DANCE SALAD BRINGS MORE WORLD-CLASS
DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS TO HOUSTON

Announcing the 2004 Season April 8, 9 and 10
at the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater

HOUSTON, TX (January 23, 2004) – The 12th season of Houston’s premier international dance festival, Dance Salad, promises more world-class performers from the far corners of the globe. The dancers representing these companies are not only well known in their own countries, but worldwide as well. Since its inception, Dance Salad has presented dancers, choreographers and companies from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The 2004 season includes:

Royal Danish Ballet (Denmark) – Having graced the national stage of the Royal Theater in Copenhagen for more than 250 years, the Royal Danish Ballet’s performances create the ultimate dance experience – to inspire, challenge and seduce. Two principals will dance Nomade by Danish choreographer Tim Rushton and the pas de deux from New York City Ballet’s Director Peter Martins’ Octet, which premiered in Copenhagen this season. The Dance Salad performance will be a USA premiere of this work.

City Contemporary Dance Company (Hong Kong) is the flagship of modern dance companies in Hong Kong. CCDC is renowned for the distinctive and diverse style of its programs. They will present three pieces, 365 Ways of Doing and Undoing Orientalism by the director, Willy Tsao; several sections of the work, 9 Songs by resident choreographer Helen Lai; and, I Want to Fly, a beautiful piece by dancer/choreographer Xing Liang that was presented at Dance Salad 2001.

The Kylián Foundation (The Hague) will present works by Jirí Kylián, one of the greatest choreographers of our time, which will be performed by members of the three companies that make up the Netherlands Dance Theatre. The two pas de deux from One of a Kind and Blackbird will be danced by the original Netherlands Dance Theatre I cast, Megumi Nakamora, Ken Ossola, and Cora Kroese-Bos. Also presented will be a pas de deux film clip from Kylián's choreography Birth-Day for Netherlands Dance Theatre III with music by Mozart. Dancers from the Netherlands Dance Theatre II, the younger group, will dance three pieces, Shutter Shut by Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon, Chapter 9 by Ramirez/Zambrano, as well as a pas de deux from Kylián's 27'52. Japanese choreographer and former dancer with Netherlands Dance Theatre II, Jo Kanamori, who presently has his own company in Japan, will present a work originally produced by NDT II and danced by a current NDT I dancer, Rei Watanabe, entitled Under the Marron Tree.

Hubbard Street Dance (Chicago) - Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jim Vincent, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is an innovative force in contemporary dance. Recognized worldwide for its exuberant, athletic and eclectic repertory, Hubbard Street incorporates diverse influences from ballet to American musical theater to cutting-edge choreography. The company of 21 professional dancers performs works of artistic quality by both American and International choreographers. Two of them will dance Cor Perdut, choreographed by Nacho Duato. This is a pas de deux inspired by the Catalan song Bir Demet Ysemen by Maria del Mar Bonet. The two dancers bring to life Duato's dynamic corporal and expressive language, set to the hypnotic rhythm of Tunisian percussion instruments, with the same fluency transmitted by del Mar Bonet's voice.

Royal Ballet of Flanders (Belgium) - The Royal Ballet of Flanders was established in 1969. Robert Denvers was invited to direct the company in 1987. Their language is classical in essence, contemporary in its desire to address today's social and emotional concerns. The American choreographer Christopher d'Amboise created Circle of Fifths for the New York City Ballet in 1997. This exuberant neo-classical ballet is set to Philip Glass' Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. The Royal Ballet of Flanders is the first European company to perform the work, from which Dance Salad will present the pas de trois for three principal dancers. In addition, there will be the work Lied Und Lieb, with music by Richard Strauss from his Four Last Songs: Beim Schlafengehen, sung by Jessye Norman. This piece is choreographed by Brussels choreographer David Sonnenbluck and danced with a soloist of the Royal Ballet Flanders.

Finnish National Ballet (Helsinki) – Dinna Bjørn, who has directed Finnish National Ballet since August 2001, has from the very start wanted to create a program that would appeal to a wide audience. In accordance with this goal, the 2003-2004 season is built around the idea of presenting the many faces of ballet. This premier dance company based in Helsinki presents two dramatic Finnish contemporary pieces featuring original dance and music composition. Scene for a man and a woman is a pas de deux choreographed by Sami Saikkonen and Trickle Green Oak is an exquisite piece for four women choreographed by Susana Leinonen. Both are North American premieres.

Quasar Companhia de Dança (Brazil) - Quasar is a vehicle for artistic dance expression. By developing a multifaceted aesthetic approach, the company has prompted audiences in Brazil and around the world to reflect on contemporary issues by means of a global language. Founded in 1988 by Vera Bicalho and Henrique Rodovahlo, Quasar Dance Company is based in Goiânia, Brazil. Throughout the period of Quasar's creation, a quest for freedom from the academic straitjacket and the need to break free from pre-established models were the major driving forces guiding the actions of its creators. Last year this company danced Mulheres to great success in Houston. This year they will present selections from Choreography for Listening.

Maximum Dance Company (Miami) - Founded in 1997, Maximum Dance Company is driven to present dance performances of high energy, passion and drama by bringing South Florida the best in contemporary ballet from around the world.  With a company of principal-caliber dancers from seven nations, Maximum Dance is the region’s leading contemporary ballet company of international stature and acclaim. Silent Night…Still We Dream is a pas de deux choreographed by Royal Ballet of Flanders resident choreographer, Danny Rosseel.

Buglisi/Foreman Dance (New York) is a company founded by past principals of the Martha Graham Dance Company who present work that New York critic Anna Kisselgoff says has “…wondrously extravagant, penetrating images, [and] passionate lyricism.” Choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi will present the pas de deux Sospiri with music by Edward Elgar.

Dance Salad Festival is a curated, international production comprised of performances by companies and dancers from companies around the world, including the United States, chosen for their excellence. Dance Salad Festival is staged only in Houston.

Modern, contemporary, and classical dance merge on the stage in Dance Salad to form a magnificent mélange of styles and traditions. Members of some of the most respected dance companies in the world come to Houston specifically to participate in the Festival that includes a full week of education and outreach activities culminating in three nights of performance. Each night’s production is different yet is choreographed as a coherent, expressive performance designed to interweave – a “salad” of pieces—creating a compelling whole. Many of the pieces are performed twice in the three-day format.

This multicultural presentation has received international recognition for its quality and innovativeness and has consistently been a source of cultural pride for many foreign communities whose countries are represented in Dance Salad. Community outreach programs have included lectures, demonstration, exhibits and collaborations with organizations such as The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy through the Transnational China Project at Rice University, Museum of Fine Arts, University of Houston, the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, MECCA, Asia Society and L’Alliance Francaise. Houston’s Consular Corps has also become a strong community partner and many members serve as sponsors and hosts. Director Nancy Henderek strongly believes that through the arts, we can educate people and build bridges between different cultures.

Dance Salad invites students from across the Houston area to participate in master classes and lectures presented by the internationally acclaimed artists. Their involvement also serves as an introduction to various countries and cultures, which fosters understanding and mutual respect.

Dance Salad Festival has been praised by local, national and international publications. Dance Magazine said of Dance Salad, “The quality of the work…rivaled that of other week-long festivals. Producer Nancy Henderek’s eye for some of the best international dance is unparalleled….(Dance Salad) could wind up as the premier contemporary dance festival between the East and West coasts.”

For more information please visit www.dancesalad.org. Press photos are available on the website in the photo gallery. Tickets go on sale mid-January by calling 713.629.3700 or on www.ticketmaster.com.

Media Contact:
Julie Lambert
goodThinking! Marketing & PR Strategies, Inc.
713.355.9011 (off)
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goodthinker@houston.rr.com