FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, January 17, 2005
 

Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre (VRDT) Presents its 23rd Annual Bardavon Opera House Gala Performances

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – The Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre (VRDT) will present its 23rd Annual Gala Performance on Saturday, February 26th, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, February 27th, at 3 p.m. at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, NY.  Tickets are available on campus at the information desk in Main Bldg., and the Dance Office in 2500 New Hackensack.  Tickets are also available at the Bardavon Box Office and through Ticketmaster (845) 454-3388.  Tickets are $10 General Admission and $7 for Seniors, Vassar students, and the Vassar community.

Highlights this year include a suite of dances by seminal choreographer Martha Graham.  Included in this offering from the acclaimed 'mother of modern dance' will be excerpts from her signature work Appalalchian Spring, as well as Night Journey, Il Penitente, and Steps in the Street.  Also featured on the program will be selections from  Les Sylphides (1909), a Chopin-inspired work by Ballet Russe innovator, Michel Fokine.  Other featured works this year include Swing Suite (1978) by jazz choreographer Danny Burreczevski and a new ballet by NYC Ballet  Diamond Project choreographer Miriam Mahdaviani .  Faculty choreographers include Paul D. Mosley, Steve Rooks and Kathy Wildberger, and six student choreographers rounding out the program are Tommy Noonan, Julia Sabangan, Lauren Duff, Dana Fitchett, Dana Colon, and Maya Lau.  This year as well, composer-in-residence Howard Kilik has created an original score entitled Esa Eynai for a full company work (choreographed by Paul Mosley).  Kilik will be performing the vocal parts live as part of the evening's offerings.

Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre, under the direction of Paul Mosley gives dance students of Vassar College the opportunity to perform classic dance works from the ballet and modern repertoire as well as new choreography by faculty, guest artists, and the students themselves.  By allowing students the freedom to create, develop, and present their own new dance works under the guidance of recognized artists in the field, VRDT provides a unique dance experience for the company as well as audience members.

Located mid-way between Albany and New York City, the Bardavon Opera House, opened in 1869 as the Collingwood Opera House and renamed in 1923, is the oldest continually operating theater in New York State and among the oldest in the nation.   The Bardavon has hosted numerous famous performers including “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Milton Berle, Edgar Bergan (and Charlie McCarthy), Will Rogers, John Phillip Sousa, Houdini, Frank Sinatra, B.B. King, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, and now, once again, the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre.

For more information call the Vassar College Dance office at (845) 437-7470.  To buy tickets by phone call Ticketmaster (845) 454-3388.  Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact the Bardavon box office (845) 473-2072, as far in advance as possible to request reasonable and appropriate accommodations for the event.

 

TO THE EDITOR: Additional information and photos of VRDT are available via our web page at vassun.vassar.edu/~pamosley/vrdt2/htm or by request.  Please contact Paul Mosley at (845) 437-7832 or by email at pamosley@vassar.edu.  Thank you for your time and support.