September 04, 2019

DANCECleveland Brings Parsons Dance to The University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall October 12

“The beauty of this company is the well-executed and thought-out designs, with each work of art overflowing with creativity and excitement." –Jennifer Luxton, The Sundial, California State

DANCECleveland Brings Parsons Dance to The University of Akron’s

EJ Thomas Hall October 12

Performing a mixed repertoire program including audience favorite, “Caught”

CLEVELAND (September 04, 2019) – Described as "one of the great movers of modern dance" by The New York Times, Parsons Dance will return to northeast Ohio for one performance only on Saturday, October 12, at 7:30 p.m. at The University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall. The mixed repertory performance is presented by DANCECleveland in collaboration with The University of Akron’s Dance Program and will feature the magical illusion of audience-favorite, “Caught”.

Tickets are available now at www.DANCECleveland.org or by calling 330-972-7570. Tickets range from $25 - $35. Until October 12, tickets can also be purchased in person at The Akron Civic Theatre box office, located at 182 S. Main Street, Akron, OH 44308. Groups of five or more can call DANCECleveland at 216-991-9000 for more information about discounted group tickets.

The performance will feature several different dance works showcasing the versatility and musicality of Parsons Dance. This family-friendly performance will highlight the uplifting dance company’s stunning dancers and effortless movement, making everyone, young and old, fall for dance. “Caught” will capture audiences with its magical illusion of a dancer almost floating across the stage with the use of lighting and special effects. Set to music by Robert Fripp, a solo dancer will perform 100 jumps in quick succession as the strobe light freezes the images like a series of snapshots giving the illusion of flying. David Parsons, who was a principal dancer in the Paul Taylor Dance Co. from 1978 to 1987, founded the company in 1987 with the determination to present dance that was simply wonderful to watch. DANCECleveland has presented the company in each decade since that time. Parsons Dance has toured on six continents and has been seen on PBS, Bravo, A&E and the Discovery Channel. DANCECleveland last presented Parsons Dance Company in 2015. David Parsons has received many accolades throughout his career, including three Choreography Fellowship Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; the American Choreography Award; the Dance Magazine Award and many more. He has collaborated with iconic artists across all disciplines, including Dr. Billy Taylor, John Mackey, Kenji Bunch, Stephen Schwartz, Milton Nascimento, among others.

“The beauty of this company is the well-executed and thought-out designs, with each work of art overflowing with creativity and excitement." –Jennifer Luxton, The Sundial, California State

The performance will be surrounded by an array of educational outreach events including; a free contemporary master class on Saturday, October 12, at 10:00 a.m. at The University of Akron’s Guzzetta Hall, designed for advanced dancers ages 16 and up. (RSVP required by reserving a spot on DANCECleveland.org/master-classes), a pre-performance discussion with David Parsons on Saturday, October 12, in the theatre at 6:45 p.m. and a post-performance Q&A session immediately after the performance, allowing audience members the chance to ask the dancers questions and engage more deeply with the company. David Parsons and his company will arrive earlier in the week at The University of Akron for a week-long residency designed for The University of Akron dance students, giving them the chance to learn and work alongside the Parsons dancers.

For more information on Parsons Dance, visit: https://www.parsonsdance.org/

For more information about DANCECleveland, visit: http://www.dancecleveland.org/

For more information about The University of Akron, visit: https://www.uakron.edu/

ELECTRONIC PHOTOS AVAILABLE FROM SARAH HRICKO AT 216-991-9000 OR EMAIL: sarah@dancecleveland.org.

About DANCECleveland: DANCECleveland, a Cleveland, Ohio based non-profit, is one of a handful of presenters in the nation that is dedicated solely to the presentation of modern and contemporary dance. The centerpiece of the organization’s programming is its annual performance series. The performances are surrounded by an array of educational outreach events including artist-run master classes, residency programs, student matinees, pre-performance lectures and post-performance Q&A sessions, designed both to break artistic boundaries and provide community access to the dance aesthetic and dance luminaries that DANCECleveland brings to Northeast Ohio.

Funding for this performance is provided by:

DANCECleveland’s 2019-2020 Season is generously supported by:

DANCECleveland is also generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund DANCECleveland with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The George Gund Foundation

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