Complexions Contemporary Ballet

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Rachel Neville

Complexions Contemporary Ballet dancers Joe Gonzalez (left) and Alberto Andrade.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet dancers Joe Gonzalez (left) and Alberto Andrade.

media release: Complexions Contemporary Ballet presents STAR DUST: From Bach to David Bowie in Overture Hall on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. To encourage everyone to experience this dynamic dance troupe, tickets are “Pay What You Wish” for this performance (minimum $10 each; valued at $35-65; not applicable on previous sales). Tickets are available at overture.org; simply enter the amount you wish to pay at checkout.

A troupe of nearly 20 members led by dance icons Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet has awakened audiences to a new, exciting genre with their singular approach of reinventing dance and contemporary ballet. With stunning, gifted dancers and powerful choreography, Complexions has been hailed as a “matchless American dance company” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Its high-octane movement astonishes audiences by pairing its fierce, evocative style with musical ranges—from David Bowie to Johann Bach.

Complexions, based in New York City, was founded in 1994 by Rhoden and Richardson with a singular approach to reinventing dance through a groundbreaking mix of methods, styles and cultures. Today, Complexions represents one of the most recognized, diverse, inclusive and respected performing arts brands in the world. Having presented an entirely new and exciting vision of human movement on five continents in more than 20 countries to over 20 million television viewers and to well over 300,000 people in live audiences, Complexions is poised to continue its mission to bring unity to the world one dance at a time.

Widely considered “America’s Original Multicultural Contemporary Ballet Company,” Complexions is celebrated for its pioneering spirit for building a universal brand that continues to challenge traditional ideas and redefine possibilities in the dance arena.

“Our ballet celebrates the beauty of differences through courageous, innovative and cutting-edge programming,” said Richardson.  “Over the years, we have consistently delivered a profound passion for diversity that has framed our vision and become our hallmark.”

Richardson was the first African American principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre and is hailed by The New York Times as “one of the greatest dancers of his time.” He has appeared on celebrated stages across the world, namely The Metropolitan Opera, The Kennedy Center, Paris Opera, The Bolshoi Theatre, The Mariinsky Theatre, The State Kremlin Palace, Teatro Massimo and Teatro alla Scala.

Rhoden, known internationally for his choreography, has been the lynchpin in developing Complexions’ repertory. He has created over 80 ballets for Complexions as well as numerous other companies. His work has filled some of the most prestigious theaters across the globe.

“Musicality, innovation, purpose, consistency, brilliant use of stage space and the ability to tell a story – all these qualities make him one of today's elect choreographers,” stated an article in The LA Times.

The company’s foremost innovation is that dance should be about removing boundaries, not reinforcing them.

“Whether it be the limiting traditions of a single style, period, venue or culture, Complexions transcends them all, creating an open, continually evolving form of dance that reflects the movement of our world—and all its constituent cultures—as an interrelated whole,” said Rhoden.

View video: STAR DUST By COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET - YouTube

OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS in Madison, Wis., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and four galleries where national and international touring artists, nine resident companies and hundreds of local artists engage people in nearly 700,000 educational and artistic experiences each year. With the vision to “create extraordinary experiences through the arts,” Overture’s mission is to support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts. overture.org