dANCEpROjECt will present its annual fall season of dance at Hope College on Wednesday-Saturday
Oct. 26 - 29, at 8 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland.
This year's program consists of six works featuring a full cast of 19 dancers and
the inaugural collaborative project "Art and Scholarship."
For "Art and Scholarship," the company and Dr. Barry Bandstra of the religion faculty
have developed a combined performance-lecture focused on the biblical battle of Jericho.
Bandstra, who is the Evert J. and Hattie E. Blekkink Professor of Religion and director
of academic computing at Hope, will open with a series of four brief talks, of eight
to 10 minutes each, across each of the four performance nights: "Jericho in the Old
Testament book of Joshua," "Rahab: the woman who lived in the wall," "Jericho: the
archaeological record" and "The legacy of Jericho and its wall." Inspired by the story
of the fabled historic city, the company's subsequent performance challenges the dancers
with an unusual obstacle as they interact with a massive wall 10 feet in height.
Other works on the program include "Helix," a living landscape of moving forms encased
in cocoons of stretch fabric; the premiere of "Hodler Night Life," choreographed by
company dancer Sarah Breese with inspiration from the paintings of Swiss artist Ferdinand
Hodler; and "Garden," a new interpretation of the repertory's "Garden of Earthly Delights,"
which has been re-worked to reflect the influence of the recent events and new energy
of the Middle East.
"Garden" was presented as a departmental-sponsored session for the college's recent
Critical Issues Symposium, "Exploring Islam."
The concert will also premiere "...Sur La Table...," a dance for six women based on
the dynamics that happen around a common universal object: a table. The piece examines
the table as architecture, meeting place, geographic locale and sacrificial site mixed
with images of community, lineage and nostalgia. "...Sur La Table..." also features
the recent work of poet Jacqueline Bartley, who is an adjunct assistant professor
of English at Hope.
"Unwritten Letter," one man's journey of regret and missed opportunity set to the
sound of a resonant tenor voice, completes the program of six pieces.
Tickets cost $10 for regular admission and $7 for senior citizens and students, and
are free for children under 12, and are on sale at the ticket office in the main lobby
of the DeVos Fieldhouse. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
and can be called at (616) 395-7890. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
dANCEpROjECt's mission is to entertain, educate and challenge audiences of all ages
with a diverse contemporary movement experience. Known for creating visual spectacles
and kinetic landscapes as well as works with literal and abstract narratives, the
company is dedicated to developing young serious dance/movement artists; providing
opportunities for emerging choreographers and guest artists to create and present
works; and presenting stimulating repertory for local community artists and touring
to other locations for artistic dialogue and feedback with new viewers.
This year's fall season has been funded by the Hope College Patrons for the Arts and
is supported by the college's department of dance.
The DeVos Fieldhouse is located at 222 Fairbanks Avenue, between Ninth and 11th streets.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.