Nazareth College Arts Center opens season with innovative, American contemporary dance of Thodos Dance Chicago

ROCHESTER, NY (08/27/2015)(readMedia)-- The Nazareth College Arts Center is proud to present Thodos Dance Chicago to open its 2015-2016 Season on Friday, October 2, 2015, at 8 p.m. in the Callahan Theater.

TDC's press materials describe the company as "an innovative presence in American contemporary dance." The company's performance at the Arts Center will highlight that signature voice by featuring both mixed repertory and A Light in the Dark, a story ballet based on the lives of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan that artistic director Melissa Thodos created with Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking. The piece was named one of the top 10 dances of 2013 by the Chicago Sun?Times.

Ticket holders may attend a pre-performance screening of Shine, Chris Olsen's Emmy Award-nominated documentary about the making of A Light in the Dark at 6:30 p.m., and/or a lecture with members of the company at 7 p.m. Both pre-performance events will be held in the Peace Theater (room A14), located in the lower level of the Arts Center.

Visit http://artscenter.naz.edu/newsroom/media-resources for photos. The company is available for advance phone interviews.

THODOS DANCE CHICAGO

"dance that grabs you with the first images and never lets go" ?-Chicago Tribune

"rich, theatrical work, limited only by gravity" ?-Chicago Sun?Times

"serene athleticism, every aspect of the choreography is truly satisfying" ?-The British Herald

Audiences and critics describe Thodos Dance Chicago (TDC) as "breathtakingly athletic," "powerfully beautiful," and performing "vibrant choreography." For the past 22 years, this ensemble of 12 versatile contemporary dancers has delighted audiences worldwide with their own original story ballets (A Light in the Dark, based on the life of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, as told in the classic book and play The Miracle Worker; and The White City, based on the extraordinary events of the Columbian Exposition of 1893, as told in the best?selling book Devil in the White City), as well as a diverse array of works by renowned American choreographers (Bob Fosse, Ann Reinking, Lar Lubovitch, Shapiro & Smith, Lucas Crandall, Jon Lehrer, Michael Anderson, Zachary Whittenburg, Amy Ernst, Ron De Jesús, and Gustavo Ramírez Sansano).

In addition, company members themselves create highly charged, illuminating world premieres every year for TDC's acclaimed New Dances choreography series. Select New Dances works are chosen to become part of the company's repertoire each year, while others have been performed by The Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and other companies across the U.S.

Reaching young minds through dance education is also vital to TDC's mission. Members of the ensemble teach at the elementary, high school, and university levels, and the company is in residence at The Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls, where it teaches daily classes, operates a Youth Ensemble, and hosts weeklong intensive programs geared to pre?professional and professional dancers.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MELISSA THODOS

Melissa Thodos has been described by critics as "a choreographer with a bright and lively imagination." The Chicago Sun?Times wrote: "Thodos displays a fine musicality and elegant lyricism; there is a sort of New Age mysticism about much of her work. She is a skillful and eclectic choreographer with a talent for creating a well?defined mood and interesting group patterns."

In 1992, Thodos founded Thodos Dance Chicago and has developed it into an established national and international touring company. The environment Thodos has created also serves as an incubator for its artists as choreographers and teachers.

Thodos has a long history of collaborating with a variety of artists. Teaming up with Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking, she created two critically acclaimed story ballets: The White City?-about Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893?-was named the best dance of 2011 by the Chicago Sun?Times, and A Light in the Dark?-the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan?-was named one of the top 10 dances of 2013 by the Chicago Sun?Times. Thodos has choreographed works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and for the Ravinia Festival, was commissioned by Chicago's Auditorium Theatre to choreograph an original work to a violin concerto by Pugnani, and teamed up with world-renowned architect Jeanne Gang to create Changes of Phase, an innovative, cross?medium work that transcends the realms of dance, architecture, and physics.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Thodos received early dance training at the Evanston School of Ballet. She continued her study of both classical and contemporary technique at Skidmore College in Saratoga, New York. Following graduation, she performed for eight years with the Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, in venues around the world.

Thodos and her company have been the recipients of numerous awards including a Chicago Dance Achievement Award, an award from the state of Illinois for nurturing and training dancers and choreographers in Chicago, and one of Thodos' signature works?-Reaching There?-was a semi?finalist at the Internationale Dance de Paris. Thodos was featured in Today's Chicago Woman as one of the city's 100 Women in Chicago Making a Difference, was voted one of Chicago's Top 10 Hidden Talents by the Chicago Tribune, and was one of nine finalists selected nationally for the Women of Worth Award in New York City. Thodos has also served as a panelist for numerous grant adjudications, including the City of Chicago Cultural Grants Program.

TICKETS

Single tickets to Thodos Dance Chicago are $35-$50. Discounted, subscription series tickets to the Nazareth College Arts Center 2015-2016 Season are still available; subscribers receive a discount off single ticket prices and additional benefits when purchasing tickets to three or more different shows. For single or subscription tickets call – or visit – the Box Office: 585-389-2170 or order online: artscenter.naz.edu.

The Nazareth College Arts Center Box Office is located on campus at 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14618. Regular box office hours are Monday-Friday, 11am-5pm and 11am until curtain time on performance days.

SPONSORS

The Arts Center is a non-profit institution. The Nazareth College Arts Center's 2015-2016 subscription series is sponsored by M&T Bank. The Arts Center thanks the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for their long-standing support. The Arts Center wishes to thank Drs. Dawn and Jacques Lipson for their ongoing support. The performance by Thodos Dance Chicago is sponsored by Helga and Paul Morgan.

THE NAZARETH COLLEGE ARTS CENTER

Since 1967, the Nazareth College Arts Center has served as a venue and educational resource for students, educators, artists, and audiences of all ages to create, study, and experience the visual and performing arts. The Arts Center's Subscription Series and K-12 School Performance Series provide area residents of all ages with opportunities to experience world-class dance, multi-cultural entertainment, family programming, music, theatre, and special events.

The Arts Center's Subscription Series complements the College's highly regarded academic programs in the visual and performing arts. The Departments of Art, Music, and Theatre and Dance present exceptional productions, recitals, and exhibitions, which are open to the public, while preparing students for successful careers in arts-related fields.

The Nazareth College Arts Center is the performance home of the Rochester City Ballet and world-renowned Garth Fagan Dance; and is home to the Bach Children's Chorus.

For more information, visit artscenter.naz.edu.

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