Ballet in NYC: Complexions Contemporary Ballet at the Joyce Theater
Complexions Contemporary Ballet presents three dynamic programs for its 26th season at The Joyce Theater from January 21-February 2, 2020
Under the artistic direction of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, the company presents three dynamic programs over two weeks combining new and already established works. Filled with a roster of some of the most diverse and exciting young stars, Complexions fills the Joyce Theater stage with their signature style of athleticism, virtuosity, and passion.
In the first week’s program (Program A), Complexions will present the world premiere of “Love Rocks” a full-company ballet set to works by the iconic GRAMMY Award-winning singer and songwriter, Lenny Kravitz. Inspired by his vision and eclectic musicianship, this piece will follow Kravitz’s musical exploration where his lush melodies and retro musical style lay a foundation for passionate storytelling through edgy, athletic and theatrical movement as we examine our humanity and its vulnerability.
Returning this season due to popular demand is “BACH 25.” Set to the music of Johann Sebastian and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the work features the full company in continuous movement to the Baroque composers’ dramatic compositions. A festive, athletic, neo-classical work in the signature style of Complexions; this romantic, playful, and intensely physical piece celebrates the union of music and movement.
In the second week (Program B), the company will reprise “WOKE,” a physical reaction to the daily news. A bold and dynamic socially conscious one-act ballet featuring the full company that examines our humanity in conjunction with today’s political climate. Set to an eclectic musical track that runs the gamut from electronica to rap, this work is inspired by the enlightened awareness and challenging moral compass of today’s generation. “BACH 25” will also be a part of this program.
All matinee programs (Matinee) will feature “Love Rocks” and “Essential Parts,” a compilation of audience favorites spanning the 26-year history of the company along with a new world premiere solo. Highlights will include excerpts from classics such as “Rise” featuring the music of U2 (2008), and “Choke”(2006) among other audience favorites.
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During the run, Thursday, January 23 will be dedicated to Complexions’ annual fundraising gala. Proceeds from this gala benefit performance will continue to help build Complexions’ educational initiatives through scholarships, mentorship programs and the continued development of Rhoden’s and Richardson’s methodology of dance training. Complexion’s educational initiatives were offered in six cities this past year, allowing the company the ability to mentor and train hundreds of dancers. The gala will allow audiences to see the next generation of performers as they grace the Joyce stage. In addition to the company performing, there will be a new work performed by the students of Complexions’ pre-professional program.
Complexions was founded in 1994 by Master Choreographer Dwight Rhoden and the legendary dancer Desmond Richardson with a singular approach to reinventing dance through a groundbreaking mix of methods, styles and cultures. Today, Complexions represents one of the most recognized and respected performing arts brands in the world. Having presented an entirely new and exciting vision of human movement on 5-continents, over 20-countries, to over 20-million television viewers and to over 500,000 people in live audiences, Complexions is poised to continue its mission of bring unity to the world one dance at a time.
The company’s foremost innovation is that dance should be about removing boundaries, not reinforcing them. Whether it be the limiting traditions of a single style, period, venue, or culture, Complexions transcends them all, creating an open, continually evolving form of dance that reflects the movement of our world—and all its constituent cultures—as an interrelated whole. Together, Rhoden and Richardson have created in Complexions an institution that embodies its historical moment, a sanctuary where those passionate about dance can celebrate its past while simultaneously building its future. In the 26 years since its inception, the company has born witness to a world that is becoming more fluid, more changeable, and more culturally interconnected than ever before—in other words, a world that is becoming more and more like Complexions itself.
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Dates: January 21 – February 2, 2020
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