AVI SCHER & DANCERS Presents Studio Showcase On 6/28, 6/29 Show Postponed

AVI SCHER & DANCERS presents a program of six pieces, including three World Premieres and two New York Premieres, in a Studio Showcase on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 3pm at New York City Center Studio 5, 130 W. 56th Street, NYC. Suggested donation of $15, payable in cash at the door. The performance on Monday, June 29, 2009 at 8pm at The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College has been postponed with a new date to be announced.

The program begins with the World Premiere of Male Portrait #1 by Larry Keigwin, danced by Avichai Scher. Upon completion of a series of female portraits, Keigwin begins a series of solo pieces exploring the male image and personality with Male Portrait #1, commissioned by Avi Scher & Dancers. Last Dance, which premiered in March 2008 in Providence, RI, is a tribute to Jenn Jansma, a former dancer with Carolina Ballet who passed away from cancer at age 21 in February 2008. The New York Premiere of Last Dance features music by Dustin O'Halloran, Yann Tiersen, and Sara McLachlan and lead dancers Alexsandra Meijer, Abi Stafford, and Christian Tworzyanski. Aquilarco (1999) was originally created for San Francisco Ballet stars Evelyn Cisneros and Stephen Legate. This is the New York premiere of the work by Val Caniparoli, danced by Racheal Prince and Avichai Scher with music by Giovanni Sollima. Our Love's Defense, a New York Premiere by Avichai Scher, danced by Melissa Hough and David Prottas, depicts an angry, passionate couple and their dependence upon one another. No Matter What explores ideas of community and unity by depicting people in various situations and moods - good and bad, scary and peaceful - showing that their commitments to each another take them through anything. This World Premiere by Avichai Scher is danced by Colby Damon, Elysia Dawn, Alexander Dutko, Ja' Malik, Victoria North, Racheal Prince, and Nancy Richer with music by Aphex Twin and Adam Lewis. The World Premiere of Mirrors by Avichai Scher deals with the perception of others and the differences between private and public behaviors, riffing on the vanities and insecurities associated with one's own reflection. Mirrors is danced by Dena Abergel, Jared Angle, Melissa Hough, Alexsandra Meijer, David Prottas, Abi Stafford, and Christian Tworzyanski to music by Elena Kats Chernin and Dustin O'Halloran. Appropriate for ages 7 and up.

On June 26, 2009, Avi Scher & Dancers will dance its first full evening of work at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inside/Out. The program includes premieres by Avichai Scher and Larry Keigwin, as well as a work by Val Caniparoli.

AVI SCHER & DANCERS was formed in August of 2008 by emerging choreographer Avichai Scher. The company's mission is to build a young audience for neo classical and contemporary ballet by presenting top quality dancers and new works in small venues. In November 2008, the company performed an excerpt from No Matter What at HATCH in NYC. In May 2009, the company brought Mystery in the Wind to the 92nd Street Y.