"Kiva: What Do We Hold Sacred."
Tuesday October 17, 2006 at 7:00 pm
at the University of Denver’s Davis Auditorium in Sturm Hall,
2000 E. Asbury Street, Denver on the 2nd floor.
FREE!

This performance of Kiva is sponsored by the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology and Partners in Learning, in conjunction with a photography exhibit titled: Kiikiqo Hisatsinom Ship'aap: Pueblos of the Ancestral North. The exhibit dates are September 28 - November 22, 2006.

Our newest dance, titled, "Kiva: What Do We Hold Sacred," has been created in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Mesa Verde National Park. This entertaining and educational performance explores the experience of the ancient Puebloans who inhabited the cliff dwellings found in Mesa Verde. The piece is twenty-five minutes in length, and is performed by a cast of five professional dancers and actors to an original score played live by the two composers.

In researching the dance, artistic director and choreographer Deborah Reshotko was interested in examining the factors (rituals and activities) that kept ancient Puebloan communities together, and also those factors that led to their dispersal. She then explored contemporary American communities and looked at what activities and rituals we practice in the United States that keep us together in communities, and what activities fragment us. In particular, she became interested in the role of technology over the ages, and how technology changes both our culture and our sense of how we relate to one another-in a sense changing our definitions of community.

In making the dance, choreographer Reshotko distinctly has not tried to imitate native dances or rituals. Rather, she has recreated the intensity of emotion and spirit that all cultures engage in when they perform sacred or spiritual acts. Her intention is to create a dance that anyone from any cultural background can relate to, and that is inspired by the history of the ancient Puebloans. The abstract form of modern dance is conducive to building images that all people, children and adults, can relate to, no matter what their life experience. This engaging, celebratory dance is suitable for all ages.

The dance performance that SPEAKING OF DANCE presents is followed by a talk-back between the artists and the audience. Audience members have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments about the dance, leading to a greater understanding of the art of modern dance, and the themes of "Kiva."

Dancers: Katie Brogren, Greg Gonzales, Lara Hayes-Giles, Deborah Reshotko, William Starn
Composers: Jesse Manno, Michael Stanwood
Costumes: Janetta Turner

“Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town by Leonard Bernsteintion

Friday February 9, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Littleton United Methodist Church,
5894 S. Datura Street, Littleton

This performance is part of the Littleton Symphony's concert titled: The four B's - with Dancers! Hear the music of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and watch SPEAKING OF DANCE perform to Bernstein!

For ticket information, please visit www.littletonsymphony.org

Building Community Through Dance Adult-Teen class

Thursdays, October 12, October 19, October 26, November 2 7:00- 8:30 pm at the First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette Street, Denver

This class will meet for just four sessions in the fall, so come one, come all! Dance your stories and have the opportunity to meet new people! No dance experience necessary!

FREE!

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Photo by Jim Havey, 2003

Carnival of the Animals - photo by Jim Havey