Hi,
My dance company is about to hold its Boston Premiere at The Tsai Center this September 10-12. We would be greatful for any kind of press around this event – either a pre-show interview or show-time review. There are comp tickets available for the press night.
If your Arts and Entertainemnt editor is interested in this please have them contact me at the number below. I have copied our press release into this box for detailed information about the event.
We look forward to hearing for you ‘ thank you for your time.
Shelley Lynn [email protected] (970) 389-1194
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SHELLEY LYNN IMAGES AVAILABLE PH: 617-562-0550 CHOREOGRAPHERS BIOGRAPHIES: PAGE 2 EM: [email protected]
Mass Motion Dance Company to Premiere at The Tsai Center at Boston University Joined by award winning Collage Dance Ensemble, the companies present VELOCITY
Boston, MA (July 29, 2004) – Mass Motion Dance Company, a group of contemporary choreographers and dancers holds its Boston Premiere, VELOCITY, September 10-12, 2004 at The Tsai Performance Center at Boston University. They will debut original work alongside pieces previously showcased in New York City and around the nation. Joining them is the internationally acclaimed Collage Dance Ensemble, one of Boston’s advocates for multicultural collective expression. Collage performs a fusion of traditional Balkan and European dance forms reinterpreted through contemporary choreography. VELOCITY is a dance concert that combines rigorous athleticism with intricate design of space. It was conceived by MMDC’s artistic directors, Irada Djelassi and Katherine Hooper – a former choreographer for Patricia Kenny Dance Collection, formerly of the David Parsons Dance Company. The show includes everything from high energy solos and intimate duets to more complex compositions involving twenty performers. Described by Lisa Jo Sagolla from Back Stage as having a movement vocabulary that “gives a fresh twist to familiar forms”, Hooper’s choreography is influenced as much by her studies in kinesiology as her classical training.
MMDC’s desire to combine artistry with community outreach led them to join forces with Collage. Exemplifying their mission to promote harmony between people from different cultural and social backgrounds, Artistic Director, Ahmet Luleci integrates Eastern European traditional performance with modern Western techniques. Luleci’s choreography has been performed worldwide. He provides untrained members of the urban community the opportunity to study dance intensively. His most recent work, balkanBLUES is heralded by Theodore Bale from the Boston Herald as “Astonishing and Breathtaking!” Both companies are keen to engage local audiences by making formal or traditional dance more accessible. Aesthetically, the companies share similarities in performance style that create a dialogue of ideas and movement in VELOCITY despite the different genres. Many artists from as far as London, Colorado and New York City are volunteering their time to the production of VELOCITY. Producer, Shelley Lynn comments “Individually and collectively, we’re a seasoned group of alumni – more than half of us from UMASS!! For at least a decade, we’ve been working together. This project harnesses all that experience and expertise under one roof, as well as integrates the work back into the urban community that inspired it originally.” For tickets and information please call (617) 562-0550.
About Mass Motion Dance Company MMDC was established in 2003 when the opening of Mass Motion Dance Academy’s Boston studio provided the opportunity to develop a professional company. They are dancers and choreographers committed to producing high-energy physical and aesthetic experience in performance and first-rate education. Embarking on this journey as collective artistic directors, Irada Djelassi and Katherine Hooper are currently working with seven dancers from both Boston and New York.
About Collage Dance Ensemble Collage grew out of Ahmet Luleci’s goal of making folk dance and music more accessible and relevant to a general audience. The company presents a wide range of pieces, from traditional to modern choreographies that remain true to the spirit of the dance. Using music that makes people want to jump out of their seats and join the dance, the company showcases the beauty, energy and passion of these neglected dance forms as well as the cultural heritage they represent. The company features 15-25 dancers performing in the U.S., Canada and Turkey, where they won fifth place in an international competition in 2003.
Ahmet Luleci, choreographer and artistic director of Boston’s Collage Dance Ensemble, began dancing at the age of eight in Turkey. His fascination with folk song and dance led him to extensive studies in Turkish performance culture. His degree is in music and graphic design. Ahmet won first place in a national competition for his research of Turkish folk dance and specialized in the costume’s historical, social and cultural background and the “spoon dances” from Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. He now teaches folk dance and performs with his ensemble.
Irada Djelassi earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Five College Dance Program and moved to NYC after completion to continue her studies. She spent a year teaching and directing the dance program at the Burncoat Performing Arts Magnet High School in Worcester where she ran numerous classes in both theory and practice. Irada returned to New York City as a faculty member at the American Youth Dance Theatre in Manhattan until she relocated to Boston as the assistant director of Mass Motion Dance, for whom she has taught since 1996. Along with co-directing MMDC, Irada is currently developing the Mass Motion Dance Project, a children’s group that promotes community based performances and workshops.
Katherine Hooper received her BFA at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Five College Dance Program. As an undergraduate, she co-developed an Arts Collective and an Improvisation Group while producing, directing and choreographing 2 full-scale productions. Following graduation, Katherine moved to Colorado where she co-founded and operated for five years, Performance Works, Ltd., a contemporary dance and theatre company. While in Colorado, Katherine also certified through Polestar Education in Pilates Matt Work. In 2001 and 2002, Katherine was commissioned to choreograph original works for the Patricia Kenny Dance Collection. In 2004, she was invited to teach a week long modern workshop as part of the Summer Masters Series at Peridance Center in Manhattan. Katherine has relocated to the Boston area where she is now faculty at the Mass Motion Dance academy and the co-artistic director of MMDC.