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  2011-2012 Season Brochure

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

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  Shanghai Quartet

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Ever since Franz Josef Haydn developed the modern version of a string quartet in the mid-18th century, the most daring and innovative practitioners of the art form has to be Béla Bartók. In this special double program, the Shanghai Quartet flexes its musical muscles by performing the complete Bartók quartet cycle. Written over a 30-year span, Bartók’s six quartets stand as a sonic biography of one of the 20th century’s most enigmatic and essential composers.

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  FAME

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  In the world premiere of FAME, an international company of six performers will strive to reach moments of fame as viewed through numerous pop culture filters and reference points. Utilizing an extremely physical and sensual performance style, truths are told and fragile secrets revealed as the audience strives to interpret the difference between what is seen… and what is perceived. Director/writer Lee Sher and dancer/choreographer Saar Harari joined the Israeli military at age 18, as is required of all citizens. After their service, both entered upon a life in the performing arts, bringing their intense focus and drive along with them. In 2004, the pair arrived in New York City armed with little else but an immense talent and even greater determination. By 2005, the duo had so impressed the arts establishment that they were awarded American green cards for excellence in the performing arts. Since then, they have blown away both critics and audiences alike with each new work.

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  Gardenia

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Inspired by Yo soy así, a penetrating film regarding the closing of a transvestite cabaret in Barcelona, actress Vanessa Van Durme has collected a group of her transsexual and transvestite friends to explore a riveting set of circumstances…the life of a performer, the struggle of one’s true identity, the voyeuristic nature of our modern world. In a groundbreaking American premiere, directors Alain Platel and Frank Van Laecke present a story of the essential truths that can be found within illusion: Gardenia.Based on the real experiences of the cast, this most intimate of tales goes deep into the turbulent lives of nine people, including seven older individuals navigating the zone between masculine and feminine. Each carries their own intriguing sto-ry-sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious. Gardenia intertwines dance and contemporary song to create a work that can be called unique in every sense of the word.

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  Vertical Road

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Akram Khan uses his body as a voice, one that strives to speak clearly in a chaotic world. Recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Artist Award by the International Society for the Performing Arts, Khan blends eastern and western traditions (including those of his ancestral home, Bangladesh) into a vibrant expression of our shared humanity that obliterates the borders of both genre and geography.Vertical Road (The Age Critics’ Award for Best New Work, 2010) aims to change the direction of our stream of consciousness. This transcendent production is a meditation on humanity’s constant struggle between gravity and grace, drawing inspiration from the Sufi tradition and the words of beloved Persian poet and philosopher Rumi. Gnosis (South Bank Sky Arts Dance Award, 2011) presents Akram Khan in classical solo performances and a duet that pursue the idea of “the knowledge within.” Featuring live music and inspired by the Hindu epic Mahabharata, it is an exploration of the inner and outer battles between the human and the divine

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  The Power of Love

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  The Power of Love is an amorous stroll through some of the most beautiful English love songs of the 17th century, with Ellen Hargis and Paul O’Dette’s masterful interpretations of works by English composers Nicholas Lanier, Henry Lawes and John Wilson. The pop hits of their time, these tales portray heroes and lovers as they tangle with the trials, triumphs and tribulations of eternal love. Set your passions afire with this delightful program celebrating the undeniable force of the human heart.Friends and colleagues for over 25 years, Ellen Hargis and Paul O’Dette bring an irrepressible spirit of drama, vivid musical imagination and fun to their voice and lute combinations. Each is a virtuoso in their respective fields. Their commitment to unearthing undiscovered musical treasures has made their intimate concerts must-see events.

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  Puerto Rico Nació en Mi: Tales from the Diaspora

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Grammy-nominated saxophonist Miguel Zenón and an array of supporting talent present a world premiere song cycle reflecting the myriad ways in which Puertoriqqueños define their identity. No matter the location - be it New York, New Jersey or countless places around the world - those that have emigrated from La Isla del Encanto (The Enchanted Isle) have a story to tell, and all would do well to listen.Over the past ten years, Miguel Zenón has blazed an incendiary trail across the jazz pantheon by consistently challenging the established notions of what jazz can be. His fusion of Puerto Rican “plena” music with traditional jazz has been universally praised for its bold rhythms and innovative style. There may be numerous ways to describe who we are and where we come from, but there is only one Miguel Zenón.

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  Story/Time

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Director and choreographer Bill T. Jones – whose major honors include a MacArthur “Genius” Award, the Kennedy Center Honors and two Tony Awards for Best Choreography – returns to the stage in a spellbinding new work. Story/Time finds Jones engaging in the beloved form of storytelling, offering glancing takes on ideas, feelings and impressions from his life. Inspired by John Cage’s Indeterminacy, a performance of ninety one-minute stories, Jones creates a landscape of dance, music, and his own stories, arranged by chance procedure. In previously celebrated works such as A Quarreling Pair and Blind Date, the brilliance of Bill T. Jones has deeply moved audiences and critics alike. He is an undeniably titanic force in the world of dance. In this exclusive world premiere, Jones joins his diverse company of dancers in a rare appearance that is not to be missed. Story/Time will be both a personal look at the life of an American master and a challenging exploration of the form of dance.

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  Shanghai Quartet w/ Michel Lethiec & Marji Danilow

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Amid the holiday rush, stop by the Alexander Kasser Theater, where the living is easy. George and Ira Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess gets the full Shanghai Quartet treatment with a program featuring selections from the landmark 1935 opera. “Summertime”, “It Ain’t Necessesarily So”, “I Got Plenty of Nuthin’” and “My Man’s Gone Now” have entered the classic American lexicon. Now, hear these classics interpreted by Montclair State University’s incomparable Shanghai Quartet, featuring world-renowned master clarinetist Michel Lethiec.

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  ID: ENTIDADES and Chapa Quente

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Companhia Urbana de Dança sees the power in possibilities…the intense energy that collects in the calm before the storm. Directed by Sonia Destri, this Brazilian dance group with roots in hip-hop, urban and contemporary dance consists of eight young dancers from the suburbs and favelas of Rio de Janeiro. With ID:ENTIDADES and the American Premiere of Chapa Quente, audiences will witness the next evolution of urban dance. Incorporating Brazil’s cultural roots and the gritty real-world experiences of her dancers, Destri’s new choreographic language turns away from hip-hop’s grandstanding aspects toward something mysterious and richly complex. Named as one of Time Out New York’s “Top Ten” dance programs of the past year, the electric talents of Sonia Destri and her dancers have attracted a rapidly growing fan base the world over.

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  FAR

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Wayne McGregor is hunting the ghost in the machine. Inspired by Roy Porter’s Flesh in the Age of Reason (detailing cognitive exploration during the Enlightenment), FAR is a kinetically explosive interpretation of the mind-body connection. McGregor’s dancers, classically trained and moving with an almost super-human energy, whip themselves around the stage in a blur of spins and disjointed angles - hyperextended arms and legs doing the near im-possible. They search for the divine relationship between the body and the soul. McGregor’s work spans all mediums: from the stage (2010’s ENTITY) to film (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) to music video (Radiohead’s startling “Lotus Flower”). Upcoming projects include a massive dance work for the London 2012 Olympics and a new Rite of Spring for the Bolshoi in 2013. Set against a new, haunting score by electronic superstar Ben Frost, FAR is the latest dynamic shock to the system from Wayne McGregor | Random Dance.

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  Living Waters

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  For untold generations, the seafaring people of the Hawaiian Islands have looked to the horizon for a glimpse of what is to come. Kūlanihāko‘i: Living Waters is a new hula drama created by Nā Kinimakalehua, a consortium of Kumu Hula (hula masters) that blends the traditional and contemporary stories of Hawaii. Situated high in the heavens, beyond the influence of even the gods themselves, is the mystical Kūlanihāko‘i – an elemental lake from which all life flows. Through dance, chant, storytelling and dramatic interpretation, Living Waters draws from an array of enchanting Hawaiian myths tracing back over 2,000 years, highlighting the need for an equilibrium in the connection between mankind and nature.

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  National Chamber Choir of Ireland

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Many stories have been born from the mists of Irish mythology. None, however, can match the epic tale of St. Patrick’s encounter with Caílte and Oisín, the last of Finn mac Cumaill’s legendary band of warriors. This grand saga, the Acallam na Senórach: “An Irish Colloquy”, intertwines the ancient lore and the new religion, creating a new and lasting vision for Ireland. The tale has been adapted into an hour-long English-language music and vocal piece by composer Tarik O’Regan. Performing this regional premiere will be the incomparable National Chamber Choir of Ireland, the flagship choral ensemble of the Emerald Isle. Under the artistic directorship of multiple award-winning choral conductor Paul Hillier, the choir is internationally renowned for its unique approach, lush vocal prowess and a dedication to promoting new works.

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  DANCING HENRY FIVE

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Whether it was his smash hit Shlemiel the First or his take on Brecht in UNCIVIL WARS, award-winning auteur, director and choreographer David Gordon has lived on the cutting edge of theater for the better part of 40 years. Now, Gordon returns with a re-construction of his DANCING HENRY FIVE, a twisted look at the trials and triumphs of Shakespeare’s ultimate warrior-king. Winner of a National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces in Dance Award, this “post-modern strike and spin” is a fun and offbeat transformation of the play you thought you knew, featuring Karen Graham, Robert La Fosse and Valda Setterfield. Gordon blends performance, dance, William Walton’s soaring film scores and the voices of past Henrys such as Christopher Plummer and Laurence Olivier. The final product is an hour-long performance beyond definition or expectation, creating (in the words of Shakespeare himself) “the brightest heaven for invention”

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  Trilogies

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Consisting of six performers circling six pianos, Piano Circus provides an intricate high-wire act of technical mastery. Join us for an atmospheric evening of music and multimedia that will highlight the past, present and future of this hypnotic UK supergroup. The program will include US premieres by Colin Riley, as well as works by long-time collaborator Graham Fitkin. Sonically complex yet immediately accessible, the six-member Piano Circus has culled influences from all areas of the musical spectrum. Classical, jazz, pop, rock, improvisation and standard composition meld seamlessly to create a sound like no other. Formed in 1989 to play Steve Reich’s Six Pianos, Piano Circus has created a vast repertoire of more than one hundred works, including pieces written for the ensemble by such luminaries as Kevin Volans, Brian Eno, Nikki Yeoh and Terry Riley.

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  From the Steppes to the City : A Celebration of Music from Inner Mongolia

  Office of Arts + Cultural Programming and PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

  Inner Mongolia’s AnDa Union is on a mission to reignite a passion for the culture of their native land, both at home and around the world. Featuring the amazing sounds of the “morin huur” (horse-headed fiddle), the vocal power of “hoomai” (throat singing), and footage from their awe-inspiring 2010 documentary interwoven throughout, this ten-member ensemble will perform an extremely engaging program that will leave audience members breathless, undeniably moved and forever changed. The majestic culture and powerful history of Inner Mongolia are carried anew by AnDa Union, as they draw musical inspiration from the folk traditions of all the tribes unified by Genghis Khan eight hundred years ago. From Khan’s massive transcontinental empire to the trade connections of the Silk Road, Inner Mongolia has been a crossroads of commercial and cultural exchange since the beginning of recorded time. In the spirit of those that have come before them, AnDa Union dares to follow roads few have travelled before.