Vernacular Dance

press release: The University of Wisconsin-Madison Dance Department presents “The Winter Rise,”  an annual concert of the Dance Faculty February 7-9 and 14-16, 2019 at the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Avenue.  

“The Winter Rise” will feature the work of guest artist Dyane Harvey-Salaam from Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, which has been described as “Vibrant…Visionary… Astonishing” by The New York Times. Contemporary dance works from UW-Madison artists Li Chiao-Ping, Liz Sexe, Collette Stewart and Chris Walker will also be presented. The works explore power and beauty, progress, identity through dialogue and movement, and the ability to recreate life in the face of death.

Harvey-Salaam, who is a  founding member of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, is an educator, choreographer and certified Pilates teacher, has been in residence with the Dance Department since January 22, setting a work on Dance degree majors for performance in this concert. As part of her residency, Harvey-Salaam will present a Friday Forum talk February 1 at 3:30 p.m. in the H'Doubler Performance Space, where she will discuss her work and she will teach a free community master class Saturday, February 2, in Studio 349 Lathrop Hall. Both events are free and open to the public. The class is open to the campus and Madison communities and beginners are welcome.

PERFORMANCES

Thursday, February  7 & Friday, February 8 at 8:00 p.m.
; Saturday February 9 at 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, February  14 & Friday, February 15 at 8:00 p.m.
; Saturday February 16 at 2:30 p.m.


Margaret H'Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall
, 1050 University Ave., Madison.

TICKETS are $22, $16 for students/seniors and are available for purchase online at  artsticketing.wisc.edu, by phone at 608-265-ARTS, and in person at 800 Langdon Street, Madison

 **If you pay cash in person anytime at Campus Arts Ticketing or at Lathrop Hall one hour before the show, you will not have to pay additional facility fees.
 


RECEPTION: There will be receptions immediately following the Friday performances in the Virginia Harrison Parlor, Lathrop Hall.

FREE COMMUNITY MASTER CLASS

Vernacular Dance Class w/ Dyane Harvey-Salaam

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Studio 349, Lathrop Hall. Open to the community, beginners welcome

ABOUT DYANE HARVEY-SALAAM & FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE

Dyane Harvey-Salaam is an accomplished performing artist, founding member of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, educator, choreographer and certified Pilates teacher. She has appeared as a principal soloist with some of the most recognized theatre and dance companies across the United States and abroad. Broadway, television and film credits include: “The Wiz,” “Timbuktu!,” “Spell# 7” and “Free to Dance.” Her choreography has been seen in many theatrical and dance projects including: “Loves Fire” and “Harriet Returns” (The Acting Company), “The African Company Presents Richard III,” “Yerma” and “Flyin'West” (NYU Graduate Acting Program), “lavender lizards and lilac landmines, layla’s dream”(University of Florida at Gainesville Graduate Acting Program), “Bones of Our Ancestors” (PBS Special) and the award winning “Great Men of Gospel” (New Federal Theatre). She continues to share her knowledge and craftsmanship with students at Princeton and Hofstra Universities through coursework and choreography. Awards include a 2017 New York Dance & Performance (Bessie) Award for Outstanding Production, two AUDELCO AWARDS (performance and choreography), MONARCH MERIT AWARD, GODDESS AND GURUS AWARD, BLACK THEATRE AWARD, and most recently she was recognised one of 12  "DISTINGUISHED WOMEN" by the Harlem Arts Alliance in conjunction with the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. ASE to the Ancestors!

Forces of Nature Dance Theatre is a New York City-based company that has produced professional ballets, conducted dance classes and presented concerts and educational programs in the United States and throughout the world for over 32 years. The company utilizes a unique blend of performing arts, which includes contemporary modern dance, traditional West African dance, ballet, house and hip-hop forms as well as live and recorded music and the martial arts. In addition to annual appearances at Aaron Davis Hall, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre has presented at the Joyce Theater, the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s DanceAfrica Festival, the American Dance Festival, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) conference, among many other venues. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This concert was made possible with support from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education and the Anonymous Fund.