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Showing posts with label Desmond Richardson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Desmond Richardson. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET...DESMOND RICHARDSON HONORED WITH CAPEZIO DANCE AWARD!





SpringJoyce_Rack 


Desmond Richardson - a celebrated dancer with Complexions Contemporary Ballet company- will be honored with the 60th Annual Capezio Dance Award at the Joyce Theatre on Tuesday May 24th in the Big Apple.

In a recent press notice, Mr. Richardson took the opportunity to welcome fans of the dance troupe to the opening season which starts up this week in the heart of New York City.

"I'm so looking forward to sharing our first spring Joyce season of performances with all of you, and can't wait for you to witness the beauty of our phenomenal dancers."

"This season is indeed special in so many ways. I'm thrilled to be dancing in the New York premiere of Dwight Rhoden's Testament - set to an array of classic spirituals - that will really touch your soul, and move your spirit."

"This week will also include works that exemplify the diverse body of work that has become the hallmark of Complexions - with Moon Over Jupiter (Rachmaninov) Rise (U2), Moody Booty Blues (Muddy Waters/Stevie Ray Vaughn)."

Mr. Richardson was quite touched by the deserving dance honor bestowed upon him.

"Dancing has been my life for so many wonderful years, and I believe in its power to move and transport audiences, taking them on a journey. That passion for dance, is so real to me - and to be recognized in this way for doing something that I've loved, and love every since I can remember - will truly be a great moment for me."

Congratulations Desmond!

http://www.thetattler.biz

desmond.karsten


Thursday, January 20, 2011

COMPLEXIONS...intensive dance workshop with Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson!











For 16 years COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET has been bringing it’s own unique brand of contemporary choreography and technique to the stage.

Now, a Summer Intensive Program has been developed at the renowned company, with the specific aim of making the COMPLETE DANCER from head-to-toe.


PRECISION, PHYSICALITY, EXPRESSION, and VERSATILITY - these are a handful of the vital descriptive words - often used to describe the intrinsic nature of the programs at COMPLEXIONS.

According to the faculty, complexions now seeks dancers that are not limited by his/her training but liberated by it, for the upcoming August semester in New York City.

It should be underscored that CCB Summer Intensive instructs its students like no other.

It guides dancers to achieve their full artistic potential in the unique and exclusive style of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

Students are taught the Complexions technique through classroom exercises and company repertoire instruction.

Participants experience techniques designed to cultivate and develop strong, well-trained, dancers who are educated to perform more skillfully and creatively.

The Summer Intensive offers three programs, and each program is designed for students who have a solid ballet and modern base, who are looking to take their technique to the next level.

Division 1

A program designed for the Pre-Professional Dancer with a strong emphasis placed on the foundation and fundamentals of Dance in the context of Contemporary Ballet. \

Ages 13-17 years old.

Division 2

Geared towards the Pre-Professional/Professional Dancer who has a solid technical foundation and wishes to continue to refine their training in contemporary ballet and achieve a competitive edge.

Ages 18 and over.

Division 3

THE MASTER SERIES

Think Natalie Portman and The Black Swan.

For Professional Dancers only.

Train one-on-one in an intimate setting with Contemporary Masters including Artistic Directors Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson.

Ages 18 and over.

Location:

DANY STUDIOS
305 West 38th St.
2nd Fl.
New York, NY
10018

DATES:

Week 1

August 1st through August 5th, 2011

Week 2

August 8th through August 12th, 2011

Week 3

August 15th through August 19th, 2011

Week 4

August 22nd through August 26th, 2011

(All students must take at least two consecutive weeks.)

(In order to take week 4 and be included in studio showing all students must take week 3.)

Timetable:

Division 1

(13-17 years)

Mon:
10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Tue:
10:00am – 3:15 p.m.

Wed:
10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Thu:
10:00 a.m.– 3:15 p.m.

Fri:
10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Division 2

(18years+)

Mon:
3:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Tue:
3:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Wed:
3:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Thu:
3:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Fri:
3:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Division 3

(18years+)

Mon:
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Tue: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Wed:
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Thu: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Fri: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

TUITON RATES

Division 1 & 2

$425 per week

$1600 for all four weeks

Division 3

$325 per week

$1200 for all four weeks

Limited Scholarships available for Division #1 only.

Please email khellams@complexionsdance.org for information.

REGISTRATION & AUDITION INFO

Division 1

AUDITION REQUIRED FOR ACCEPTANCE.

You must pre-register for the audition.
Audition locations and dates are posted under the Education link on Complexions website.
If you cannot attend the audition COMPLEXIONS does accept DVD submissions.

Guidelines for DVD submission are below:

* Not to exceed 15mins
* A sample of bar and center work
* A short contemporary solo

All videos are viewed by co-Artistic Director, Desmond Richardson

Division 2

NO AUDITION REQUIRED

Open enrollment.

Must Pre-Register for the workshop and be at least at an intermediate level.

Admittance is on a first come-first serve basis.

Division 3

NO AUDITION REQUIRED

Must Pre-Register for the workshop and have a recommendation letter from a working dance professional.

The workshop is for ADVANCED students only.

Admittance is on a first come-first serve basis.

INFO
 
www.complexionsdance.org
 
http://www.thetattler.biz
 
 

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Complexions Contemporary Ballet...Spring tour!







Complexions Contemporary Ballet continues to amaze audiences across the country and around the globe.

Palm Beach Arts put it succinctly when Sharon McDaniel described the troupe this way:

"Beyond doubt, this is the finest collection of dancers I've seen in recent memory. They are fearless, focused and formidable. I couldn't pick out one or two favorites - all 15 dancers were top-flight -  beautifully strong and strikingly expressive."  (January 10/2010)

After returning from successful tours to Egypt, Lyon France and in the US in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, the Company is underway with their Spring schedule here and abroad.

APRIL 2010

April 3rd  (8 pm)
Byham Theater
Pittssburgh, PA

April 7th  (7:30 pm)
Portland, OR

April 16th  (8 pm)
Zeiterion Theater
New Bedford, MA

MAY 2010

May 3rd-7th  (7 pm)
Russa Stanislavsky Theater
Moscow

May 7th-8th  (7 pm)
Mikhailovsky Theater
St. Petersburg, Russia

May 10th  (7pm)
Nokia Concert Hall
Tallinn, Estonia

May 12th  (7pm) 
National Opera House
Riga, Latvia

May 17th-30th
Holland

JUNE 2010

June 4th-5th 
Salle J. Antonio-Thompson
Trois-Rivieres, QC (Canada)

June 6th-12th
Santiago, Chile

Info: contact@complexionsdance.org



Friday, February 5, 2010

Castillo Theatre..."The Task" cultural talk! Free Theatre event (Feb. 7th)...





After the afternoon matinee of the "The Task" at the Castillo Theatre on February 7th, there will be a CULTURE TALK  on the production.

"Theatrical Experiments: Approaching Müller’s The Task”

Curtain: 4:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend  the event and engage in dialogue with the artists.

"I'm a sailor. I don't believe in politics. The world is different wherever you go." (The Task)

Or is it?

"Everywhere in our shrinking world, humanity wrestles with shared themes of love and betrayal, identity, obligations, and the consequences of our actions."

According to the creative team at the Castillo - these themes reverberate throughout their latest avant-garde production of Müller's - The Task - a play about a revolution called off.

The troupe (for the first-time ever an all-black cast) working in a variety of genres - avant garde, political, and black theatre - explore how artists may perform their way through shared concerns towards human development.

Karla Boos (Artistic Director of Pittsburgh’s experimental Quantum Theatre), Gabrielle L. Kurlander, (director of the Castillo’s current  production of  "The Task"),  Charles Weldon (Artistic Director of the Negro Ensemble Company) and  moderator Dan Friedman (Castillo’s dramaturg) will appear onstage to engage in a dicussion and interact with the audiencet.

A reception will follow.

The event is FREE!

Reservations (required due to limited space)

CASTILLO THEATRE
543 West 42nd Street
( 10th &  11th Avenues)
New York, NY

Box office:  212-941-1234

Info: www.castillo.org

Friday, January 29, 2010

The Task...rivetting first-ever all-Black cast performance @ Castillo Theatre! Heiner Muller play...





In NYC, "The Task" is packing stage-show buffs in @ the Castillo Theatre.

The thought-provoking production unveils the promise of revolution in Jamaica in 1799, according to the producers, which has been buoyed up by a talented theatrical troupe garnering rave reviews since day one.

The well-received piece was written by acclaimed German writer Heiner Muller.

The timeless themes of love, loss and betrayal collide in this rivetting drama.

The production runs through most of February at the Casillo Theatre in downtown Manhattan.

Director Gabrielle L. Kurlander continues to stretch the boundaries of political theatre with this first-ever all-Black-American cast.

Fred Newman's avant-garde songs are a plus, as are Billy Taylor's gospel, R & B classics and rap tunes.

For those interested in thought-provoking, investigative and inspirational theater - "The Task "- is the night of theatre many have been pining for.

Respected  Dancer/choreographer - Desmond Richardson - hailed the extraordinary cast and excitedly gushed about":

 "The Task weaves an interesting tale that pulls the audience into a fantastic web of discovery."

A handful of notables in the show-biz arena have responded with similar accolades.

"The adaption and lyrics by Fred Newman are excellent and accomplished. The music complements Newman's lyric like the best of Weill & Brecht." 
(Woodie King, Jr.)

"Powerful performance! The cast was so talented and message was timely."
(Joan Walrond)

"The acting was energetic and creative interpretation of the play makes me want to read it. Made me think about liberation on many levels.
(Carol Greenland)

"I will highly recommend this play to all my friends."
(Lonza Bufford, Jr.)

THE CASTILLO THEATRE
543 WEST 42ND STREET
(10th & 11th Avenues)
NEW YORK, NY

Box Office: 212-941-1234

TICKETS:  www.castillo.org


Author Heiner Muller


Monday, December 14, 2009

So you think you can dance...famed Complexions choreographer work featured on Fox Hit Show! Dec. 15th...




Choreographers from one of my favorite dance troupes - based out of New York City -  have conjured up delicious dance numbers for two of the finalists to perform tomorrow night on Fox TV's dynamite perennial hit:

 "So You Think You Can Dance" (December 15th @ 8 pm)

The two talented dancers in competition on the show will showcase the intricate dance steps of renowned choreopgraphers Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson respectively.

Rhoden and Richardson head up the highly-respected "Complexions Contemporary Ballet" company.

Regular readers of the Tattler will recall that I penned a post on " Complexions" when they last performed downtown at the Dorothy Chandlier Pavillion to sold-out audiences and critical raves from the toughest reviewers on this or any other coast!

Post:  04/11/2008

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2008/04/complexions-contemporary-balletelectric.html

Undoubtedly, the slated dance numbers will be the highlight of the season at Fox, so try to catch their  dazzling contribution to  the realm of normally low-brow TV, especially if you have a soft spot in your heart for liberating performances that will literally set you free.

Contact: www.complexionsdance.org






Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Castillo Theatre...Coming of Age in Korea! Mingle with dancer Desmond Richardson at pre-show receptions...





The producers of "Coming of Age in Korea" invite theatre-goers to two pre-show receptions over the upcoming weekend.

The first party mixer is slated for Friday January 30th (6:30 p.m.) one hour prior to curtain.

The second soiree will be tossed on Sunday Feb. 1st @ 1:00 p.m.

The play - in a nutshell - focuses on three young GIs from New York City (one Latino, one Black and one Jewish) who confront the harassment of brass, racism in the military, and the brutality of the United States occupation of South Korea at the tale end of the War.

"Coming of Age" features music by Fred Newman and celebrated Grammy-nominated composer Annie Roboff.

According to the director, the score takes the audience on a journey through the "coming of age" of American popular music — the blues, swing, doo-wop, rock - and country.

This production is directed by Garbrielle L. Kurlander (CEO of All Stars Project) and partnered with renowned dancer and choreographer Desmond Richardson (co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet).

Tickets: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/79512

Castillo Performs the World

Since 1983, Castillo has staged over 130 productions - from multi-cultural and avant-garde plays - to musicals and performance projects.

Located at the All Stars Project's performing arts and learning center on West 42nd Street, the Castillo Theatre brings challenging, thought-provoking entertainment to the heart of New York's theatre district which deal with contemporary and historical social issues.

A showplace for the plays of Fred Newman and Heiner Müller, a multicultural home for Black theatre, and a hotbed of theatrical improvisation.

Castillo includes people of all ages and backgrounds in the creative process - from raising and contributing money - to being a part of the house staff or performing on stage.

Castillo works and plays side-by-side with the developmental youth programs of the All Stars Project, which bring theatre to the whole city.



http://www.julianayrs.com