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U.T. To Be Catalyst For New Dance Works

Updated: Wednesday, March 14 2012, 03:59 AM CDT
By Rob Faubion, Austin On Stage - www.austinonstage.com

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents Catalyst, a collection of modern and classic dance works by nationally and internationally renowned choreographers, on March 23 through 25.  The historic dance works by Ohad Naharin, David Justin, Yacov Sharir, and Charles O. Anderson will be stage at the B. Iden Payne Theatre.

Artistic director of Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, Ohad Naharin has been hailed as one of the world's preeminent contemporary choreographers.  The University of Texas at Austin’s presentation of Naharin’s famous "Minus 16" marks a historic first - the Department of Theatre and Dance is the only university program permitted to perform "Minus 16" in its entirety.  The work breaks down barriers between performers and audience with dynamic movement and music that includes traditional Israeli music, mambo, techno and Dean Martin.
    
“Minus 16 is a great artistic challenge for Dance Repertory Theatre, our department’s award-winning student dance ensemble," said David Justin, co-artistic director of Catalyst.  "The inclusion of Naharin’s ambitious and demanding work symbolizes the level of excellence we are aiming to achieve at The University of Texas.”
    
Other work on the program includes the world premiere of David Justin’s "Oblivion's Ink," a contemporary ballet created to the music of jazz trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas.  "Oblivion's Ink" was recently selected for invitation to the National American College Dance Festival, and will be presented at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. in May.  Justin serves as an associate professor at The University of Texas at Austin and serves as the artistic director of American Repertory Ensemble.
     
Yacov Sharir joins Justin as co-artistic director for Catalyst and Dance Repertory Theatre.  Founder of American Deaf Dance Company and Sharir Dance Company, his work, "Too & For," explores corporeality in the physical realm as well as the virtual domain.  Sharir currently serves as a professor of dance at The University of Texas at Austin.
     
Choreographed by university associate professor of dance Charles O. Anderson, the dance work "Rite" is an excerpt of a larger piece Anderson created for his company, dance theatre X. Inspired by the writings of the late American science fiction writer Octavia Butler, "Rite" captures the shifting social, economic and ecological climates of the 21st Century.
    
Performance times are March 23 and 24 at 8  p.m., and March 24 and 25 at 2  p.m. Tickets are $20 adults, $17 for University faculty and staff, and $15 for students.
    
A special free pre-performance discussion, "Catalyst Decoded," will be held on Friday March 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the B. Iden Payne Theatre. Guest speakers and Catalyst artistic directors Justin and Sharir will share their insight on the evening’s performance.
    
The B. Iden Payne Theatre is located at 300 E. 23rd Street  in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building on the University of Texas campus.  Tickets are now on sale at the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, all Texas Box Office outlets - including most H-E-B stores - by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO, and online at www.TexasPerformingArts.org.

For more information on Catalyst, please visit www.finearts.utexas.edu/events/detail.cfm?calset=tad&id=3283.


(Cooper Neely in "Minus 16" by Ohad Naharin, photo credit Jeff Heimsath.)

(Victoria Mora and Cooper Neely in "Oblivion's Ink" by David Justin, photo credit Raymond Thompson.)

U.T. To Be Catalyst For New Dance Works