Miami Momentum Dance reveals 2013 season

Miami Momentum Dance CompanyMiami Momentum Dance Company, one of the oldest and most established contemporary dance companies in the Southeastern U.S., returns for its 31st year to South Florida from Jan. 5 –May 13 with breathtaking performances that have made Momentum a Miami-Dade County Performing Arts institution.

 

Artistic Director Delma Iles continues to amaze and charm audiences with premieres and new productions that celebrate traditional modern dance, blended with contemporary choreographic themes, as Momentum continues to be the premiere modern dance company of Miami-Dade, FL.

 

The Children’s Library Series Program, a four-part performance run, began with the production of Carnival of Animals at the Alvin Sherman Public Library at NOVA University in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5. The series will continue on Jan. 19 at Coral Gables Public Library on Segovia Avenue in Coral Gables.

 

In Carnival of Animals, Momentum’s dancers bring Camille Saint-Saens dazzling and clever score to life, creating movement vignettes for each of Saint-Saens animals: the prancing Lion, the lugubrious Tortoise, a pair of whimsical Elephants, a school of fish in an Aquarium, the shy Cuckoo, gliding and graceful Swans, and a Grand Finale. Each segment features fabulous costumes by Marilyn Skow, unique dance movement, and lots of fun.

 

On Jan. 25 at 10 a.m., Momentum will present the work Counting Songs as a Playhouse in the Park performance for Artz-N-The-Hood of the Carrie Meek Community Center, located at Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50 Street, Miami, FL 33142. Counting Songs is a fun and action-packed 30-minute performance that teaches younger children their numbers 1-8 while simultaneously teaching the multiplication tables for the same numbers to older kids. Each number comes to life with an original song by local composer Devin Marsh and a dance by Momentum’s delightful, goofy, and high-energy dancers. Each song is in a different musical style (jazz, reggae, rock, Caribbean, classical, rap) and each dance has a special element such as puppets, scarves, stuffed animals, rhythm instruments and more. For more information on the free performance, call 305.758.1577.

 

Counting Songs will also be performed as the second part of the Children’s Library Series Program on Feb. 16 at Coral Gables Public Library. For more information, call 305.442.8706.

 

Momentum also has a scheduled appearance at the Citizens Interested in Arts Gala on Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. Located at the Aventura Performing Arts Center at 3385 NE 188th Street, Aventura, the gala will feature excerpts from Carnival of the Animals: Lion, Elephants, Cuckoo, Swans, Finale. 

 

The third part of the Children’s Library Series Program will be presented March 16 at the Coral Gables Public Library. It will officially act as the Coral Gables premiere of Three Chinese Pictures.

 

The fourth and final part of the programs’ presentations will be The Ugly Duckling on May 11, to be performed at both the Coral Gables Public Library and the Alvin Sherman Public Library. Since Hans Christen Andersen’s folk take is just as relevant for kids today as it was 200 years ago, Momentum’s dancers waddle, preen, swim and finally fly in this tale of finding oneself.

 

Throughout the first half of Momentum’s season, the company may also present an environmental dance performance at the Eyes on the Earth Festival on Feb. 23, share a performance with Peter Kalivas Dance Company at Blake Theater in Tampa on Feb. 15 or make a guest appearance with South Florida Youth Symphony at the University of Miami’s Concert Hall on May 18. More details will be released soon.

 

In May, Momentum will offer a Cultural Passport Program at Joseph Caleb Auditorium at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Carnival of the Animals will be performed for free for second graders.

 

One of the company’s season highlights will be it’s performances on April 5 and 6 at the Miami Dance Festival. Momentum will perform two world premieres plus historic reconstructions by Eleanor King and last year’s audience favorites, Pots and Pans and Super. The performances will be at the Colony Theater, located at 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. 

 

Also, during Family Day on April 7 at the Miami Dance Festival, an event meant for children ages 4-10 and their parents, the company will present Counting Songs and Carnival of the Animals.

 

Finally, Momentum Dance Company is looking forward to Dance in the Garden at Miami Beach Botanical Garden on April 25. Dancers will create a unique dance collage interacting with the natural environment.

 

For more information on Miami Momentum Dance Company’s 2013 season or to buy tickets, visit www.momentumdance.com. Founded in 1982, Momentum is one of the oldest and most established contemporary dance companies in the Southeastern U.S.

 

Photo: Miami Momentum Dance Company’s Rebecca Alred and Vanessa Nicholson perform in a duet. Photo courtesy of Miami Momentum Dance Company.