Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (EDE) will celebrate 20 years of visionary dance with the concert 20/20 Dance on Friday, December 10, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. at Seligman Performing Arts Center. The concert will present revivals of audience favorites and a new work by EDE Choreography Competition winner Daniel Gwirtzman.

Notes EDE Artistic Director Laurie Eisenhower, “I love the name 20/20 as a concert title for one of our 20^th anniversary concerts. It suggests the visionary outlook that EDE has strived for throughout the past twenty years. I want this program to celebrate our past, but also look forward to the future.”

The retrospective part of the concert will include revivals of Mosaics, one of the most performed works in the Company’s history, The Show, an audience favorite which is a tribute to the movies of Federico Fellini, and Catharsis, a large-scale collaborative work with Oakland University’s Repertory Dance Company.  

States Eisenhower, “EDE has had a long standing relationship with Oakland University, so it is fitting to include a collaboration with OU’s finest dancers.”

Celebrating the future vision of the Company, EDE will present two newer works by guest choreographers. The first is a work titled Falling Out, which is a dramatic work by Chicago choreographer Brock Clawson that was set on the Company last season.

The highlight of the program will be the Michigan premiere of Encore, a fun and exciting new work by New York choreographer Daniel Gwirtzman. The dance is performed as though the Company is conducting a rehearsal and then dancing in a performance, offering a glimpse into the life of a dancer.

Gwirtzman is an established producer, director, choreographer, teacher and critically acclaimed performer. Celebrating fifteen years as a New York City choreographer, Gwirtzman has earned praise for creating a diverse repertory known for its humor, inventiveness and accessibility. The DanceBreak Foundation, which showcases the next generation of great Broadway choreographers, has selected Gwirtzman as one of its six choreographers for 2010.

True to the educational vision of EDE, the program will also include a dance performed by over forty dancers from the EDE Center for Dance student companies.

Concert Information

20/20 Dance

Friday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Seligman Performing Arts Center
22305 West 13 Mile Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025
Tickets: $16 general, $12 senior, $8 students
Box Office: (248) 559-2095

Founded in 1991, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble is a professional contemporary dance company based in metro-Detroit. Now in its 20th season, EDE is considered by many critics to be Michigan’s premier contemporary dance company. EDE also offers world-class dance instruction to students of all ages and levels of ability at its two school locations. For more information about EDE, please visit www.ede-dance.org or all the EDE offices at 248-559-2095.

Photo by John Sobczak

Dance has historically been part of all cultures and all people. Detroit Dance Collective’s 30th Concert celebrates the company’s rich dance history with the Detroit area premiere performance of “Dances for Isadora” choreographed in 1971 by José Limón, one of the most prominent American choreographers in modern dance. His choreography is powerful; focusing on human drama, and often incorporates themes from literature, history or religion. “Dances for Isadora”, a beautiful classic work inspired by the life of dance pioneer Isadora Duncan, is a series of 4 solos performed to the music of Frédéric Chopin.

DDC will also celebrate with premieres by DDC’s Artistic Director, Barbara Selinger and Chris Masters, Artistic Director of Mack Avenue Dance Company.
Isadora, Primavera
“In the Moment”, choreographed by Selinger, is an electrifying multimedia dance that embraces humanity and our relationship to life-giving pulses, rhythms and mysteries of the universe. Inspired by the current science of pulsars, Selinger’s work includes numerous cosmic video images that encompass the space creating a breathtaking celestial environment.

“A Traditional Duet (love)”, choreographed by Masters, is a series of pieces that takes a serious look at American socio-cultural norms, and their self-life in an ever-evolving world. Using Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” as a narrative starting point, each duet focuses on a different aspect of millennial society. Created specifically for DDC in collaboration with Lisa LaMarre, (love) is a lush, athletic journey through the depths of tied bonds (when to leave, when to stay).

Corinne Imberski, DDC dancer and choreographer, has reconstructed “Still”, a dance for four women performed to the music of Leos Janacek. The writing of T.S. Eliot and Virginia Wolf inspired the work.

A Pre-Concert Champagne Celebration will take place in the
Padzieski Art Gallery at Ford Center @ 7 PM
Silent Auction ~ Glass from the Blast!
7:00 to 10:00 PM
Concert 8:00 PM

Concert Tickets: $30 $25, $20; Champagne Celebration $15
Ford Center Box Office 313-943-2354 or online
http://www.dearbornfordcenter.com/theater/

more details visit http://www.detroitdancecollective.org/ or call 810-444-4553
or email barb@detroitdancecollective.org

E. Ray Scott

It was Saturday, Feb. 6, when the cheerful, tuxedoed members of Detroit’s Players Club gathered for their monthly show of plays at their historic Playhouse. The mood quickly sobered when they heard that Player E. Ray Scott had died at 86. As Executive Director of the Michigan Council for the Arts from its inception in 1966 to 1985, and as Director of Michigan’s Commission on Art in Public Places until 1991, E. Ray was the solidifying voice and personality of the arts in Michigan.

E. Ray Scott was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1923, and the gentle tones of his Southern childhood never left him. Echoing erudition wherever he went, with a tongue he used as both rapier and unguent, E. Ray earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Speech and Theatre from the University of Southern California. He then spent six years in the United States Army as the Producer and Director of Army Entertainment for the Armed Forces in Germany.

In pursuit of a Ph. D. in Theatre and Communication Arts, Ray moved to Michigan in 1961. It was as a lobbyist for the State Medical Society and a popular figure in Lansing that Scott became aware of the need for a central figure who could gather the many tributaries of Michigan’s artistic life into one coherent, persuasive and forceful voice. E. Ray had found his life’s work.

As former Governor William Milliken remembers, “I was a State Senator when I first met Ray. He was omnipresent in Lansing and, from then on, Ray gave me advice on when and how far we could go in supporting the arts in the state.” It was when Senator Milliken became Lt. Governor that E. Ray approached his wife, Helen Milliken, with his idea for an art train. Mrs. Milliken describes it as “the genius idea which was soon thereafter copied all across the continental United States.”

As noted by his long-time friend Robert O’Leary III, “Yes, if there was one defining moment in which Ray took the most pride, it was in the establishment of Artrain, Inc.” (the official name of the art train concept). Launched in 1971 Artrain was a rail car equipped as a traveling art gallery. With great support from the railroads, the original mission of bringing art to under-served communities throughout Michigan expanded and eventually traveled over the whole country, Artrain, Inc. continues today and has provided arts and cultural programs for over 3.2 million people in cities, towns and villages across the country. Artrain’s exhibitions have become the catalyst for the development of local community cultural programs and the artists who have been nurtured by these programs.

Close behind the Artrain project, E. Ray was also instrumental in creating the enabling legislation that created the Michigan Council for the Arts – only the second state arts council in the country. Getting the State Legislature to approve a reasonable appropriation for the Council was his greatest task made easier perhaps by his warm and personal relationship with Governor William Milliken, which lasted for the 17 years he was governor of Michigan. In a meeting during his first year in office, Gov. Milliken told E. Ray, “If you can encourage the Appropriations Committee to allocate more than I have designated in my budget, I will not veto it.,” and he never did.

Though Artrain became the flagship program of the Michigan Council for the Arts (MCA) when E. Ray served as the Council’s Executive Director, his tenure, on all levels, was always marked by his passionate, intelligent and persuasive lobbying for state support of artists, all cultural institutions, artists and arts in education programs. On a national level, he established a warm working relationship with Nancy Hanks, Director of the National Endowment Arts, and served on numerous boards and committees of the NEA. E. Ray will always be remembered, however, as the tireless and determined advocate for the arts and artists in Michigan. He oversaw major growth in the arts council, which became one of the leading – and largest supporters—of public arts in the country.

Under Ray’s tenure, the arts council pioneered the concept of mini-grants – smaller grants to initiative local community arts activities. A large network of community arts councils that provided grass roots support to all areas of Michigan was a direct outgrowth of Artrain and Ray’s own commitment to Michigan artists and cultural institutions. The arts council provided significant support to every major arts institution in the state – supporting commissions, artistic seasons, premiers, new work, major museum shows, and a wide array of arts education projects.

Scott used his own resources to work with ArtServe Michigan to establish the Michigan Artist Award, which awarded $3000 prizes to three Michigan artists for two consecutive years. The purpose was to provide them with a level of economic freedom that allowed them to concentrate all of their energies on their art. In 2007, E. Ray received the Arts Advocate of the Year award from ArtServe Michigan.

E. Ray Scott is survived by his sister, Jo Ann Cole, and his daughter Dana (Mrs. Scott Tschirhart), seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. A memorial service will be held for E. Ray at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 27th, at the GEM Theatre at 333 Madison Avenue in downtown Detroit. The service will be followed with a light lunch. Once more stories and legends about E. Ray will be passed around among as many of his friends and admirers who can be there.

Family requests memorials to support the arts in Michigan and Michigan Artrain. To make a contribution in E. Ray’s honor, please go to www.artrainusa.org.

Chinonye Goddess

The infamous event known as the “Erotic Poetry & Music Festival” is one of the oldest community arts festivals in Detroit. The festival is an “eclectic celebration of the erotic arts!” It features provocative poetry, dirty spoken word, erotic art, music and dance performances by some of the city’s top artists. It promises to be an evening you won’t forget!

The date is: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 9 pm, 21 &over are welcome. Admission is $8. Partial proceeds benefit the Michigan based non-profit organization “Paws with a Cause,” who provide and train leader dogs for the disabled.
The event will be held at THE CORKTOWN TAVERN located at 1716 Michigan Avenue in Corktown. (313.964.5103) www.myspace.com/eroticfestivaldetroit

This year we are pleased to have Detroit’s premier performance artist, Satori Circus. Other highlights will be the debut musical collaboration of Hayley Jane & Audra Kubat and readings by poetess Archaela Cindy Cadaver and Blue Dogma Poet-Dena Luckett. The visual art portion of the show has expanded! Joining our perennial artist Jeff Hocking is Chopper Peshkepia, Julie Fournier and photography by LAWRENCEcreative and Eugene Sherrill.

Poetry & Music performances by:
Satori Circus
Hayley Jane & Audra Kubat
Dixon’s Violin
Olive Jus
Emily Rose

Satori Circus

Chinonye Goddess
Archaela Cindy Cadaver
Jimmy Doom
Vic Toledo
Blue Dogma Poet-Dena Luckett
Lisa Vicious
Scott Boman
Jaye Thomas
Blue J.
Catlistening
Laura Bodary
Art by: Jeff Hocking-Chopper Peshkepia-Julie Fournier-LAWRENCEcreative-Eugene Sherrill
Hosted by: The Impaler & Peter Schorn

Collage is DDC most popular annual concert. This year the company presents a sneak preview of José Limón’s Dances for Isadora and In the Moment, choreographed by Barbara Selinger, DDC Artistic Director, both of which will be premiered in the company’s 30th Anniversary Gala Concert.

DDC is also committed to presenting emerging artists in our Collage Concert, and this year is no exception. We are happy to include work by the exciting Mack Avenue Dance Co, Detroit’s newest professional dance company, Chris Master, artistic director, and a wonderful thought provoking premiere, Watching the Clock, by DDC company member Lisa LaMarre.

Other repertory favorites to be performed include Connecting Currents by Anastasia McGlothilin and Message Within by Selinger.

Michigan is well known for its excellent college dance programs that train dancers for careers in performance, choreography and education. This year DDC has invited the superb dancers from Marygrove College Dance Company to perform Vanished, a dramatic work that touches the senses and may tickle your funny bone.

DDC Dancers: Susan Clayton, David Guzman, Amy Hansemann, Corinne Imberski, Bill Janisse, Lisa LaMarre, Chris Masters, Barbara Selinger, Nicole Sherman

Tickets: $15 general admission; $12 students & seniors

To reserve tickets call 313-943-2135 or email barb@detroitdancecollective.org Please include your name, day & time of concert preference, # of tickets (general admission & student/senior price) & your phone number & email address so we may confirm your reservation.

Your reservation will be held at will-call. Please pick up your tickets 20 minutes before the performance. All reservations that are not claimed 20 minutes before the concert will be released.
DDC accepts checks or cash only.

For more info call 810-444-4553

Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Studio A
15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED BALLET
Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

POLYNESIAN AEROBICS
Thursday 7:30 – 8:30 AM

ADVANCED MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE
with Barbara Selinger, DDC artistic director
Mon & Fri 10:00 – 11:30 AM

DDC’s modern technique classes are designed to encourage articulation and versatility, and prepare dancers for the infinite demands of contemporary choreography. Based on the Humphrey-Limón tradition, the classes emphasize both technical and performance skills through contrasting dynamics and stress the importance of using the body as an expressive instrument. Classes focus on alignment, movement efficiency, strength, control, flow, and the use of breath to achieve total body connectivity.

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED BALLET
with Betty Mawhinney, DDC ballet mistress
Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Ballet classes are for those with previous dance training who want to pursue further development of their performance skills by practicing classical ballet technique. The traditional sequence of a barre warm-up followed by center work in movement combinations of adagio, pirouette, petit and grand allegro are designed to enhance the dancer’s training in becoming a technically strong, versatile, musical, creative artist.

Fee: $15 per class plus a $15 registration fee (once per year)
Buy a Class Card – 10 classes for $100, no registration fee
Use your class card for any of the above drop-in classes.
Card expires May 29, 2010.
Call 313-943-2135 or email nicole@detroitdancecollective.org
Visit DDC’s website for more information
www.detroitdancecollective.org

DDC City Dance Center, Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, 48126

All nonprofit organizations are welcome to apply, including schools, municipalities, churches, civic cultural & art groups and libraries.

Applicants may apply for up to $4,000.00. Funded activities include art activities for students; exhibits, readings, performances, workshops and broadcasts; artist residencies, consultancies and design activities; the commissioning or restoration of public art; video and film production and screening; and the publication of limited edition, original works of an independent, non-profit press.

Round 2 Minigrant applications must be postmarked by February 24, 2010 in order to be eligible to receive funding, for activities occurring between April 1, 2010 and September 30, 2010. Guidelines and applications are available on the center’s website, www.theartcenter.org.

Anton Art Center Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Callans will lead a free grant writing workshop Wednesday, January 27, 2010, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. at the Anton Art Center. Interested attendees should RSVP to Dr. Callans at 586-469-8666.

The Anton Art Center, the hub for the arts in Macomb County, is located in historic downtown Mount Clemens on the southeast corner of Southbound Gratiot Avenue (M-3) and Macomb Place. Convenient public parking is located in the adjacent Roskopp Parking Lot. For more information please visit www.theartcenter.org.

The State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), an agency of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative, cultural activity in Michigan. The Council’s Regional Regranting program utilizes a network of nonprofit organizations to distribute small arts and cultural projects grants (Minigrants).

For more information about the Anton Art Center, or to make a donation or become a member, call the center at 586-469-8666 or visit www.theartcenter.org. The Anton Art Center is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; Friday, 10 am to 6 pm; and Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm. The center is closed on Mondays.

The Anton Art Center, the hub for the arts in Macomb County, is located in historic downtown Mount Clemens on the southeast corner of Southbound Gratiot Avenue (M-3) and Macomb Place. Convenient public parking is located in the adjacent Roskopp Parking Lot. For more information please visit www.theartcenter.org.

A special opportunity to train with one of Detroit’s finest dance professionals, Michael Woodberry Means, is being offered at the YMCA. Mr. Means will lead weekly classes for teens and adults in ballet and modern dance beginning on Saturday, January 9 and running through Saturday, February 20. The classes take place at the Boll Family YMCA, 1401 Broadway, in downtown Detroit and are a program of YArts, the Arts & Humanities Branch of the Metropolitan Detroit YMCA.

“Intermediate Ballet” is scheduled from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and focuses on developing and establishing classical ballet technique. Floor barre work and centre floor dancing are emphasized to improve the leaps, jumps and turns of the intermediate level dancer.

“Modern Dance” follows from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. and is designed for the advanced beginner and intermediate dancer. Exciting techniques from modern dance legends Lester Horton, Martha Graham and Jose Limon are introduced and practiced in the class.

Michael Woodberry Means was awarded the 2009-10 Michigan Dance Council Teacher of the Year. A former member of the Peter Sparling Dance Company, Michael is a certified dance instructor for K-12 students and adults.

Class fees are only $35 for each seven week session. Online registration is available for YMCA members by visiting the website: ymcadetroit.org. Nonmembers may register at the Boll Family YMCA or call 313-309-9622. Funding from the YMCA Endowment Fund supports participation by Detroit area teens in the dance program.

Detroit City Conduit is a collaborative event striving to bring energy and art, light and performance to Detroit. The movement acts as a conduit, or means of communication between diverse people of the greater Detroit community. In a shared evening of performance, Mise en Place Dance presents dynamic new work by choreographers Amy Cova and Thayer Jonutz. The event will feature a main stage dance performance supported by live musicians, video dance and visual art.

Oscillating between Michigan and New York, Mise en Place Dance is committed to creating quality dance performances for diverse audiences throughout the nation. The company values diversity in movement and aspires to fuse the eclectic training of its founding members, Amy Cova and Thayer Jonutz. The pair strives to cultivate a continuous, rigorous and honest dialogue throughout their creative process. Intrigued by the limitations and opportunities that present themselves when two bodies move in the same space, Mise en Place enters the dance scene with athletic, thoughtful movement.

Spinal Streets and a Straw, a new work by Amy Cova is inspired by the social and cultural climates surrounding the Detroit riots of 1967. Cova’s contemporary movement vocabulary is informed by her ethnographic study and collection of personal narratives with an aesthetic that

reflects her own point of view. Detroit native, Alvin Hill has composed an original score to partner with Cova’s dynamic choreography. The ensemble cast is an eclectic mix of performers, packing the stage with raw energy and talent. Cova has been recognized for her colorful fusion of movement nationally and internationally. Her choreography has been described as athletic, virtuosic as well as expressive and flowing.

Thayer Jonutz’s new work, Doors is inspired by his travels to Japan this last summer. Jonutz was intrigued by the juxtaposing themes that were separated by gateways in the Japanese culture. He found himself walking through crowded, modern city-landscapes to then pass through a doorway of some sort ending up in a spiritually transformative Zen garden. Jonutz has partnered up with Bobby Glowacki, also a Detroit native, with the construction of three Japanese-style sliding doors that are used throughout the choreography to transform the space. Jonutz is known for his methodical approach to the formation of his art as well as his unconventional movement vocabulary that he employs to express himself.

At the heart of Detroit City Conduit is the premier of Phases, a new work, that was conceived, created, and will by performed by Amy Cova and Thayer Jonutz. This work features four sections of dramatically different themes that speak to the evolution of human relationships throughout the seasons of life. Again, Alvin Hill has collaborated with the Mise en Place, creating an original score to support their vision.

$10 admission
Starbrite Studios at Russell Industrial Center
1604 Clay St. #500,
Detroit, MI