Tango Vitrola by AUDIA
Featuring Vanessa Valecillos and Ricardo J. Garcia
Photo by AUDIA.
 

LUNA NEGRA DANCE THEATER

TO DEBUT WORLD PREMIERE AND TWO CHICAGO PREMIERES

IN SIZZLING CONTEMPORARY DANCE PROGRAM OF TANGO, MAMBO AND SALSA,

OCTOBER 19-21, 2007

Performances include collaborations with The Joffrey Ballet and Angel Meléndez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra; Luna Negra launches new family matinee, “Mi Familia, My Dance”

September 4, 2007 – Vibrant, dynamic and daring, Luna Negra Dance Theater returns to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive in Millennium Park, for the third consecutive year, for two performances only, October 19-20, 2007 and a special Family Matinee, October 21, 2007.  The Company’s fall program takes a fresh and unconventional look at Latin dance with works that explore and deconstruct traditional movements into innovative and original contemporary works. 

Headlining the program is the World Premiere of CUGAT!, an homage to the era of “Mambo King” Xavier Cugat, choreographed by Luna Negra Founder and Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro with live accompaniment by Grammy® award-nominee Angel Meléndez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra.  Also on the bill is the Chicago Premiere of Tango Vitrola created by celebrated Argentinean choreographer Alejandro Cervera, and the long-awaited Chicago Premiere of Allegro con Sabor by Pedro Ruiz, a work commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet in collaboration with Luna Negra Dance Theater and performed by dancers of both companies.  The evening also features a reprise of the critically-acclaimed Sugar in the Raw by Latina choreographer Michelle Manzanales.

Highlighting the evening, is the World Premiere of CUGAT!, a whimsical tribute to Xavier Cugat, the King of Mambo and one of the greatest Latin musicians of all time. Choreographed by Eduardo Vilaro and accompanied by Chicago's 21-piece Angel Meléndez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra, CUGAT!,  a full company work which captures wonderfully the essence of the 1930’s and 1940’s,  is set to six Mambo tunes made famous by the Cuban arranger and band leader affectionately known as ''Cugie."

The program will also feature the following works:

-         The Chicago Premiere of Allegro con Sabor choreographed by Bessie award-winner Pedro Ruiz.  This new work, which received its World Premiere in the fall of 2006 at the Career Transition For Dancers Gala in New York, was commissioned by The Joffrey Ballet in collaboration with Luna Negra Dance Theater and will be performed by Joffrey dancers Willy Shives & Megan Quiroz and Luna Negra dancers Ricardo Garcia & Vanessa Valecillos.  Allegro con Sabor is inspired by the music of composer Eric Lewis and captures the colors and sounds of a sultry night in the tropics. The playfulness, seduction and romance of two couples come to life in the after hours. As discovery leads to passion, twilight bleeds into night, and the exhilaration exhausts itself in a dynamic explosion both abstract and sensual.  Allegro con Sabor was made possible by a Joyce Award granted to Pedro Ruiz and The Joffrey Ballet by the Joyce Foundation earlier this year.

-         The Chicago Premiere of Tango Vitrola (1987) choreographed by celebrated Argentinean choreographer Alejandro Cervera. Tango Vitrola is a work that blends the distinctive and original qualities of the Tango with ballet and contemporary movement. Using a dance form known for its expressive purposes and artistic metaphor, Tango Vitrola explores the history, rhythms and dance forms that make up the Tango. From the lyrical Tango waltzes to fervent Milongas, the Tango is an amalgamation of many styles fused with humorous flirtation through sensual movements.

-         The reprise of the critically-acclaimed work Sugar in the Raw by Luna Negra Rehearsal Director and choreographer Michelle Manzanales.  Premiered in the spring of 2007, this is the first work Manzanales choreographed for the company.  Sugar in the Raw is an exploration of the complexities and subtleties of identity and a portrait of the beautiful imperfections of humanity. Based on Manzanales’ experiences as a second generation Mexican-American woman, Sugar in the Raw explores what it means to be Latino, but also addresses larger questions of what it means to be human regardless of ethnic or racial origins. This piece brings to light who one is in the purest form – one’s raw beauty. Sugar in the Raw is set to the music of Argentinean composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who has written scores for movies such as "Babel,” "The Motorcycle Diaries" and “Brokeback Mountain.”

Launching this fall at the Harris will be Mi Familia, My Dance, a special matinee program for the whole family featuring an engaging and interactive introduction to Luna Negra staged by Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro and the company.  Mi Familia, My Dance (“my family, my dance”) will offer an accessible way for children age 8 and above to learn about dance and the process of creation while enjoying a spectacular presentation. The program will feature CUGAT! and excerpts Allegro con Sabor plus, from the Luna Negra repertoire, Septime Webre’s piel canela and Flabbergast by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano.  The new Mi Familia, My Dance program will take place Sunday, October 21 at 3:00 p.m.

Chicago’s premiere Latino contemporary dance company, Luna Negra Dance Theater will perform at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive in Millennium Park, Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets for Luna Negra Dance Theater’s fall performances at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance range in price from $25-$55.  All tickets for the special Mi Familia, My Dance program on Sunday, October 21, are priced at $10.  Tickets are available by calling 312-334-7777 or on-line at www.harristheaterchicago.org.  For more information about Luna Negra Dance Theater, please visit www.lunanegra.org.

Exelon Corporation is the 2007 Season Lighting Sponsor. "Allegro con Sabor" was made possible by the 2007 Joyce Awards granted to The Joffrey Ballet and Pedro Ruiz by the Joyce Foundation.  This performance is supported in part by an Access to Artistic Excellence award from the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition, this concert is made possible thanks to the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Additional support is provided by The Chicago Community Trust, the Illinois Arts Council, an agency of the state of Illinois; and the City of Chicago, City Arts Program.

Founded by Eduardo Vilaro in 1999, Luna Negra Dance Theater creates, performs and teaches contemporary dance by Latino choreographers. Luna Negra Dance Theater is a unique blend of contrasts – serious and funny, passionate and serene, adventurous and subtle.  The company’s distinctive style blends ballet and modern dance techniques, strongly flavored by Latino and Afro-Caribbean dance forms. Luna Negra also collaborates with Latino artists of other disciplines, including visual, media artists, musicians and composers which fosters cross disciplinary explorations and results in richly textured and highly original, contemporary dance theater. In addition to performing, Luna Negra conducts extensive outreach and education programs, serving annually over 10,000 students in the Chicago area. Luna Negra Dance Theater’s company includes Jonathan E. Alsberry, Kimberly Bleich, Dustin Crumbaugh, Ricardo J. Garcia, Alejandra González, Veronica Guadalupe, Anthony Peyla, Kirsten Shelton, JP Tenuta, Jorge Quintero Troestch, Vanessa Valecillos, and Jessica Alejandra Wyatt.

Choreographers:

Pedro Ruiz is a renowned choreographer and dancer who was born and trained in Cuba, as well as in Venezuela. A principal dancer with New York’s Ballet Hispanico for 21 years, Ruiz also choreographed three critically-acclaimed ballets for the company. Now an independent choreographer, some of his many accomplishments include, Sonetos de Amor for Luna Negra in 2005 and, in 2006, Ruiz premiered Mediterranea, at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. That year, he created a collaborative piece for The Joffrey Ballet and Luna Negra entitled San Juan, which was performed at City Center in New York, and was later, was expanded as Allegro con Sabor.  Earlier this year, he premiered Pasajes de Amor, also at Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Ruiz has performed at The White House for several presidents and, in 1998 he received the New York dance world’s highest honor, the Bessie Award. Most recently, Ruiz was honored for his illustrious dance career by The Cuban Artist’s Fund.

Alejandro Cervera studied music at the Conservatorio Municipal Manuel de Falla and was trained in dance at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón and the School of Contemporary Dance directed by Oscar Araiz, all in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He worked with well-known teachers such as Ilse Wiedmann, Wassil Tupin, Norma Binaghi, Renate Schotellius, Ana Maria Stekelman, Betty Jones, Jennifer Muller and Miguel Angel Soto. Between 1977 and 1985, Cervera was a member of the Contemporary Ballet of the Teatro General San Martin of Buenos Aires before assuming directorship of the company in 1985.  Cervera’s name became more well-known to the North American public after his company was first invited to perform at the American Dance Festival and the Kennedy Center in the mid-1980s. He has since received numerous invitations to return to the festival to perform, teach and collaborate with American companies. Hailed as a leading creative force in his native Argentina, Cervera is widely acclaimed for his work, not only in dance, but in opera, theater and music. He has choreographed works for companies throughout Argentina, Mexico and, through the American Dance Festival, choreographed his work Tango Vitrola for the African-American contemporary company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC).    Presently, Cervera is the Executive Director of Prodanza, Ministerio de Cultura - GCBA.

Michelle Manzanales has received dance scholarships from the American Dance Festival, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and Dance Masters of America. She began her professional career with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and has worked with respected choreographers and teachers including Sean Curran, Randy Duncan, Liz Lerman, Donald McKayle, Celeste Miller, Kevin Wynn and Mario Zambrano. A choreographer as well, Manzanales has created works for Impetus Dance Theater (Chicago), Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, the University of Houston and Rice University, and has been recognized by the American College Dance Festival for four of her choreographic works.  In 2006 she had the great honor of having her piece, entitled Pour Me Out, presented at the Kennedy Center as part of the American College Dance Festival National Gala.  Manzanales joined Luna Negra in 2003 as a dancer and became Rehearsal Director in 2006.  Sugar in the Raw is her first choreographed piece for the company.

Eduardo Vilaro (Luna Negra Founder and Artistic Director) was born in Havana, Cuba, and immigrated to New York City where he grew up in the Bronx. He received his dance training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance School and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and then received a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University in 1988. Vilaro was a principle dancer with Ballet Hispanico of New York where he taught and performed until 1996. Under the mentorship of Tina Ramirez, Vilaro developed as an educator by creating and implementing outreach and education programs in New York City. He has taught and toured throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America, and the Middle East. In 1999, after receiving a Masters degree from Columbia College, his passion for his heritage and dance led him to establish Luna Negra Dance Theater. Vilaro’s work with Luna Negra is devoted to capturing the spiritual, sensual and historical essence of the Latino culture. He creates work that explores through contemporary dance Latino cultures’ racial and ethnic diverse movements, as well as music of Latin and Caribbean countries in fresh ways that speak to modern audiences. The result “is something rich and irresistible, with choreography that is exceptionally fluid, dramatic and revealing,” according to the Chicago Sun Times. His work often includes collaborating with artists of other disciplines and he has created works with artists such as Afro-Peruvian singer Susana Baca, visual artist Luis De La Torre, and soprano Harolyn Blackwell. Vilaro has also received commissions to create works for other arts organizations such as the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Lexington Ballet, New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, the Civic Ballet, and Same Planet, Different World. In 2001, he was a recipient of a Ruth Page Award in choreography and in 2003, he was honored at Panama's II International Festival of Ballet for his choreographic work. Vilaro has been on the faculty of the Dance Center of Columbia College and the Chicago Academy of the Arts. He currently serves on the board of directors of Dance/USA.

CUGAT! by AUDIA
Featuring Vanessa Valecillos, Jessica Alejandra Wyatt and Kimberly Bleich
Photo by AUDIA.
 
 

Guest Artists:

Angel Meléndez (composer, arranger, instructor and trombonist) is one of the most recognized musicians in Chicago and leads one of the most popular local Latin bands. Meléndez’s 21-piece 911 Mambo Orchestra plays an array of Latin music ranging from modern Salsas, Boleros & Cha Cha Chas to the most traditional hard hitting Mambo of the ‘50s. The band plays original arrangements by Angel Meléndez along with the music of Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Rodriguez and Perez Prado.  Meléndez and his band have performed at prestigious events including the U.S. Conference of Mayors (Chicago 2005), the 27th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival (2005), the Chicago International Salsa Congress in 2002 & 2004, and Chicago’s Millennium Park Opening Ceremonies (2004), among others.  Meléndez has been a musical director and arranger for some of the world’s most renowned Salsa artists such as Danilo Perez, Jimmy Bosch, Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, Cheo Feliciano, the Singers of the Apollo Sound (Tito Cruz, Sammy Gonzalez & Papo Sanchez), Frankie Ruiz, Eddie Santiago, Lalo Rodriguez, Luisito Carrión, Hector Tricoche, Tito Allen and Johnny Rivera.  Angel Meléndez’s first full-length CD, “Angel Meléndez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra,” was mixed and mastered by 16-time, Grammy® award-winner Jon Fausty, and produced by Andrés Meneses under the label Latin Street Music, Inc. The debut CD was nominated in the 47th Annual Grammy® Awards under the category of “Best Traditional Tropical” Latin Album. The CD also won the “Best Latin Album” Award in the 4th Annual Independent Music Awards 2005.

The Joffrey Ballet Dancers:

Willy Shives joined The Joffrey Ballet in August 1999 and was named Assistant Ballet Master in 2004.  Shives began his dance training in his native south Texas before receiving his formal training with the School of American Ballet and the Harkness Ballet School on full scholarship in New York.  His professional career began in 1981 with the Eglevsky Ballet and he has performed with Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, Pittsburgh Theatre, and Ballet Austin.  His repertoire includes a vast list of 19^th Century classics as well as contemporary masters including: Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, Lew Christensen, John Cranko, Agnes de Mille, Lisa de Ribere, Choo-San Goh, Martha Graham, Loyce Houlton, Jiri Kylian, Robert Joffrey, Eugene Loring, Ruth Page, Ohad Naharin, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Antony Tudor, and Ben Stevenson.  In 2003, Shives received the Dance Achievement Award from the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance and the Chicago Tribune named him “Artist of the Year.”  He was recognized as one of “Chicago Theatre’s 50 Leading Characters” in 2004.   In addition to performing, Shives conducts ballet classes and master classes around the country and has staged and directed several ballets. 

Megan Quiroz joined The Joffrey Ballet in January 2001 as a seasonal dancer and became a full-time apprentice in August 2003.  In July 2004, Ms. Quiroz was promoted to full-time company member. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Quiroz trained at the School of Grand Rapids Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and at the San Francisco Ballet Summer course.  Prior to joining The Joffrey Ballet, Quiroz performed in the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet as a trainee.  In her spare time, Quiroz enjoys playing piano. Since joining The Joffrey Ballet, she has performed roles in The Clowns, Dark Elegies, The Nutcracker, N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz!, Romeo and Juliet, Square Dance, The Taming of the Shrew, and Viva Vivaldi.