Company | E Debuts NEXT: ISRAEL Bringing Dance and Diplomacy to the U.S.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Company ǀ E, a new contemporary dance company, with a forward-thinking vision of cultural diplomacy and dance, makes its U.S. debut on February 25th at Sidney Harman Hall with NEXT: ISRAEL. The versatile company, recently returned from an extraordinary fall season in China, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, serves to bring the world's finest choreographers together with exceptional dancers from across the world, and is being hailed internationally for its originality. NEXT: ISRAEL marks the first phase of a multi-year partnership between Company ǀ E and the Washington Performing Arts Society, foreign embassies, and the Shakespeare Theatre Company to host international artists at home in Washington, DC, and to present Company ǀ E in concert across the globe. In addition, the collaboration makes it possible for the partners to host lectures, open rehearsals, master classes, cultural exchanges and collaborations. Projects may be long or short term, lasting for a semester or an entire year of study if the collaboration includes a university or other educational organization. The result is a diplomatic effort that breaks through barriers of nationality to a common appreciation of the human experience. The project showcases the singular talents of a particular nation and its contribution to the arts. NEXT: SPAIN will be staged in the 2012-13 season. NEXT: BRAZIL, KOREA and SWITZERLAND will follow. "Washington Performing Arts Society is excited about being a part of this new project; working with our friends in the embassy community, Shakespeare Theatre Company and Company ǀ E to bring the world's cutting edge choreographers to Washington audiences," says WPAS President and CEO Neale Perl.

NEXT: ISRAEL shines the spotlight on the work of five exceptional talents: Ohad Naharin, Sharon Eyal, Yossi Berg & Oded Graf and Andrea Miller. Ohad Naharin, the director of the Batsheva Dance Company and originator of the "Gaga" dance movement shares Ignore and Black Milk, two of the most physically demanding and deeply spiritual of this dance legend's work. This will be the first Washington presentation of Naharin's work since 2004.

Sharon Eyal, house choreographer for Batsheva Dance Company, brings Killer Pig to the stage again after an exciting U.S. debut last year at Chicago's Hubbard Street Dance. Killer Pig was originally created for the national dance company of Norway and will be re-imagined by Company ǀ E in a 20-minute powerhouse performance. 

The talented team of Yossi Berg and Oded Graf re-stage Most of the Day I'm Out, as a male-female duet for the first time. The work won first prize at the International Competition for Choreographers in Hanover, Germany, and received the Israel Ministry of Culture Award. The work is marked by a build-up of tension between the performers that leads to original, surprising movement and humor.

Andrea Miller, artistic director of Gallim Dance of New York, and former dancer/choreographer for Batsheva Dance Company presents Dust, a sensuous and nuanced performance for two men.

"Blending tradition with the cutting-edge, Israeli artists are internationally renowned for their innovative and deeply human approach to the arts," says Sarit Arbell, director of cultural affairs at the Embassy of Israel. "The Embassy of Israel is excited to co-sponsor this evening of dance demonstrating the creativity, passion, color, vibrancy and life of Israel."

Company ǀ E debuts NEXT: ISRAEL on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m. at Sidney Harman Hall, Washington, DC. Tickets are: $18, $23 and $75 for VIPs and are available at: www.wpas.org or (202) 547-1122. For more information, visit www.companye.org.

SOURCE Company | E