Concert
Season Archives - 2004 return
This season, Philadelphia dance takes on a new kind of Broadway sparkle, as Jeanne Ruddy Dance, Philadelphia’s contemporary dance company founded by former Martha Graham principal Jeanne Ruddy, presents its fourth concert season, June 17 – 19 at the Mandell Theater on the campus of Drexel University, highlighted by a world premiere choreographed by Broadway, film and television star Ann Reinking, two world premieres by Ruddy and a Philadelphia premiere by dancer/choreographer Peter Sparling. The season also heralds the introduction of seven new dancers to the company. Appearing this year as a special guest artist is dancer Zane Booker, a former member of Philadanco, who has also performed with Nederlans Dans Theater and Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project, among others.
Featuring 13 dancers in 4 unique works, this season's scope of contemporary dance offers a spectrum of visual artistry that celebrates the indelible marriage of music, culture and dance and illustrates the human experience. From the search for ancient origins in Jeanne Ruddy’s new OUT OF THE MIST, ABOVE THE REAL, set to composer Daniel Brewbaker’s work of the same name, to a feminist quest to understand love, death and despair in Ruddy’s new FALLING IN…, with a score that includes Joni Mitchell, traditional Portuguese Fado and the Nigel Kennedy Trio; an artist’s exploration that reaches into the past to create a tribute to a master in Peter Sparling’s Philadelphia premiere of PATIENT SPIDER, and Reinking’s new work that puts a Broadway spin onto a contemporary métier, the production highlights the best of American dance with poignancy, drama, and power. Dancer/ choreographer Peter Sparling’s tribute to Jose Limon that had its world premiere in 2002. Sparling, a former Graham dancer and Ruddy partner, reunited with Jeanne Ruddy for the first time in 20 years during the 2003 Philadelphia premiere of THE SYSTEM.
Jeanne Ruddy Dance company members are, in addition to Jeanne Ruddy: Elrey “Star” Belmonti, Renee Robinson-Buzby, Sun-Mi Cho, Kimberly Braton Lantz, Kip Martin, Janet Pilla, Gabrielle Revlock, Katharine Savage, Meredith Riley Stewart, Paul Struck, Christine Taylor.
Jeanne Ruddy Dance's fourth concert season will be presented at the Mandell Theatre on Drexel University’s campus, 34th & Chestnut Streets, June 17 – 19, 2004. Performances are Thursday, June 17 at 7:30pm; Friday, June 18 at 8pm; Saturday, June 19 2pm family matinee, and Saturday evening at 8pm.
Tickets for Friday through Saturday are $23.00 / $15.00 (seniors and students w/ ID), and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or www.ticketphiladelphia.org, or calling 215-569-4060.
Tickets are also available through walk-up, 2 hours prior to performance at The Mandell Theater Box Office (33rd & Chestnut Streets). Tickets for Opening Night can only be purchased by calling 215.569.4060 or sf@ruddydance.org. Cash, checks or all major credit cards (MC, Visa, Amex, Discover) accepted.
