Eisenhower Dance Detroit, one of the Midwest’s premier contemporary dance companies, comes to Union this fall as part of the Theater and Dance Department’s annual Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency.
This year, up to a dozen students will have the chance to dance on stage with the troupe when it performs at The Egg, Empire State Plaza Center for the Performing Arts, Albany, on Oct. 18 at 8 p.m.
"We are excited to expand the residency to include the rare opportunity for students to learn from and perform with a world-class dance company,” said Laurie Zabele Cawley, interim director of Union’s dance program.
An open audition for students will take place Friday, Sept. 13, at 4 p.m. in the Henle Dance Studio. Later in the month (Sept. 20-22), those selected will spend 20 hours in the studio with the EDD dancers to learn “State of Mind,” choreographed by Artistic Director Stephanie Pizzo. The work explores the intense physical and emotional state of the fear of the unknown.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, the troupe will offer two free events in the Henle studio, open to the public with no registration required. Dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome to take a technique master class, 6-7:15 p.m. An hour-long lecture/demonstration begins at 7:30 p.m.
Now in its 16th year, the Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency was created by a gift from Sue and Gus Davis ’59 in memory of their daughter, a modern dancer and environmental activist with a lifelong love of the performing arts. Sue Davis is a graduate of Sage Colleges.
“We have invited dance students from Sage to audition, as well,” said Kim Engel, Union’s guest event coordinator for the residency. “It’s a wonderful connection for the residency.”
EDD’s enthusiastic collaboration with Union and the greater community “speaks to our shared belief in the power of dance to build community, spark conversations and deepen our understanding of the human condition,” Cawley said.
Along with performing works by its artistic director, EDD showcases the talents of founding artistic director Laurie Eisenhower and acclaimed contemporary choreographers of diverse backgrounds.
In addition to “State of Mind,” the 90-minute Egg program will feature audience favorite “Legacy Island” by Filipino Norbert De La Cruz III; the intricate “En-code” by Australian choreographer Marc Brew, who was disabled by a spinal cord injury early in his ballet career; “Hyper” by hip-hop ballerina Micaela Taylor; and “See Me” by choreographer, performer and educator Christian Denice.
In a free pre-show conversation at 7:15 p.m. in The Egg’s Hart Theatre lobby, Cawley will talk with Pizzo about the company and the evening’s program. No reservations are required.
A limited number of free tickets to the performance at The Egg are available through Oct. 17 for Union faculty, students and staff with a Union ID.
Free round-trip bus transportation also will be provided. Buses leave for The Egg from the Nott/Seward parking lot at 6:30 p.m. and return to campus after the show. This form can be used to sign up for complimentary tickets and transportation. Tickets may be picked up at the Yulman Theater Box Office Oct. 3-17.
Alumni, parents and others who will be on campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend (Oct. 18-20) can buy discounted tickets directly through The Egg with the code UNIONCOLLEGE.
In addition to its activities at Union and The Egg, the EDD residency will include outreach activities at Abram Lansing Elementary in Cohoes, The Albany Academies, Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, Emma Willard School, the Acting Academy at Proctors’ Collaborative School of the Arts, Schenectady High, Skidmore College and the SPAC School of the Arts.
Past companies sponsored by the Stephanie C. Davis Residency include Ballet Hispánico, Ballets Jazz Montréal, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Koresh Dance Company, Limón Dance Company, PHILADANCO!, Rennie Harris PureMovement, RUBBERBAND Dance and Spellbound Contemporary Ballet.