S04 MDE - UMD School of Theatre Dance and Performance

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Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center &
University of Maryland Deaprtment of Dance
present
]4ar"fland Dance Ensemble
PaulD. fackson,director
Inside Theatre: Re gLnaTaylor
Actress, director and plal'wright ReginaTaylor sharesher insights on playwriting.
Her works include Drowning Crow, Crowns and Oo-Bla-Dee,for which she received
the 2000 American Theatre Critics'Association Award. Best known as Lilly Harper
on theTV series I'll Fly Away,for which she has won an NAACP ImageAward, an
Emmy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award, Ms.Taylor also servesas
artistic associateof Chicaeo's renowned GoodmanTheare.
Production Staff
Artistic Director: PaulD.Jackson
Lighting Designby: Daniel Davis,Regina Goldman,PaulD.Jackson,DavidJohney
StageManager:David Johney
StageCrew: Dance 270 ProductionClass
Sunday,May9 / 7:30prn/ Robert &Arlene KogodTheatre
$25 / $5 student
301.405.rtK9
online ticketing now available at
m.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu
TTY:301.405.0701
Monday,April 26,2004 at 8pu
Dance Theatre
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland, College Park
- intermission -
My Dad's Tacos
Choreography and Text: Risa Jaroslow in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Leo Kotke
Dancers:Alexis Cohn*, Natasha Curtis, Danielle Fisco,Marybeth Hanley*, Kristen
Kushiyama*,Aikaterini Paramana, Colleen Parnell, Mary Szegda, MeganThompson,
Molly SueWelch*
Costumes: Clint E. B. Ramos
Rehearsal Director: Meriam Rosen
Transitioning
Choreographed and performed by:Talia Bar-Cohen and Aleis
Music: Don't MissYou atAll and Tbesby NorahJones
Cohn
Moving Past Comfort
Choreography: Alexis Cohn*
Music: Sergei Rachmoninov, Sonataforpiano and celloin C minor,op T9,Andante
Dancers: Alexis Cohn*, Bethany Engel, Marybeth Hanley*, Sarah Levitt*
Affection
Choreographed and performed by: Shannon Connell
Long Ride Home
Crackle and Fizz
Choreography: Ruben Graciani
Music: Cesar Franc: ConeertoJorViolinand Piano
Dancers: Ruben Graciani. Aaron Iackson
Choreography: Danielle Fisco
produced by Steven Gottlieb
Music: TeeWeTbons:TheCommercials
Album coordinator: Judi Dovan
Sound Collage edited by Danielle Fisco and Paul D.Jackson
Dancers: Danielle Fisco and Brent Lawrence*
Decadent Ball
Choreography:JaymeHost
Music: Karl Jenkins:Ein WeinerWalzer
Dancers:LaurenAlbert,JamieBaer,TaliaBar-Cohen,DanielleFisco,Mari-Elise Gates,
Jennifer Graham,Carly Hamburger*,Judy Ku{an
RehearsalDirector: Megan Thompson
A Vacant Heart...in the face of unrelenting optimism
Choreography: Ruben Graciani
Music: J.S.Bach: Concertoin F Minor
Dancers: Regina Daniels, Ruben Graciani, Kristen Kushiyama*, Omoro Omoighe,
Megan Thompson, Molly Welch*
* creativeand peforming arts scholar
To Catch a Frog
Choreography:Aaron Jackson
Music: Odeto a Butterflyby Nickle Creek
Dancers:AaronJackson,Colleen Parnell
Pleaserememberto turn of beepers,
watch alarms,and cellular telephones.
Photographyor recordingof any kind is prohibited.
note that no one wiII be seatedwhile
the artistsand the audience,please
Out of considerationfor
a danceis beingperJormed.I-atecomerswill be seatedat the-firstappropriateinterual.
Talia Bar-Cohen began her early dance training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently
a senior dance major at the University of Maryland, she has performed in works by
Jennifer Martinez, Dan'Wagoner, Doug Nielsen, Maurice Fraga, and Alexander GishShe represented the University at the American College Dance Festival as well as the
Kennedy Centeri Millenniurn Stage in 2003 and 2004. Outside of the (JniversiryTalia
performed in the 2003 Minneapolis Fringe Festival,has presented works by Melissa St.
Anrour in the'Washington, D.C. area,and had the privilege of performing in Arts United
DC's prenriere performance of Phadrethis past February.Talia would like to thank her
farnily, and especially her parents for their constant love and support in all her dance
pursuits throughout the years.
Alexis Cohn is currently a junior dance major and a Creative and Performing Arts
Scholar at the Universiry of Maryland. She has had the privilege of working with
Keely Garfield, Dan'Wagoner, Doug Nielsen, Maurice Fraga,Kelly Mayfield, and Risa
Jaroslow.She also looks forward to working with Brian Ilrooks in the fall of 2004.Alexis
has representedthe lJniversity of Maryland at theAnrerican College Dance Festival in
2003 and at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in 2003 and 2004. Alexis would
like to thank her family for their love and support and Mim Rosen for her guidance
throughout the past three years.
Shannon Connell is a sophonrore dance major at the Universiry of Maryland. Last
semester she had the pleasure of being in a piece choreographed by graduate student
Lisa Traiger. This is the first time her choreography has been presented in Maryland
Dance Ensemble. She would like to thank her friends, family, and teachers for their
existence and support.
Danielle Fisco is in her third year at the Universiry of Maryland studying dance and
psychology. She has had the privilege to work with choreographers Risa Jaroslow Jayme
Host, Kelly Mayfield and graduate student Daniel Singh. Danielle awaitsworking with Brian
Brooks this sunrmer and is very excited for that opportunity. This is Danielle's choreographic
debut and she would like to thank everyone that helped conrribute to the process.
Ruben Graciani began training as a scholarship student at the North Carolina School
of the Arts where he majored in Modern Dance. After receiving his high school
degree, Mr. Graciani attended the Juilliard School, and finished his degree at the State
(Jniversity of NewYork - PurchaseCollege, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
While attending Purchase,Mr. Graciani was invited to perform in three International
Festivalsof Dance staged intiwan
and China. Further, Mr. Graciani perfornred soloist
and leading roles in works by Jose Limon, Charles Weidman, Paul Thylor, Kevin Wynn,
and Mark Morris among others. In addition, Mr. Graciani was invited to join the Kevin
Wvnn Collection, a NewYork based Modern Dance Conrpany.
After graduation, Mr. Graciani was invited to join the Mark Morris Dance Group. Mr.
Graciani'.sfive-year afliliation with the conlpany resulted in national and international
tours per{orming with one of the world's preenrinent modern dance cornpanies. Mr.
Gracianii tours with Mark Morris included performances with the Royal Opera
Conrpany, Covent Garden, seasons at the State Theater, Lincoln Center, and the
Kennedy Center Opera House. Mr. Graciani has been a member of bopii black sheep /
dancesby Kraig Patterson since its inception. He is a M.FA. candidate at the (Jniversity
of Maryland - College Park where he has presented several works of choreography
for the Maryland Dance Ensemble. Recently, Mr. Graciani performed in Mythic
Montana with the Joe Goode Performance Group at the Clarice Smith Center for the
Perfonning Arts.
Along with (Jniversiry of Maryland alumna, Connie L. Fink, Mr. Graciani created the
District Dance Project in the fall of 2003.The DDP is a new D.C. baseddance company
conrmitted to presenting the choreographic work of its founders, along with up-andconring talent. The conlpany presented its first season in March of 2004 at the Jack
Guidone Theater in Washington, D.C.
layme Host received a BA in Dance from Goucher College and a MFA in Dance from
the Universiry of Utah. She has danced with the Repertory DanceTheatre of Utah and
Tandy Beal. She has worked on the faculties of Goucher College and the Carver Center
for Arts and Technology. Currently Jayme is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Lock
Haven I-Jniversiry of Pennsylvania.
Aaron fackson is a senior dance major at the (Jniversity of Maryland. He is pleasedto
have worked with choreographers like Alvin Mayes, David Parker, Maurice Fraga and
Doug Nielsen since coming to Maryland. In addition to these on-campus opportunitres,
he has also worked with Doug Hamby Dance, and with Arts United ofWashington,
D.C. in their debut performance o{ Phadrelast winter.Aaron is also an experienced actor,
playing such roles as Luther Billis in SouthPacificand Schroeder in Snoopy!!!
Paul D. lackson (Artistic/Technical Director) has been the Technical Director,/
Lighting Designer for the Department of l)ance at the lJniversiry of Maryland since
1980. He has served as Lighting DesiE;ner/Production Stage Manager for Maryland
Dance Theater, IMPROVISATIONS
UNLIMITED, and many Baltimore/Washington
area dance companies. He has been designing lights for dance conrpanies in residence
at Janles Madison Universiry since 1993. Paul has also acted asTechnical Director for
Dance Place, and as Production Manager/Lighting Designer for the Kennedy Center's
WashingJtonDance! Front and Center Programs, and the National American College
Dance Festival.Paul received a BFA in Dance Production from the Universiry of Utah
and an MA in Dance Production from The Ohio State lJniversiry and spent five years
pioneering modern dance in the Dakotas with his wife Moira. He has remained active
as a performer, appearing in works byWashington area choreographers.
has been creating, teaching, and performing dance for twenty-five
Risa laroslow
years. She and her company, Risa Jaroslow & Dancers, are dedicated to exploring
the ways performance and communiry work can be merged, using dance-making
to forge connections between people, and creating works of artistic excellence and
social relevance. Deborah Jowitt of the Village Voice recently wrote, "Risa Jaroslow
choreographs as if the most important thing in the world were how and why someone
takes another's hand or leans into another's embrace, as if her mission were to explore
the common needs and visions that bring people together."
RisaJaroslow & Dancers has performed at the major venuesfor new dance in NewYork
Ciry including The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, Lincoln Center Out-ot
Doors, andThe 92"d StreetY. Her Company has also performed and taught nationally
and internationally. Last summer, they created the Bliskosc project in Bytom, Poland, the
cuhnination of work Risa has done in Poland over the last eight years.The castincluded
ten dancers and ten older singers singing traditional music from Silesia.The Company
is committed to using live music for dance.
Risa has taught technique, composition, repertory, and master classesat many colleges
and universities includingAmerican UniversiryAdelphi lJniversiry andTriniry College.
She has developed a distinctive seriesofteaching techniques that engagesdancers ofall
levels, and people of all ages and abilities. Her Company recently completed a fwelveyear residency at lJniversiry Settlement on the Lower East Side where Risa founded
Arts at University Settlement, now a thriving neighborhood arts program that serves
both local residentsand the arts community.
Risa Jarolsow's work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts,
New York Ciry Department of Cultural AfFairs, United States Information Service,
Consolidated Edison, Chase Manhattan Bank, and private foundations including
Artslink,The Trust for Mutual understanding,The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Tiust
Live Music for Dance Program,The Nathan Cummings Foundation, and The Harkness
Foundation for Dance. RisaJaroslow is a resident artist with Dance TheaterWorkshop's
Public Imaginations Program, a series of projects designed to form interacdve ties
bervveen artists and the public at large.
Dance credits for Clint E. B. Ramos (Costume Designer) include StringsAttached,Wire
Walking,Home for RisaJaroslow and Dancers/HighTide Dance, L, for Gus Solomons/
2"dAve. Danc e Co., Ballet Nolr for Stuttgarter Ballet and Ahab\Wife for Spencer/Colton
to
Dance. Recent theater credits include Obie Award winning productions of ReJerences
SalvadorDali Make Me Hor with Rosie Perez for NYSF/Public Theater, and Cod Created
CreatWales for the Culture Project and Centerstage,Baltimore. Clint has done design
work for NewYork Ciry Opera, NewYorkTheaterWorkshop, NYSF PublicTheater,
American Repertory Co., MA-YI Theater, Foundry Theater, and Manhattan Class
Co. International credits include works for DeNederlandse Opera, Stuttgarter Ballet,
Folkoperan (Stockholm),Teatre Burgos (Salamanca).Clint is also the Resident Costume
Designer for Commonwealth ShakespeareCompany, Boston. He has an MFA in Design
from NYUTisch School of the Arts.
Meriam Rosen, Professor, B.S. in Dance, Universiry of Illinois; M.A. in Theatre,
University of Maryland. She performed with Dance Quartet, Ethel Butler Dance
Company,Washington Dancers in Repertory, and Doris Humphrey's Repertory at the
American Dance Festival.Ms. Rosen has studied extensively with CharlesWeidman,Jos6
Lim6n, Martha Graham, Ethel Butler, Erick Hawkins, and Kei Takei. Her choreographic
training has been with Doris Humphrey, Louis Horst and Daniel Nagrin. She has been
awarded choreographic grants by the National Endowment for the Arts, Maryland
State Arts Council, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission, and from the Creative and Performing
Arts Board of the lJniversiry of Maryland at College Park Graduate School. Her most
recent works include choreography for Universiry OperaWorkshop (JniversityTheatre,
and for IMPROVISATIONS
UNLIMITED.
Ms. Rosen was founder and director of
IMPROVISATIONS
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frorn 7978-7992.
Megan Thompson received a BA in Dance and English from the (Jniversity ofWisconsin.
ln 1,999 she studied for a semesterat the Laban Centre in London. Before moving to
DC, she danced with the nora.new.dance.companyand Li Chiao-Ping Dance Company.
Megan is currently pursuing an MFA in Dance at the university of Maryland.