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November Dances

Faculty and students will perform dance traditions from around the world this weekend

 

The Duke University Dance Program annual November Dances, will feature a vibrant program of African, Ballet, classical Indian and modern dance Saturday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m in the Reynolds Theater, Bryan Center.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $5 for students, and are available for advance purchase at the Duke Box Office by calling 684-4444, through the web at http://tickets.duke.edu or at the door prior to the performance. With the purchase of an adult ticket, one child or young adult aged 16 or under will be admitted free of charge.

The program will feature two visiting artists who worked with student performers this semester. Sujata Mohapatra, a world renowned specialist in the classical Indian dance form of Odissi, will stage a traditional Pallavi choreographed by the late "Padmavibhushan" Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Amanda K. Miller's Pretty Ugly Dance Company, based in Freiburg, Germany, will present a new work using Bach's fugues as rhythmical and lyrical initiative..

Duke's own faculty have choreographed new dances for the program. Andrea E. Woods is creating a new group work to the music of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Ava LaVonne Vinesett will present the Kakilambe masquerade. Honored as protector against negative energies, when pleased, Kakilambe ensures a peaceful and bountiful life for respecting the customs of communal living.

Two dance majors are also creating new works for the program. Danika Manso-Brown (T'12) has choreographed and dances in a solo work, "Letters to Haiti," a piece acknowledging the struggle and strength of the Haitian people after the January 2010 earthquake. Monica Hogan (T'12) explores the emotional and behavioral dynamics of women in society.

The Sujata Mohapatra residency is made possible in part by a Visiting Artist Grant from the Council for the Arts, Office of the Provost; Dance Program; Department of Religion and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Program at Duke University.