Three-Day Program to Feature Emerging Dancers and Dance Companies with Performances Drawing Inspiration from a Diverse Range of Topics, such as Darfur and Collapse of Enron

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing an almost half-century tradition of rich arts programming, The Riverside Theatre is proudly presenting its 2009 NuDance Festival--a three-day program of innovative and cutting-edge performances by the next generation of pioneering dance artists--from Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13 at the Theatre, 91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120th & 122nd St.), Morningside Heights.

The NuDance Festival presents emerging choreographers who will show new and original choreography that is not only innovative and cutting edge, but also thrilling to watch. In her review of the 2007 NuDance Festival, Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times stated, "...the selection of choreographers for the NuDance Festival...was unusually good...The Festival...summoned memories of the theatre's history as a major presenter of dance."

Kicking off the program on December 11 and December 13 is the Choreographers in Creation workshop, an informal sharing of the works-in-progress with a participatory segment for audience members, helping them to gain a better understanding of the complexity of creating and performing dance and movement. During the workshop, audiences will be brought into the creative process of a choreographer through discussion, Q & A and a teaching session where they learn a section of movement that will be performed during the Festival. The full Festival schedule can be found at www.theriversidechurchny.org/theatre/programs.php?p=nudance.

The innovative performances that will take place during the Festival draw from a diverse range of compelling topics, including male/female role reversal (Sidra Bell Dance New York - Anthology); cycles of human life (SYREN Modern Dance - Last of the Leaves); and such contemporary issues as the war in Darfur and the collapse of Enron (Rebecca Davis Dance Company - Darfur, In Greed: The Tale of Enron).

Dance has always been an integral part of the creative offerings of The Riverside Theatre. From 1964 to 1984, the world-renowned Riverside Dance Festival had a profound impact on the direction and development of modern dance in New York City. As a major presenter of dance, The Riverside Theatre played host to countless emerging dancers and dance companies, such as Bill T. Jones, Chuck Davis, Elisa Monte, Mary Anthony, Joyce Trisler, Erik Hawkins and Sachiyo Ito, who went on to become innovators in the modern dance world.

The Riverside Theatre is committed to serving as a catalyst for cultural connections and social change. Based on the organization's belief that the arts can be a transforming power in people's lives and that, despite their differences, creativity and artistic expression are threads of commonality, the Theatre, located at the historic Riverside Church, produces work that promotes and deepens cultural and social awareness. Past presentations have included: Power of Drum: Max Roach Tribute; La Boule Blache: A Katherine Dunham Celebration; jazz masters Jon Hendricks and Clark Terry; Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and Earth (H)ours.

Tickets to the 2009 NuDance Festival are $18 general admission and $15 for seniors and students. For more information or to purchase tickets, the public can call (212) 870-6784 or visit www.theriversidetheatre.org.

SOURCE Riverside Theatre

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