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Peter Stathas Dance Presents "From Where We Ascend / Wake"

Company:
Peter Stathas Dance

Peter Stathas Dance presents From Where We Ascend / Wake at Triskelion Arts, 106 Calyer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11222 on December 13, 2024 at 8:00 PM and December 14, 2024 at 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM. The program will feature five works from Peter Stathas Dance’s repertoire. Tickets are advance general admission $25, at-the-door general admission $30, Super Supporter $35, and are available here.

From Where We Ascend/Wake suggests we are in a place of ascension, perhaps physically, or some conscious state of being. In this place we are offered and confronted with choices that lead to utter possibilities that flutter into an ascending moment. It is a place where we shed our skins in order to expose the uncertain, embracing the new while recognizing what we have left behind in our wake.

“When this title came to me, I had such a visceral inner certainty about its significance and began a journey of trying to demystify it. This collection of dances/films seeks to be the recognition and expression of this feeling. Quite simply, the force behind our ascension is the power of our creation. And that creation is generated from the ties that bind us as people, friends and collaborators. This program is our attempt to recognize and express our cumulative ascension as people, as artists, and as a collective- recognizing where we came from, reconciling with where we are, and taking a collective leap toward where we have to go. We are excited to bring this production to life and to bring people together sharing in an evening of reflection and aspiration,” said Peter Stathas.

 

PROGRAM:

What We Have to Give (2021)

A shortened version of the original 52-minute film made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Humanity/Hope (2023) Barn Project, Elkhorn, Wisconsin New York Premiere

Excerpt from the 2023 piece Lightness This is the last section of the dance, it gathers the sound of Richard Rudis’ gong bath, “ Sacred Sound of the Soul” and brings its vibrational energy forward to the recognition of our surroundings, the constraints we face in understanding our awareness and our hope that Humanity can and does intervene. There is a film being projected onto the dancer and the stage and screen depicting images of environmental ropes. Dancer: Ty Graynor Filmmaker/Sean Kafer

 

Measuring Distance (2021)

A short film documenting our company coming together for the first time since the COVID lock down. This is a glimpse into the initial Barn Project 2021. Our annual residency/dance incubator in a remote cornfield in southwest Wisconsin. Dancers: Lauren Twomley, Paulina Meneses, Sasha Rydlizky, Selina Hack, Mariah Gravelin, Ty Granyor, Andrew McShea. Filmmaker Sean Kafer

 

Kathedra (2023) First Street Studio Austin Texas

This piece explores and engages the physical and emotional places the dancer's relationship brings them. They navigate the internal and external forces that unify and separate them, melding their spirits into one while questioning the integrity of their individual selves. Dancers: Lauren Twomley, Ty Graynor.

 

Assuage (2018) Doug Varone’s Devices Showcase, Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, NYC

This piece was created as a dramatic duet in which the couple attempts to connect and resolve the physical and emotional obstacles of their relationship. The music drives the movement into a frenetic ending that allows for multiple conclusions. The irony of this work is that the title is never achieved. Lauren Twomley, Ty Graynor.

 

From Where We Ascend/Wake (2024 Premiere)

In this women's trio we are offered and confronted with choices that lead to utter possibilities that flutter into an ascending moment. Where we shed and expose the uncertain, it's turmoil, while embracing what is exposed and recognizing what is in its wake.

 

THE COMPANY

Mariah Gravelin (she/her) grew up and began her dance training in Southeastern Connecticut under the direction of Gloria Govrin, where she began her Limón training with Libby Nye at the age of 11. She continued her classical training and received her BFA from the Ailey/Fordham Program, where she performed works by Alvin Ailey, José Limón, Paul Taylor, and others. Mariah has been a dancer with the Limón Dance Company since January 2019 and joined Peter Stathas Dance in the summer of 2021. During her time in the Limón Company, she has performed both classical and contemporary works around the world. In addition to her performing career, Mariah also serves on the teaching faculty of the Limón Institute, is the Social Media Associate for the José Limón Dance Foundation, and is a freelance photographer @mariahgravelinphoto.

 

Ty Graynor (he/him), is a multidisciplinary artist from Huntington, New York. He holds a BFA in Dance from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where he performed several iconic works by Martha Graham, José Limón, and Doris Humphrey. Ty’s early career was shaped by his time at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and as a company dancer with Graham 2. In 2019, he joined the Limón Dance Company as a performing and teaching artist. Now based in Austin, Texas, Ty is the Artistic Director of TY&CO, a project-based company exploring the human experience through concert dance, immersive experiences, and film. He is also currently a performer and collaborator with projects like Peter Stathas Dance, Ventana Ballet, and Red Nightfall Dance Theatre.

 

Paulina Meneses (she/they) is a Filipino-American dancer, choreographer’s assistant, and arts administrator hailing from Las Vegas, NV. She graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance and minor in Arts Management. During their time in college, they performed works by Kimberly Bartosik, Shannon Gillen, Xan Burley, Sue Bernhard, Alexandra Beller, and Trisha Brown. Now based in New York City, she has worked with esteemed artists including Doug Varone and Dancers, Dylan Crossman, Periapsis Music & Dance, Hannah Garner’s 2nd Best Dance Company, and Kyle Abraham on his New York City Ballet premiere, "The Runaway." Paulina has performed at venues such as Brooklyn Academy of Music: BAM, 92nd Street Y, Jacob’s Pillow, New York Live Arts, and at Dance Festival München in Germany. In addition to Peter Stathas Dance, they currently collaborate and dance for MeenMoves, Marie Lloyd Paspe, Johnnie Cruise Mercer, and Julia Antinozzi.

 

Selina Shida Hack (she/her) from Queens, New York is a dance artist and choreographer based in New York, USA, and Berlin, Germany. Selina hopes to create works that connect authentic movement with other mediums to develop intricate & honest visuals. She has roots in Guyana and Japan: a wide-angle view of the world that fuels her joy for constantly exploring new visual techniques inspired by different cultures. She has trained at The Alvin Ailey School, SUNY Purchase College, and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Selina has had the privilege to perform works by Hivewild, Keigwin + Co., Peter Stathas Dance, Martha Graham, Sidra Bell, Kimberly Bartosik, Danae Dimitriadi & Dionysios Alamanos, Celia Rowlson-Hall, Nicole von Arx, and Megan Lawson. As a choreographer, Selina has presented her work at La Spezia Festival (Italy), Kaatsbaan Summer Dance Festival, and The Historic Green-Wood Cemetery. Selina has starred in films, F L U X (2021), Shelter Island (2021), and Wait A Minute (2021). Through her commercial work, Selina has worked for musical artists, such as Madonna, Black Violin, Jukebox the Ghost, and Halestorm. To further spread her love for movement, Selina has taught at Tanzfabrik Berlin, Dance Theater of Harlem, and Dance Cork Firkin Crane.

 

Lauren Twomley (she/her) | Dancer, Rehearsal Coordinator, Social Media Manager, born in Brooklyn, New York, graduated from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Management. She has worked with renowned choreographers: Doug Varone, Sidra Bell, Dylan Crossman, Kevin Wynn, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Chafin Seymour, Francesca Harper, Jiri Kylian, Joost Vrouenraets, Kate Weare, Raul Tamez, Olivier Tarpoga, Azure Barton and Kayla Farrish, and has performed masterworks by Martha Graham, José Limón and Merce Cunningham. Lauren currently is a dancer, rehearsal coordinator and social media manager for Peter Stathas Dance, as well as a performing and teaching artist for the José Limón Dance Foundation. She has her own teaching practice that explores the deconstruction of Limón Movement Principles with the goal of making the technique accessible and approachable to all mover and values connection, diversity, and play in her artistic endeavors.

 

Peter Stathas began his dance training at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, while studying wildlife biology. After a brief position with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, he made the decision to further his dance education by transferring to Suny-Purchase. Shortly after he moved to New York City to study with dance luminaries, Gerri Houlihan, Lar Lubovitch, Mel Wong, Mark Morris, Zena Rommett/Ernie Pagnano, Marjorie Mussman and eventually with mentor Maggie Black. During this time he performed with the Jose Limon Dance Company, worked in the “new dance postmodern” movement rehearsing at the Harkness House Mansion with Molissa Fenly, Bill T Jones, Johanna Boyce and Marta Renzi. He continued to work extensively with Bessie winning dance/filmmaker Renzi into the mid 80’s. Together they, along with Jacob Pillow’s artistic director, Liz Thompson, created the highly successful Inside/Out program. There Marta Renzi and Dancers spent several summers in residency and became an “ambassador” company representing the festival in the community at large. He toured extensively in the US and Europe participating in the notable Festival d’ Avignon. Stathas’ early choreographic work was presented at the American Dance Festival and was selected for the choreographic showcase at Dance Theatre Workshop, currently NYLA.

After much thought and consideration Mr Stathas made the decision to expand his professional work to accept an academic scholarship to attend the University of Massachusetts-Lowell to study physical therapy graduating summa cum laude. Staying in the Boston area he began employment at Children’s Hospital, working in the Adolescent Dance and Sports Medicine with Dr Lyle Micheli, then the attending physician to the Boston Ballet with Mr Stathas as the physical therapist. During this time he was able to choreograph several pieces for the Boston Dance Project. A collective of Gerri Houlihan, Susan Rose, Marcus Shulkind, Peter DiMuro, and Bill Doolin, among others.

Mr. Stathas left the east coast, returning to his home state of Wisconsin. In 1992 he founded Freedom Physical/Occupational Services along with Freedom Pilates creating a multidisciplinary model that included both traditional and non-traditional models of musculoskeletal therapies. He served as a consultant to the Milwaukee Ballet and was a team member at the Titleist Performance Institute, Oceanside California, working with both professional and amateur golfers. Mr Stathas was nominated for Wisconsin Physical Therapist of the Year and mentioned for his dedication to his clients.

In 2016 he returned to what he was most passionate about, DANCE, creating “Leaving and Coming Back”, at Next Act Theater, Milwaukee Wisconsin, his first new work in 30 years and presented with collaborator Danspace at St Mark’s Church in 2019. 2018 brought a selection to Doug Varone’s Devices Choreographic workshop. There he reconnected to the NYC dance community and was introduced to a number of the current dancers he collaborates with.

Since that time his work has been presented at the Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, Danspace St Mark’s Church, Mark Morris Dance Center, City Center NY, and CitiGroup Theater at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Hartford Dance Festival, Visceral Dance Chicago.He, along with present company, and collaborator/filmmaker Sean Kafer, have created The Barn Project. An annual residency and dance incubator for performance and creation of new works. He has brought new collaborations to the Midwest with Concert Dance Chicago, Loyola University, Dance Works Milwaukee, and in the southwest with Eastside Performing Arts Center, Austin Texas.

 

This season the company is very excited to be performing and collaborating with the folks at Triskelion Arts, Brooklyn NY with the premiere of “From Where We Ascend/Wake” along with three older works Lightness, Kathedra and Assuage.

 

 

ABOUT PETER STATHAS DANCE

The mission of Peter Stathas Dance (PSD) is to provide a forum for dance artists to harness creative artistic expression at the highest level through performance, collaboration, and education. PSD’s vision is to create dance that reflects the human experience and engages with diverse communities.

PSD advocates for dance as a fundamental medium for community building, collaboration, and individual well-being. PSD is committed to ensuring the sustainability and equity of dance as a professional career for performing artists and collaborators.

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