(Philadelphia, October 28, 2013)—Portland’s BodyVox, known for its imaginative fusion of dance, film and theatre, returns as part of the 13/14 Dance Celebration season with its full-length production, The Cutting Room, a work filled with explosive imagery, athleticism and humor. BodyVox is the striking brainchild of MOMIX and Pilobolus alums and award-winning dancer/choreographers Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton. Presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center, performances will take place at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at 3680 Walnut Street on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 PM, Friday, December 13 at 8 PM and Saturday, December 14 at 2 PM and 8 PM. Tickets are $20-$55 (prices are subject to change). For tickets or for more information, please visit AnnenbergCenter.org or call 215.898.3900. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Annenberg Center Box Office.
An odyssey through film genres, The Cutting Room consists of eight dances entitled Historic Fiction, Documentary, Screen Kiss, Romantic Comedy, Bollywood, Chase, Sci-Fi and Americana. The opening scene features a business suit-clad Jamey Hampton sitting opposite from Jonathan Krebs, sporting sunglasses and a track suit. Krebs jump starts the action by rolling a film canister across the table, setting off a wild film chase through Portland. Set for 12 dancers, the choreography incorporates a wide-ranging vocabulary that blends classical, contemporary, old court dances, Bollywood and American hoedown.
While Historical Fiction showcases old court dances and Bollywood features a quasi-Indian floor show, Sci-Fi transforms the dancers into semi-anemones that morph and multiply against striking blue and red projections. Ashley Roland’s inventive costumes enhance the mood and pace of the production. Films by Mitchell Rose and Jamey Hampton mix with the dance sequences to integrate the concept and mediums.
The sound score, like the choreography, crosses many genres and time periods. It features Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, William Goodrum, James Newton Howard, Vivek Maddala, Pietro Mascagni, W.A. Mozart, Thomas Newman, Giacomo Puccini, Ralph Stanley and Johann Strauss mixed with sound bytes from classic films.
Marty Hugley from The Oregonian notes, with The Cutting Room, “The Company makes not just film about dance but dance about film. And the result is so fun you might find it addictive.”
Known for its breathtaking cocktail of physicality, compelling imagery and imaginative whimsy, BodyVox has wowed audiences with its multi-media dance performances for the past 15 years. Since its inception in 1997, Artistic Directors Hampton and Roland have created eight award-winning films, 18 original productions and three operas, featuring nearly 200 dances.
Combining their talents as choreographers and filmmakers, Hampton and Roland created an impressive repertoire that prompted Dance Magazine to exclaim “with BodyVox you get wit, whimsy, and well-mannered emotion in pieces performed by a dozen dancers with solid technical chops.” The company’s Philadelphia performances also feature former local dancer Heather Jackson who trained at the Rock School in Philadelphia.
Based in Portland, Oregon, BodyVox’s movement is informed by years of cross-training, imbued with a curiosity and fascination with the endless possibilities of the human body in motion. Artistic Directors Hampton and Roland are distinguished artists on the world stage, formed by 30 years working as creators and performers with innovative dance companies MOMIX, ISO Dance and Pilobolus Dance Theatre. BodyVox builds upon this tradition of excellence with a unique voice that is equally influenced by its Northwest roots and world view. Created in 1997 to fulfill a commission from Portland Opera, the company has since created numerous original works and toured across the U.S. to critical acclaim.
Adding to its full-evening shows and repertory pieces, BodyVox’s films, created with director Mitchell Rose, have won numerous awards in national and international festivals. “Modern Daydreams,” composed of “Treadmill Softly,” “Islands in the Sky,“ Unleashed” and “Deere John,” won the prestigious American Choreography Award for Outstanding Achievement in Short Film in 2002.
INSIGHTS
Post-show
talk back
December 13
Ticket holders can stay after the performance
for an interactive conversation with the company.
In addition, BodyVox will conduct two outreach activities – a Student Discovery performance for schools on Friday, December 13 at 10:30 AM and a free master class for the dance community on Friday, December 13 at 1 PM. For information on outreach activities, contact annemarie@danceaffiliates.org or 215.636.9000 ext. 110.
