PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release Contacts:
January 14, 2004 Deborah Reshotko, Artistic Director
Esther Gross, Program Director
303-722-0902

WINTER/SPRING 2004 SEASON
Denver-based modern dance company presents DANCE PERFORMANCES

Denver, Colorado — SPEAKING OF DANCE is pleased to announce our Winter/Spring 2004 performances. SPEAKING OF DANCE will present for Denver Metro audiences an array of free and low-cost performances of choreography by Deborah Reshotko, SOD Artistic Director.

In conjunction with the Lakewood Cultural Center Family Series, SOD will perform two favorites on Saturday, January 31, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., "The Sneetches" and "Carnival of the Animals." "The Sneetches" is an enchanting dance interpretation of Dr. Seuss's timeless classic. With fantastic costumes by Wendy Joy Felker, amazing lighting and charming original music by Mark McCoin, this performance will delight children and adults of all ages. "Carnival of the Animals" is a whimsical dance set to Camille Saint-Saens’ musical score of the same title. The dance features six SOD dancers and is presented in a carnival atmosphere with a conjurer who magically and metaphorically introduces each of the fourteen dance sections. The conjurer dances through with a shining piece of silk that transforms into an aquarium; races with a "tortoise," opens an umbrella and a carnival menagerie appears. The five remaining dancers perform a myriad of roles, switching from kangaroos to elephants to delicate songbirds according to the demands of the musical score. With costumes and props by Janetta Pahel and Greg McGuan, the dance is a delight to behold. Tickets are $5-10; call 303-987-7845 or visit www.lakewood.org.
On March 20 and 21, SPEAKING OF DANCE will present "Opposing Forces: A Search for Peace." Under the direction of Deborah Reshotko, fifty performers, ages 7-75, will perform a unique and poignant dance that they have created on the title theme. The dance is accompanied by original music composed and performed by Jesse Manno and Michael Stanwood.

These performances have been created by the participants of our community program, "Building Community Through Dance," now in its sixth year in our home neighborhood, Capitol Hill. The program offers free performance-based workshops to residents of Capitol Hill and sister neighborhoods. Participants include children and youth from Swansea, Cheltenham, Moore and Del Pueblo Elementary Schools, Lake Middle School, and East High School, and individual residents from Capitol Hill and other Denver neighborhoods. The performances are free and will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, at the Temple Events Center Uptown, 1595 Pearl Street. For information, please call 303-722-0902 or visit www.speakingofdance.org.

On April 4 and 10, SPEAKING OF DANCE will perform four free concerts in honor of Earth Day on the staircase at the Art "Stairconcert: Up and Down, the Phases of the Earth."

The inspiration for the choreography is Greek goddesses of the earth. Six dancers will dance on the double staircase accompanied by musician and composer Jesse Manno, who will walk the staircase along with the dancers. The costuming is made of recycled materials. The performances will take place at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 2, and at 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. For information please call 303-722-0902 or visit www.speakingofdance.org.

Support for these concerts is provided in part by the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Denver Ballet Guild, the City and County of Denver, the Denver Foundation, and Zupkus and Angell, Attorneys.
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