[bjm_danse], a modern dance company from Montreal hailed for its passion, verve and ingenuity, comes to campus next week for a dance residency that includes a master class and lecture-demonstration and culminates in a performance at The Egg in Albany.
The master class for advanced students will be held Wednesday, Oct. 1, 7-8:30 p.m., and the free lecture-demo is Thursday, Oct. 2, 6-8 p.m. Both will take place in the dance studio in the Visual Arts Building.
Sponsored by the Theater and Dance Department, the residency was made possible by a gift from Sue Davis and Dr. Gus Davis ’59 in memory of their daughter, Stephanie C. Davis, a dance lover.
[bjm_danse] began as Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal in 1972. Founded by Eva Von Gencsy and Genevieve Salbaing, it included work by many celebrated Canadian and foreign choreographers. Since 1998, Director Louis Robitaille has expanded the company’s artistic horizons by promoting contemporary choreography that mixes modern, jazz and balletic styles with the avant-garde.
[bjm_danse] will open the 2008-09 dance season at the Egg Center for the Performing Arts, Friday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. At 7:15 p.m., the Egg will host a pre-show dance talk with Robitaille, moderated by Union Dance Program Director Program Miryam Moutillet.
The program includes the signature “Les Chambres des Jacques” by acclaimed choreographer Aszure Barton, set to a score that features classical music, Québécois folk tunes, and klezmer, gypsy and Yiddish melodies. Also on the bill is Barton's companion piece, "Jack in a Box." Born in Canada and based in New York City, Barton has created works for Mikhail Baryshnikov and The Juilliard School, among others.
Union students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the Egg performance free of charge. A limited numbers of tickets are available on first-come, first-serve basis with a Union ID. They may be picked up at the Yulman Theatre Box Office weekdays 1:30-2:30 p.m. and at the Visual Arts Building Office, 3-4 p.m. Free round-trip transportation will be provided, with buses leaving for the Empire State Plaza from the Nott/Seward parking lot at 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Linda Goodman at goodmanl@union.edu