USC Dance Company to present ‘American Treasures and More!’

COLUMBIA, SC – January 21, 2009 – The University of South Carolina’s Dance Company will present “American Treasures and More!” Jan. 30 – 31 at the Koger Center for the Arts.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Carolina Coliseum box office or by phone at 803-251-2222. Prices are $16 for the public; $14 for military, faculty and staff; and $10 for students.

“American Treasures” offers a mixed repertory of contemporary ballet works, including the centerpiece, “Who Cares?” featuring the work of choreographer George Balanchine and composer George Gershwin. Also featured is the world premiere of the modern ballet composition, “Metastasis,” by Atlanta’s Ivan Pulinkala. Two original works — “Compound” by new university dance instructor Thaddeus Davis and “Paradise Found” by USC Dance director Susan Anderson – will round out the performance. Davis, former artistic director of New York’s Wideman/Davis Dance, is making his university choreographic debut.

“Who Cares?” a ballet in 18 movements with a cast of 30 dancers, is being staged by Stacey Calvert, distinguished artist in residence at the university. Calvert danced this work as a member of the New York City Ballet.

Bonnie Boiter-Jolley, a Junior Political Science major at USC, performs in Ivan Pulinkala’s Metastasis, a piece featured in the USC Dance Company’s concert, American Treasures and More!

“The ballet is jazzy in nature but based on the classical ballet idiom,” Calvert said. “Rhythmical in nature, the choreography resembles tap dancing but with pointe shoes. It’s a fun homage to the early American jazz era, which may remind audiences of the classic images of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. ‘Who Cares?’ is a whimsical, romantic and sensuous ballet that will surely leave the audience wanting more.”

Olivia Anderson, a sophomore Dance major at USC, performs in Ivan Pulinkala’s Metastasis, a piece featured in the USC Dance Company’s concert, American Treasures and More!

In “Metastasis,” a display of changing thematic motifs showcases the dancers’ technical skills, and the audience will be challenged by the non-traditional use of stage space.

Anderson’s original pas de deux, “Paradise Found,” is choreographed to the work, “Adagio in C Minor,” by 18th-century composer Tomaso Albinoni. The piece portrays a man and woman whose romantic relationship undergoes a separation but ultimately endures and strengthens.

“The ballet is sensuous and romantic but somewhat abstract because of the use of the principles of balance and off balance that juxtapose the two dancers,” Anderson said. “The use of the neo-classical style accentuates the choreography.”

“Compound” is an emotional piece that displays both physical power and movement details. It is set to a 20th – century orchestral work, titled ‘De Snelheid” (“Velocity”) by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen.

Davis is new to the university’s contemporary dance faculty. He is a veteran choreographer, having created many original works as artistic director of New York’s Wideman/Davis Dance.

For more information on the performance or the USC Dance Company, contact Kevin Bush at 803-777-9353 or visit the Web site at http://www.cas.sc.edu/dance/.