High-flying Afro-Brazilian martial art DanceBrazil01:56PM / Wednesday, February 04, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance presents an homage to the high-flying Afro-Brazilian martial art capoeira. Ritmo is a work of boundless energy and excitement that features breathtaking feats of athleticism from the dancers alongside musicians performing on traditional instruments like the cuica, agogo, berimbau, congas, tambourines, and the biriarpa.
The music is Samba do Reconcavo, a vibrant form of samba exclusive to Bahia, DanceBrazil's home. The performance will be on the MainStage on February 14th at 8 PM, located at 1000 Main Street, in Williamstown, MA.
“There can’t be much anywhere to match the strength, flexibility, speed, and idiomatic allure of the dancers and musicians of DanceBrazil.” - Washington Post
There will be a master class on February 14th at 4:10 PM. Open to the public. Please email Isabelle Holmes (Isabelle.M.Holmes@williams.edu) for more information.
Artistic Director Jelon Bieira, who founded the company in 1975, is widely credited as one of the first performers to introduce capoeira to the United States. He has choreographed for Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Alvin Ailey was instrumental in helping Vieira create DanceBrazil.
DanceBrazil is the second performance in the Center’s winter Triple Shot of Dance series. Closing the series will be the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company on February 27th at 8 PM.
Continuing its mission to contextualize arts within scholarly inquiry, the Center presents an impressive body of work that sets student work side-by-side with that of professional artists. We strive to challenge traditional forms, engage with a larger political dialogue and allow our audiences to explore diverse modes of expression. Not content merely to present popular work, the Center’s professional performances, workshops and student productions are designed to invite the entire community to engage, debate, and celebrate the experience of both witnessing and creating live art.
DanceBrazil will perform on Saturday, February 14th at 8:00 pm on the ’62 Center MainStage. Tickets are $3 with valid student ID & $10 for all others.
For tickets, visit the Williams ’62 Center Box Office Tues-Sat, 1-5 pm or call (413) 597-2425. For more information, please visit http://www.62center.williams.edu. |
