WHOMorrisonDance, 4201 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44113. 216-281-9558

WHAT:  Cleveland Public Theater presents DanceWorks 04, featuring the MorrisonDance world premiere of Human Behavior 101, a concert featuring a collection of new works and interludes inspired by behavioral psychology, neuroscience, and popular theories of human behavior.

WHEN: Friday, March 19, 2004 at 8:00pm

                                    Saturday, March 20, 2004 at 8:00pm

                                    Sunday, March 21, 2004 at 3:00pm

WHERE:                     Cleveland Public Theater’s UPSTAIRS THEATRE

                                    6415 Detroit Avenue (on the corner of W. 65th)

                                    Cleveland, OH 44102

DETAILS:                  Tickets are $18 regular/$15 students and seniors

                      For advance purchase, call the Cleveland Public Theatre Box office at 216-631-2727

OF SPECIAL INTEREST:      

 

About MorrisonDance:

The mission of MorrisonDance is to inspire and cultivate public awareness of the art of dance through performances and cross-disciplinary collaborations.  To provide, promote, and participate in educational and outreach programs that increase the awareness of dance and that encourage community cultural and artistic endeavors; to research and develop integrated and cross-disciplinary teaching and presentation methods for dance; and to create opportunities for artists and performers of various media, augmenting the accessibility of dance as a performing art.

SARAH R. MORRISON, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (Cleveland) has been training in dance for over two decades, performing and teaching professionally since 1990.  She came to Cleveland upon receiving a scholarship for her choreography from Case Western Reserve University, where she received her BA degrees in theater arts and psychology, with a minor in Biology, and her MA in Psychology.  Morrison’s choreography has been performed in Ohio, Georgia, New York, Italy, and Mexico; and has been supported by the Puffin Foundation, CWRU, and community individuals and corporations.  Her most critically acclaimed productions have been LEAPING INTO THE NET! (1997), the world's first modern dance concert to be simultaneously broadcast on the Internet; and ERIE SIRENS (1998 & 1999), a site-specific collaboration inspired by the sand-sculptures of visual artist Scott Radke (now her husband, and father of tonight’s special “belly” guest).  Morrison has had the privilege of working with many of the dance companies that represent our city’s creative vibrancy, including the Repertory Project (KNA Verb Ballets), Antaeus Dance, SAFMOD, and Bill Wade of In.LET Dance Theater (currently performing in Gordon Square).  She has additionally worked with Lee Harper and Dancers (GA), has performed work by internationally acclaimed choreographer David Dorfman (NY), and was invited to “play” with PILOBOLUS (CT) in their creation of OranguTango.  Morrison has taught dance on the faculty of CWRU and the University of Akron, and has been a guest artist and teacher at universities, schools and studios regionally and internationally.  In addition to dancing, Morrison has spent 10 years assisting Dr. Grover C. Gilmore, Dean of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, in behavioral research funded by the National Institute of Health and the Alzheimer’s Association, and has published research in the field of Perception. 

 

 

KELLY POSTIY YAGER, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (Cleveland) received her BFA degrees in dance performance and recreational therapy from Kent State University (1998).  Since that time, she has been educating children and adults throughout Northeast Ohio.  Yager has taught dance in the Cleveland Municipal School District through Young Audiences, to children and adults with unique needs through Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels, and to adults and children of all levels through MorrisonDance’s education and outreach programs.  Yager has additionally been an artist on staff at the Beck Center for the Arts for their outreach and early childhood education programs, and from 2000-2001, she served as Outreach Coordinator for the Repertory Project (KNA Verb Ballets).  While returning to school to complete her dance education licensure, Yager was a substitute teacher for the Cleveland Municipal School District.  She has recently completed her student teaching and is in the last stage of the licensure process to become an officially recognized dance educator in the state of Ohio.  In addition to her educational experience, Yager has choreographed for MorrisonDance, for convergence-continuum, and for the Beck Center’s Musical Theatre summer camp.  Yager has additionally performed with Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels, Joan Meggitt of Antaeus Dance, Young Audiences, and the Kent Dance Ensemble.

ARTOUR BAJANOV (Lakewood) was born and trained as a dancer in Russia. He received Diploma in Dance  & Choreography from Ufa College of Choreography and Ballet, Ufa, Russia in 1996.  Before coming to USA, he toured internationally as solo dancer with the Bashkirian State Ballet and Bolshoi Theatre, performing in classical ballets “Swan Lake”, “Don Quixote”, “Sleeping Beauty” and others. Bajanov arrived to US in late 1997 when touring the Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet Theatre. Since then, he has performed with Arlington Ballet of Texas, Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels, and has been teaching dance, giving Master classes around Ohio and local dance schools, in addition to working with MorrisonDance.  This July, Bajanov will hold the grand opening of his own studio, the Ballet Academy In North Olmsted.

HEATHER BAUR (Lakewood)has been working with MorrisonDance since her return from New York City where she danced with Vissie Dance Theatre and assisted in dance instruction at St. Joseph's, an inner city all-girls high school. In addition to her dance experience, she is certified in Cardio Kick-boxing, has extensive training in Butoh, and is currently studying to obtain her Dance Licensure.  Baur is a mobile teacher at Euclid High School, has taught dance at the Beck Center for the Arts, and has produced her own choreography in “Tribulations”.

Additional Performers and Artists of MorrisonDance, con’t.

SCOTT RADKE (Cleveland) is an artist who works in various mediums. His work has been shown throughout Cleveland and in New York City, and has been collected internationally. Radke’s sand-sculptures have been featured in various publications, including Sunde un Seele (published in Germany), and he additionally works in painting, drawing, and mask making. Recently his creative attention has been devoted to the creation of his unique marionette puppets. Radke first collaborated with Morrison for Erie Sirens, and he continues to provide unique visual contributions. To view artwork by Scott Radke, please visit www.scottradke.com.

MAREE REMALIA (Olmstead Falls) recently returned to Ohio after living and working in San Francisco.  She received her BA degrees in Cultural Studies and Education for Social Change from Prescott College (AZ).  While in Arizona, she was the Integrated Arts Assistant at the Skyview Charter School, where she taught creative movement to K-7.  ReMalia has performed classics such as the “Nutcracker”, “Swan Lake”, “Coppelia” and “Dracula” with the Richmond Ballet (VA) and Southern Ballet Theatre, and contemporary dance works in Prescott College community performances (AZ) and with the Lizz Roman workshop (San Francisco, CA).

Special Guest Artists included in HUMAN BEHAVIOR 101

AMANDA EXLEY LOWER (Atlanta, GA) is the Artistic Director of Duende Dance Theater, an Atlanta-based modern dance and theater company.  A graduate of Duke University and an MFA recipient from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she has traveled over the world to study dance, including Ghana and Iceland. Her choreography has been presented in venues including the New York International Fringe Festival, Harvard University, The Julliard School, and throughout Atlanta.  She has taught dance at Emory University, Piedmont College, and Brenau University and at Atlanta’s Fly By Theatre.

TRAD BURNS (Cleveland) has designed for theatre, dance, amusement parks, architectural, and retail lighting.  Credits include designs for Cincinnati Ballet, New York Theatre Workshop (NYC), La Mama ETC (NYC), HERE (NYC), Classic Stage Company (NYC), The Public Theatre (NYC), Cleveland Public Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Cedar Point, ValleyFair, Knott's Berry Farm, Kings Island, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Japan, Disney Sea, Disney Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Universal Studios Florida & Japan, Woodstock Ice Productions, and The Family of Charles M. Schulz.

Community Volunteers and Performers participating in HUMAN BEHAVIOR 101:

Erin Baughman (Lakewood) is an English major at Notre Dame College of Ohio.  She has studied ballet on and off since she was a toddler, and this is her first show in five years.

Tim Baur (Richmond Hts.) owns Century 21 Leo Baur, Realtors, and has been in the Real Estate business for over 33 years.  He was a varsity wrestler in high school, and runs a wrestling program for 5 - 11 year olds.  He is thrilled to be sharing the stage with his daughter!

Russell Brown (Cleveland) is an Arts Administration Major at Baldwin-Wallace College, and administrative assistant at Music and Performing arts at Trinity Cathedral. He has performed as an oboist and pianist, and is a candidate for the Jaques-Dalkroze Eurythmics Teaching License.

Jessie Cooper (Berea) is a fifth grader at Fairwood Elementry School. This is her second time dancing with a professional dance company, and she is glad to be dancing again.

April Georgins (Olmstead Falls) received her BA degrees in creative writing and botany from Miami University and is currently working with City Year Cleveland.  While she has extensive experience in tap dancing, this is her first time participating in a contemporary dance concert.

Vanessa Iosue (Euclid) is a fourth grader at Lincoln Elementary, and has experience is in ballet, jazz, and tap. She has performed with Euclid High School drill team at Case Western Reserve University.

Jennifer Leinweber (Euclid) has performed and choreographed for numerous theatres in Northeast Ohio, and for Eastern Dance Theatre/Space Force Dance Company in Kentucky. She is excited about performing with MorrisonDance and is thankful for the opportunity.

Marissa Nesbit (Cleveland Hts.) holds an MFA in Dance from Texas Woman's University, and has additionally studied dance at the American Dance Festival, Pittsburgh's Dance Alloy, and Seattle's Velocity Dance Center. She has performed and presented choreography in Texas and California.  Nesbit relocated to Cleveland to work as Outreach Coordinator for VERB Ballets.

Kathleen McDonnell (Cleveland) is the Director of the Conflict Mediation Program at Euclid High School. She has enjoyed dancing as a hobby and is pleased to join this dance performance in her community.

Cat Smith (North Canton) has a B.F.A in Modern Dance and Choreography from Ohio University. She is the creative movement and drama teacher at the Canton Country Day School and a freelance choreographer. Cat would like to thank her family for being so supportive of her first step back into performing and MorrisonDance for the opportunity!

Kalindi Stockton  (Cleveland) studies dance throughout the community and teaches Sixth grade in Streetsboro.  She has performed with Lakeland Community College’s dance ensemble for the past 2 years.  In addition to participating in Human Behavior 101, Stockton will be performing with SAFMOD in next weekend’s DanceWorks production.

Spencer White (Lakewood) has been studying dance throughout the Cleveland.  He has performed with CWRU’s Mather Dance Collective, The Beck Center for the Arts, and has appeared on stage with the American Ballet Theater.

Haley Wightman (Avon Lake) is a college student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and is currently doing a year of national service with City Year Cleveland. As a child she studied Highland Dance and is enjoying her return to the world of dance very much.

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