Hope College will feature the San Francisco-based Moving Arts Dance Company in a single performance on Saturday, March 31, at 8 p.m. in the Knickerbocker Theatre.
Moving Arts Dance, internationally heralded for its articulate eloquence, is known for blending humor, grace, compassion and sorrow with striking visual effects and athletic physicality. Directed by Anandha Ray and building on the strengths of ballet and modern styles of dance, the contemporary dancers demonstrate strong classical technique blended with a kinetic understanding of movement and an emotional ability to arouse audiences.
The concert feature a work choreographed by Hope College faculty member Steven Iannacone. Ray saw "Unwritten Letter" performed by Hope College graduate Tim Heck at the "Dance in the Desert Festival" in 2007. Her interest in the piece has led Moving Arts to perform it, and ended up leading to a residency with Hope College.
The performance will also include the world premiere of two works by Ray: "Echoes" and "Legacy Bequest." Additionally, Ray's multiple-award-winning "Beyond the Picket Fence" and Michael Lowe's award-winning "Upstream" upstream are on the program.
"Moving Arts dancers are outstandingly strong technical dancers, and they are powerful dancer-athletes" said Linda Graham, professor of dance and chair of the department. "It will be an energetic performance."
Ray and members of Moving Arts will be doing an intensive residency with the college's department of dance from Saturday, March 24, through Saturday, March 31. The company will teach in Hope College classes and lead workshops for dance students. Hope College students will also take part in two of the pieces being performed at the March 31 concert.
Additional information about Moving Arts Dance can be found at www.movingartsdance.org. The performance is sponsored by the department of dance at Hope.
Tickets are available at the ticket office in the front lobby of the DeVos Fieldhouse and cost $7 for regular admission and $5 for senior citizens, students, and members of the Hope College faculty and staff. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890.
The DeVos Fieldhouse is located at 222 Fairbanks Ave. The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.