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By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Posted 9-4-09
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Cyrus Art Production celebrates its fourth season of bringing top-quality dance to North Carolina with a concert celebrating black men in dance.
The concerts will take place in the UNCG Dance Theater at 8 p.m. Oct. 1-3 with a 2 p.m. matinee Oct. 3. Duane Cyrus, the founder and artistic director of Cyrus Art Production, is a faculty member in the Department of Dance.
Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $12 for students and seniors, and $9 for UNCG students. For reservations and further information call the UNCG Box Office at (336) 334-4849 or visit http://www.uncg.edu/euc/boxoffice/.
Special guest performers include Germaul Barnes, a Bessie Award winner and former principal dancer with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Barnes will perform “Half Full/Manifest Destiny” a work about the Jena Six.
Also on the program is Martha Graham Company member James Pierce. Pierce will perform “Trois Gymnopedies,” a tribute to Alvin Ailey choreographed by Keith Lee, one of the first black dancers to perform with the American Ballet Theatre.
Internationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Huggins, a former member of Alvin Ailey, will premiere a work on the company.
Cyrus will premiere a work inspired by his book “Vital Grace: The Black Male Dancer.” Co-authored with New York-based photographer Joanne Savio, the book features interviews with Geoffrey Holder, Bill T. Jones and the late Gregory Hines.
Cyrus has performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company, The Lion King (original London cast), Carousel (U.S. Tour) as well as directing domestic and international tours with Cyrus Art Production. He recently received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that will allow him to stage Martha Graham’s “Steps in the Street” with UNCG student dancers.
For more information about Cyrus Art Production, call (336) 540-8882, email cyart4@me.com or visit www.cyrusartproduction.com.