October 16-18
Parsons Dance Company

David Parsons, once a celebrated dancer with Paul Taylor, has emerged as a major American dancemaker, recognized for his accessible, high energy works that are filled with humor, creative partnering, and sizzling sensuality. While his dancers and choreography are easy on the eye, Parsons has already created contemporary classics that have found their way into the repertory of many other companies. First introduced to Dance Celebration in 1986, the company has become a favorite, returning often. It will be three years since their last visit, and there are marvelous new works to see, besides strobe lights catching a dancer midair in Caught.

• Thursday, October 16, 2008 @ 7:30 PM   

• Friday, October 17, 2008 @ 8:00 PM   
• Saturday, October 18, 2008 @ 2:00 PM   
• Saturday, October 18, 2008 @ 8:00 PM

October 29
Inbal Pinto Dance Company

This past season Inbal Pinto, Israelâ€^TMs new high priestess of dance, collaborated with Pilobolus in the creation of a new work. For the first time in the thirty-eight year existence of the â€oePils,” they invited an outside choreographer to work with them. The result, Rushes, was a stunning success. Now, we get to see the Philadelphia debut of Ms. Pintoâ€^TMs company in its full length award-winning production, Shaker. Set inside a stage size snow-filled globe, every dance style imaginable is blended into a theatrical cocktail that redefines what different and new are all about. It is startlingly beautiful, funny, and delightful. In a nutshell, defining Inbal Pintoâ€^TMs approach to dance.   

• Wednesday, October 29, 2008 @ 7:30 PM

November 6-8
Rubberbandance Group

Victor Quijada grew up in LA after emigrating from Mexico. As a young man, he became one of the best club hip-hop dancers on theWest Coast. Although he never had a dance class, he auditioned and was accepted to the High School for the Performing Arts, where he heard classical music for the first time. On a lark, he accompanied his girlfriend to a Twyla Tharp audition. Tharp invited him into her touring company. Three years later, he is a principal dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Hip-hop and ballet may seem an unusual pairing, but Mr. Quijadaâ€^TMs company, now in residence at Montréalâ€^TMs Place des Artes, fuses these two styles and traditions into something fresh and exciting. It is called Phase II, a ground-breaking multimedia work that redefines dance â€" and Dance Celebration gets to host the world premiere.

•Thursday, November 6, 2008 @ 7:30 PM   

•Friday, November 7, 2008 @ 8:00 PM   
•Saturday, November 8, 2008 @ 2:30 PM   
•Saturday, November 8, 2008 @ 8:00 PM

December 4-6
Doug Varone & Dancers

Doug Varone is a master choreographer. His credits range from film and opera to theater and dance. His work is so layered and dense with movement and structure, it is like watching a stunning symphonic visualization materialize before your eyes. Other dancemakers come again and again to watch with amazement how he manipulates his dancers, creates and
disassembles structures, and works with, and at odds to, the music. Engaging is not strong enough to describe him. Hypnotic comes close. A Guggenheim Fellow and Obie award winner, Varone brings a smart and unique style to the stage, celebrating the passion of movement.   

• Thursday, December 4, 2008 @ 7:30 PM   

• Friday, December 5, 2008 @ 8:00 PM   
• Saturday, December 6, 2008 @ 2:00 PM   
• Saturday, December 6, 2008 @ 8:00 PM

January 8-10
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company

It has been ten years since Lar Lubovitch has taken his company on the road. He has kept himself busy on Broadway with choreography for Into the Woods and with commissioned works such as Othello for American Ballet Theatre. It is a treat to finally have him back in Philadelphia. His style could be called â€oecontemporary romantic.” His classicist work is as fresh as young love, lush and vibrant with a joyful
idealism that is emotionally and spiritually moving. Awarded an American Masterpieces grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Mr. Lubovitch has reconstructed Concerto Six Twenty-Two, matching Mozartâ€^TMs magnificent score with a work that inspires a heartfelt response that you will never forget.

• Thursday, January 8, 2009 @ 7:30 PM   

• Friday, January 9, 2009 @ 8:00 PM   
• Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 2:00 PM   
• Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ 8:00 PM   

February 3
Batsheva Dance Company

Ohad Naharin, Israelâ€^TMs choreographic gift to the world, has set works on a number of popular Dance Celebration companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Nederlands Dans Theater. His pièce de résistance, Minus 16, had audiences on their feet every night clapping ecstatically when Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performed here in 2005. Batsheva will make its Philadelphia debut with its signature piece, Decadance. Audiences will once again have the dizzying experience of being entertained by a smorgasbord of Mr. Naharinâ€^TMs eccentric and compelling dance
moves. This presentation celebrates the 60th anniversary of Israel.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 @ 7:30 PM

February 19-21
Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal

Smart, sophisticated and hip, Ballets Jazz has morphed from a strictly jazz genre to dancing an eclectic contemporary repertoire. We are honored to announce that the company will present the North American premiere of Rossini Cards, a gorgeous and comic work by Mauro Bigonzetti, choreographer of Italyâ€^TMs Compagnia Aterballetto. In addition, Brazilâ€^TMs Rodrigo Pederneiras, choreographer for Grupo Corpo, will be represented by MAPA, a steamy fusion of samba, capoeiro, xaxado and contemporary dance.

• Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 7:30 PM     

• Friday, February 20, 2009 @ 8:00 PM   
• Saturday, February 21, 2009 @ 2:00 PM   
• Saturday, February 21, 2009 @ 8:00 PM   

March 17-18
Ballet Boyz

They were two principal dancers with Londonâ€^TMs Royal Ballet at the top of their game, but they wanted to spread their artistic wings, so William Trevitt and Michael Nunn became the Ballet Boyz. They began an odyssey to work with the best choreographers in the world, documenting their experiences in funny short films they show between pieces. They have put together a program featuring the work of young choreographers with international reputations.
Christopher Wheeldon, former choreographer in residence at New York City Ballet and author of Pennsylvania Balletâ€^TMs Swan Lake, has created Mesmerics. Russell Maliphant won the Laurence Olivier Award for best new dance production and the National Dance Award for Best Choreography with Broken Fall.
Liv Lorent, winner of the Artist of the Year Award, created Propellers, a dizzyingly display of co-dependency with bodies slowly arcing through the air. Tango Duet by Craig Revel-Horwood (of the outlandish TV Series Strictly Come Dancing fame) was commissioned by the Boyz to open their season at the Royal Festival Hall.

• Tuesday, March 17, 2009 @ 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, March 18, 2009 @ 8:00 PM

May 14-16
National Dance Company of Spain

Nacho Duato has rock star status in Spain and throughout Europe. As artistic director and chief choreographer for Spainâ€^TMs national dance company, he has single-handedly raised the artistic level and recognition for Spanish-bred dance around the world. Mr. Duato and his company wowed us with his Bach Multiplicity in 2002, and he returns with an all-Duato program. To eliminate any confusion, this is not flamenco, gypsy or folk dance. Mr. Duato has dual backgrounds in ballet and contemporary dance. He studied ballet in England and contemporary dance at Alvin Ailey. He is considered by many as the finest European choreographer working today. His musical selections, movement vocabulary, partnering and aesthetics abound with the exotic. Is his style contemporary ballet, or is it contemporary dance influenced by ballet technique? Who cares? It is flat out fabulous.
• Thursday, May 14, 2009 @ 7:30 PM   
• Friday, May 15, 2009 @ 8:00 PM   
• Saturday, May 16, 2009 @ 2:00 PM   
• Saturday, May 16, 2009 @ 8:00 PM   

Performance (all tags)