returning choreographer from each of the past seasons.

 

Dance Canvas performances are part of the 2017-18 Arts @ Tech Season. Continuing to grow the partnership between Dance Canvas and Georgia Tech’s Office of the Arts, this new production will commission 10 new works and feature 50 professional dancers. The program line-up includes:

 

A collaborative piece by Angela Harris and Vanessa Chisolm, infusing Ballet with Tap. Angela Harris is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Canvas. She has danced with The Georgia Ballet, Columbia City Ballet and Urban Ballet Theater. Vanessa Chisolm is a tap choreographer and co-founded a professional tap company, Atlanta Tap Project.

 

– A solo by Juel D. Lane based on the artwork of acclaimed artist, Ernie Barnes. Juel Lane’s work has been presented by nationally acclaimed companies, including Dallas Black Dance Theater and most recently, Ailey II, during their Atlanta engagement. He is a former dancer with Ronald K. Brown/Evidence.

 

Vectors by Dana Woodruff, a high energy, high flying new work. Dana Woodruff is a dance professor at Kennesaw State University. She is a former dancer with Joyce Trisler Danscompany in NYC.

 

– An all-male quintet by Annalee Traylor, featuring new music by slowdanger. Annalee Traylor is a Pittsburgh-based choreographer whose work has been performed across the country. She was a founding member of the August Wilson Dance Ensemble in Pittsburgh.

 

– A heart-felt lyrical pas de duex by Marci Lefkoff that challenges perceptions. Marci Lefkoff is an Atlanta based choreographer and teacher. She was the resident choreographer for the Atlanta Hawks dance team.

 

– Powerful movement and powerful women in Lonnie Davis’ newest work. Lonnie Davis is an Atlanta-based choreographer and teacher. He is a former dancer with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Royal Caribbean Entertainment.

 

Rebirth, a trio from the repertoire of City Gate Dance Theater, by Jennifer Davis. Jennifer Davis is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of City Gate Dance Theater. She is a former dancer with Ballethnic Dance Company.

 

– Britt Fishel’s conceptual work featuring film. Britt Fishel is a choreographer, screendance artist and the Co-Director of Atlanta Dance Collective, a new Atlanta-based Dance Company. She was the Artistic Director of BNW:dance, and has presented work in Washington D.C., Michigan and New York City.

 

– Two additional works by Lindsay Fritz (2017 Dance Canvas choreographer) and Lara Davis (DC NEXT Alumni) will round out the 2018 program.

 

In addition to the public performances, Dance Canvas brings over 500 students from Atlanta area schools to be the first audience for the production. On Thursday, March 22, Dance Canvas opens their dress rehearsal to school field trips and offers the opportunity for students to give constructive criticism of the production. Dance Canvas’ Arts Education and Outreach Manager Anna Dunn works with teachers to provide post-show projects for the students to write reviews of the show.

 

Dance Canvas’ 10th Anniversary season had an exciting start on July 15, 2017, when Dance Canvas was invited to perform at The Fox Theatre to help kick off the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival. Harris, who has been working on musical productions both locally and nationally, choreographed a tribute performance to the Fox Theatre’s Grand Opening in 1929. Featuring 12 dancers as a nod to the original “Sunkist Beauties”, the performance was accompanied by Mighty Mo, the organ, and opened the show.

 

Also, earlier this season, Dance Canvas hosted choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, whose choreography has previously been commissioned by John McFall for Atlanta Ballet. Moultrie recently choreographed for Beyoncé’s Mrs. Carter Tour, as well as for the American Repertory Theater in NYC. A former Princess Grace Award Recipient, Moultrie worked with the young dancers of DC NEXT, and set a new piece of choreography on the students. Dance Canvas also opened the studio to the community for a free class as part of the new summer Artist-to-Artist Series.

 

Additionally, Dance Canvas welcomed its new Artist-in-Residence, Dr. Julie Johnson, a professor in Spelman’s new and growing Dance Department.

 

For more information on the 2018 Dance Canvas Performances at the Ferst Center, or for tickets, visit www.arts.gatech.edu.

 

For further information on the 2017-18 Season, head to www.dancecanvas.com.

 

Photos by Richard Calmes, courtesy of Dance Canvas, Inc.