The Hamilton College Performing Arts continues its Contemporary Voices and Visions series with a performance the Limón Dance Company on Friday, Nov. 8, at 8 p.m. in Wellin Hall on the Hamilton College campus. This performance is a project of the Mohawk Valley Dance Partnership, which includes the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Hamilton College and the Central New York Community Arts Council Arts in Education Institute.
Over the last three decades, the Limón Dance Company has pioneered the creation of a unique repertory that gives our audience an overview of some of the best and most important choreography, new and old, in the dance world. The outstanding classic works of creator/founder José Limón and other master artists complement the exciting new creations that we commission each year. These works extend the Limón legacy, contributing to a veritable treasure house of dance works. Now in its 55th year, the Company is the living legacy of the movement technique and philosophy of theater developed by José Limón and his mentors, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. Their innovative works have been recognized as great masterworks of American dance. Since Limón's death, the Company has produced over 50 works by more than 30 choreographers.
The Hamilton performance will feature pieces The Moor's Pavane, Psalm, If Winter, and a new work titled Phantasy Quintet. First performed in 1949 and choreographed by José Limón, The Moor's Pavane, is set in the form of a pavane and other dances of the high Renaissance. Psalm, with music by Jon Magnussen and original choreography by José Limón, was originally premiered in 1967 and remounted by Maxwell for a premiere last February at the Winter Olympics Arts Festival in Utah. In his choreographic notes, Limón wrote these words regarding Psalm, "The choreographic treatment as I envision it would be an evocation of the heroic power of the human spirit, triumphant over death itself. The objective is to achieve dramatic power through abstract choreographic visions." If Winter, choreographed by Billy Siegenfeld(2001), is set to jazz music and was created as part of the Limón and Jazz series. Hamilton College will also be the site of the preview performance of Phantasy Quintet, choreographed by Adam Houglan and set to the music of Ralph Vaughn Williams.
This performance is a project of the Mohawk Valley Dance Partnership and is made possible by the New York State DanceForce which receives major sponsorship from the New York State Council on the Arts and Philip Morris Companies, Inc. Additional support is provided by The Chase Manhattan Foundation. Administered by Dance Theater Workshop and Danspace Project, DanceForce programs include artist residencies, community outreach activities and dance programming that link artists and communities across New York State. This tour is also funded by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, with lead funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
Tickets for this performance are $15 adult, $10 seniors, and $5 students. All seats are general admission. Tickets are available from the Hamilton College box office at 859-4331, the Munson-Williams-Proctor box office at 797-0055 or the Stanley Performing Arts Center at 724-4000.
