This preview has been provided by Gaspard Louis.

Durham-based modern-dance choreographer Gaspard Louis and his company Gaspard&Dancers will feature a powerful new piece at the company’s third annual concert on March 13 and 15 at Reynolds Industries Theater. The evening-length program will showcase Louis’ work and that of two other influential native North Carolina choreographers, Mark Dendy and Amanda K. Miller.

Haitian-born Louis will present the world premiere of Souke, the latest in a series of exciting new works he has created in the Triangle since the founding of Gaspard&Dancers in 2009. Souke, which means “to shake” in Haitian Creole, captures both the chaos of the tragic 2010 earthquake and the courage of the Haitian people — courage that unites them in rebuilding their devastated country.

The concert will also feature Louis’ 2011 works Insido and Magical Cusp as well as enduring audience favorite Innercurrent (2002). See clips at gaspardanddancers.org.

Concert includes works by two other world-renowned choreographers with roots in North Carolina

In addition to four works by Louis, Gaspard&Dancers will perform a world premiere by Amanda K. Miller as well as Mark Dendy’s 1985 groundbreaking athletic tour de force BEAT. Dendy has launched and directed two acclaimed dance companies and created numerous award-winning works for theater and television. His choreography has been honored with an Emmy, an Obie, a Bessie, and the Alpert Award.

Before forming her own dance ensemble Pretty Ugly Dance Company in Germany, Miller was a dancer and resident choreographer with William Forsythe’s Ballet Frankfurt. Miller’s choreography has been honored with the Wexner Center Prize, three Rencontres Chorégraphiques International de Bagnolet prizes, and the Dutch Golden Swan award. Dendy and Miller are North Carolina natives and NCSA alums.

Louis rose to prominence as a dancer/choreographer with the cutting-edge Pilobolus Dance Theater.

In addition to performing, touring, and teaching globally, Louis collaborated on nine major dance works during his formative decade with Pilobolus. He also has choreographed for Freespace Dance Company in New Jersey and Kentucky University Dance Ensemble. Louis currently directs The American Dance Festival’s year-round creative outreach program, which provides free dance classes to Triangle youth. Learn more about Gaspard Louis at gaspardanddancers.org.

Gaspard&Dancers
   Reynolds Industries Theater
   Duke University
   March 13 & 15, 2012 at 8 pm
   tickets.duke.edu
   email: tickets@duke.edu
   phone: 919.684.4444

Gaspard&Dancers will perform six works at the evening-length concert:

  • Souke by Gaspard Louis
  • Insido by Gaspard Louis
  • Magical Cuspby Gaspard Louis
  • Innercurrent by Gaspard Louis & Donna Scro Gentile
  • BEATby Mark Dendy
  • Prometheus, a premiere by Amanda K. Miller

Press:

“Louis is a former Pilobolus dancer, and his choreography is decidedly Pilobolean in tone and often in imagery. Yet, generally, it is more fluid and lyrical …[with] delicately beautiful designs for the arm and hand along with larger shape-building within the unbounded energy flow.”  Kate Dobbs Ariail, Classical Voice of North Carolina

“[Louis] also brings his own style and emotional depth to his work to create an evening of dance that satisfies and delights.  The quality of movement often looks buoyant, soft and floating with natural ease.”  Susan Brolli, The Herald-Sun, Durham

Additional info: gaspardanddancers.org