The University of Houston will host "Moving Pictures," a collaboration between the pre-professional dance company UH Ensemble; AURA, the Moores School of Music's Contemporary Ensemble and Travesty Dance Group. The event is presented by UH's Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts in collaboration with the School of Theatre & Dance and the Moores School of Music.
"Moving Pictures" will be performed at UH's Moores Opera House on April 11 and in the Wortham Theatre on April 25 - 27.
Selections include a new work "Beep, yeah!" choreographed by Karen Stokes, a piece that will balance an eccentric saxophone duet composed by Rob Smith, director of AURA, with quirky fast choreography for four female dancers. Also featured will be "A Simple Way to Go Faster" by guest choreographer Jennifer Wood of Houston's Suchu Dance. The piece begins with one dancer but gradually increases to 12 people on stage. Complemented by the arrangement "Rapid Assembly" by composer Bill Ryan, the piece promises to be a fast and, sometimes frenetic performance.
"The goal is to create arresting and unconventional movement patterns and interactions between the dancers," Wood said. "There is no theme or message. In general, I prefer to make work that provides plenty of room for ambiguity and a degree of obscurity, which creates more of a conversation between the work and the audience."
The show also will premiere "Chess" by UH dance instructor Toni Leago Valle. Set to a percussive arrangement by noted composer Donald Grantham, dancers will begin moving like pieces on a chess board before engaging in dream-like combat. This particular piece will be performed in anticipation of Valle's full-length dance production, "Tetris," which will debut in 2009.
Tickets for "Moving Pictures" are $10 - $15 for reserved seating April 11 and $7 - $15 for general seating April 25 - 27. To purchase tickets for the April 11 performance call 713-743-3313. For tickets for the April 25 - 27 performance call 713-743-2929. For additional details, visit www.mitchellcenterforarts.org.
| WHAT: | "Moving Pictures" |
| WHEN: | 7:30 p.m., April 11; 8 p.m., April 25 - 26; 2 p.m., April 27 |
| WHERE: | April 11 - Moores Opera House; April 25 - 27 - Wortham Theatre Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard |
| WHO: | UH Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, UH School of Theatre & Dance, Travesty Dance Group, Moores School of Music, AURA Contemporary Ensemble |