Last evening, I had the pleasure of attending an exquisite show at the Power Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Michigan. There were four pieces each unique in style and composition. The official write-up of the event is as follows:
The University Dance Company’s 2011 concert celebrates the intertwining of music and culture throughout the Americas. Acclaimed dance artist Dianne McIntyre creates a new work set to music inspired by Bo Diddley, Eric Dolphy, and Dizzy Gillespie played by students in the UM Jazz Department. McIntyre’s extensive career has stretched from performing to choreographing for modern dance, theatre, television, and film, as well as winning numerous awards, including the 2009 American Dance Festival Award for Distinguished Teaching. “One of the most engaging [dancers] you’ll see anywhere…McIntyre whips together narrative, exceptionally fluid dancing, and music.” (Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post). Sandra Torijano premieres Tango con la vida, a work examining the deep, shared spirit underlying Latin America’s rich dance and music cultures. Towards a sudden silence by Melissa Beck is inspired by the poems of American poet, UM graduate, and Hopwood Award winner Marge Piercy. Rounding out the evening will be a MinEvent, presenting an uninterrupted sequence of excerpts from masterworks by Merce Cunningham, accompanied by John Cage’s “Cartridge Music” played live by the Digital Music Ensemble.
Here’s some pictures, just FYI:
