5th Annual Ted Hershey Dance and Music Marathon Brings
Contact: Tod Kallenbach, (860) 987-6018; e-mail: tod_kallenbach@bushnell.org
HARTFORD, CT - Hartford's performing arts community will come together for the fifth time April 5-11, 2003 to pay tribute to the life and work of Ted Hershey, a principal dancer with Hartford Ballet and co-founder of WORKS contemporary dance who died of AIDS in 1998. The week of performances, workshops and discussions will celebrate his memory, the community he nurtured and the field of dance and music in Hartford. For tickets and information, visit or call The Bushnell Box Office, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, 860-987-5900. Tickets for each event will also be available at the door.
TED HERSHEY DANCE & MUSIC MARATHON 2002 CALENDAR OF EVENTS, APRIL 5-11
PERFORMANCE MARATHON Charter Oak Cultural Center 21 Charter Oak Avenue, 860-249-1207 Saturday, April 5th, 7:00-11:00 p.m. Four hours of dance by more than 20 of Hartford's premier dancers and companies, representing a wide diversity of disciplines and traditions Hosts: Ken Abriola, M.D., Donna Berman, Jill Henderson, Frank Rizzo & Brad Roth
7:00-8:00 p.m. Abdoulaye Sylla & Fotoba, Ballet Theatre Company, Works/Laura Glenn Dance, Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium
8:00-9:00 p.m. Leela Dance Theater, Bonita Weisman, Artists Collective, Ching Hosier and Paul Dennis, Sonia Plumb Dance Company, CitiArts Youth Dance Ensemble, O'D n' Tap
9:00-10:00 p.m. Duet from Dream danced by Kim Jonah and Lisa Matias and choreographed by Ted Hershey, Dance Connecticut, Hartford Conservatory, Scapegoat Garden, Terrain, Hugh Blumenfeld, Brad Roth; Miss Porter's School performing Jackin' by Rob Kowalski
10:00-11:00 p.m. Full Force Dance Theatre, Works/Laura Glenn, Lesley Farlow, Figments, Alison Bogatay, Meditation choreographed by Ted Hershey and performed by Paul Dennis
CAST PARTY Autorino Great Hall, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts 166 Capitol Avenue, 860-987-5900 Sunday, April 6, 5:00- 7:00 p.m. A celebration of the dancers of the Marathon, their teachers and choreographers, the cast party is open to the public as we schmooze, snack, and enjoy the later sunset that is a sign of spring. A new exhibit of Ron Compton dance photographs will be on display; food by Max at The Bushnell.
CHILDREN'S MARATHON The Hartford Public Library 500 Main Street, 860-543-8656 Monday, April 7, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Leela Dance Theater Tuesday, April 8, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Sankofa Kuumba Wednesday, April 9, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Practicing Umoja
Three days of workshops for children of all ages, presenting cultural dance traditions from around the world. From preschoolers to adults, the audiences are invited to join in, first to learn the dance steps and then to perform together as one big dance company.
Leela Dance Theater: presents the classical dance of India, in which practitioners spend a lifetime combining the arts of poetry, singing and dance.
Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium: Christine Dixon Smith (Nandi) presents dance and drumming of the African diaspora.
Practicing Umoja (Unity): dances, songs, and rhythms of the Caribbean from their roots in Africa to the islands that became their home.
OPEN TECH REHEARSALS: ARTISTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Charter Oak Cultural Center 21 Charter Oak Avenue, 860-249-1207 Friday, April 4, 12:00-9:00 p.m. Tea and Talk 6:00-7:00 p.m. For dancers, the creative process begins long before the actual performance. Watch the creative process unfold at tech rehearsals that remove the distance between stage and backstage.
PASSING THE TORCH Autorino Great Hall, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts 166 Capitol Avenue, 860-987-5900 Friday, April 11, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. With blaring trumpets and red carpet, members of the Hartford dance community will officially welcome the Connecticut Dance Alliance and dancers from around the state to Hartford. An official proclamation from the Mayor's office will mark this week and a day of dance in Hartford.
This year the Hartford dance community welcomes CONNECTICUT DANCE ALLIANCE 2nd FESTIVAL OF DANCE Saturday, April 12 Various locations and times (see below) For information on class registration and other events call 860-757-6388 or visit www.ctdanceall.com
Theater of the Performing Arts, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts 359 Washington St., 860-757-6388 9:00-1:00 p.m. Master Classes in Ballet, Yoga, Modern, Capoiera, Flamenco, Tap, Jazz, African and Hip Hop
Belding Theater, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts 166 Capitol Avenue, 860-987-5900 11:35-1:00 p.m. Choreography Workshop with Pilobolus Dance Theatre 2:30-4:30.p.m. Showcase Performances featuring over two dozen companies from across the spectrum of Connecticut dance 4:45-5:45 p.m. Dance Writers Panel with Chris Arnott, New Haven Advocate, Frank Rizzo, The Hartford Courant, Muriel Topaz 4:45-5:45 p.m. Panel Discussion on certification of Connecticut's dance teachers with Scott Schuler, State Department of Education
Johnstone Hall, First Presbyterian Church (across from the Belding Theater) 5:45-8:00 p.m. Dinner, A Fun Film & Salsa Class
Belding Theater, The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts 8:30 p.m. Gala Performance and Awards Ceremony 2003 Awardees: Lee Lund, Betsy Mahaffey and Pilobolus Dance Theatre World premiere of Neely Bruce's Geographical Preludes choreographed by: Mary Barnett, Alison Bogatay, Kenichi Ebina, Laura Glenn, Adam Miller, James Robey, Brad Roth and Debra Collins Ryder, Artistic Director: Muriel Topaz