CHOP SHOP: BODIES OF WORK Dance Festival Returns 2/12-13

StoneDance Productions and The Theater At Meydenbauer present CHOP SHOP: BODIES OF WORK, the Eastside's only Contemporary Dance Festival. Returning for its fourth year, this unique festival is a rare opportunity to explore the truly original talents of Seattle-based and Eastside - based artists in two special performances. This is the best of the Seattle/Eastside dance community in one festival. CHOP SHOP highlights local contemporary choreography with a focus on dance work that is innovative, accessible and thought provoking. Each of these prolific choreographers has presented work to numerous critical successes throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America and the United States. Though each company/artist presented possesses their own individual voice, they are all unified in the contemporary language of dance and its power to stir the senses through the visceral moving image.

This is an event not to be missed! Last year's sold out performances established CHOP SHOP as one of the most highly anticipated dance events in the greater Seattle/Eastside area.

Also included in the festival are:

"Reading Dance": A free lecture on Sunday February 13th at 1:00. Experience a "behind the scenes" look at how contemporary dances are formed. Learn about meaning and imagery behind the choreographer's unique movement language and how the creative process is developed and refined.

Master Classes (2/12 and 2/13) by the Artistic Directors of the performing companies will be held during daytime hours of the festival in the Theater (Saturday and Sunday starting at 10:00 am.) Please call (206) 799-6004 for schedule and reservations. Classes are $18.00 each, three for $45.00 or five for $50.00.

See our promo at www.chopshopdance.org

Tickets are on sale now. Go to www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-
838-3006.

Adults: $25.00
Students and Seniors: $20.00
Discounted Tickets for groups of 10 or more.

Meydenbauer Theater is located at 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue, WA 98104

CHOP SHOP: BODIES OF WORK is funded in part by a generous grant and support from 4Culture and The City of Bellevue Arts Program and The Seattle Weekly.

StoneDance Productions is an associated program of Shunpike. Shunpike is a 501(c)(3) non-profit art service organization whose mission is to strengthen the Seattle arts community by partnering with small and mid-size arts groups to develop the business tools they need to succeed. Working in close partnership with these groups, Shunpike helps solve problems quickly and impart vital skills in finance, organizational management and arts administration.

The Performing Artists:

Spectrum Dance Theater, established in 1982, is the largest professional contemporary dance company in Washington, presenting work by Artistic Director Donald Byrd and guest artists, with a focus on Northwest choreographers. Its mission is to produce and present contemporary dance that challenges expectations and calls forth strong emotions, deep feelings and thoughtful responses. Donald Byrd became Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Theater in December 2002. From 1978 - 2002, he was Artistic Director of Donald Byrd/The Group a critically acclaimed contemporary dance company, founded in Los Angeles and later based in New York, that toured extensively, both nationally and internationally. Byrd created over 80 works for modern dance companies, for his own group, Spectrum, and the Ailey Company as well as for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco). He has choreographed for classical companies, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Aterballetto, MaggioDanza diFirenze and Oregon Ballet Theater. Spectrum Dance Theater will be presenting Longing, a work exploring the themes of desire, longing and loss.

Wade Madsen is a Seattle based choreographer and has received choreographic fellowships from the NEA, King County, and Artist Trust. Wade has also received grants from Seattle Arts and Washington State Arts commissions, along with Art Matters and Bossak/Heilbron foundation. Wade is currently teaching for the 27th year at Cornish College of the Arts, where he is Professor of Dance. Madsen's work has been commissioned by Co Motion, Spectrum, and d-9 dance companies and most recently with Seattle Dance Project. Wade Madsen and Dancers has been producing and performing in Seattle since 1979. Madsen premiered Leaving at CHOP SHOP in 2009, a tribute in response to his father's passing.

Quark Contemporary Dance Theatre is a Seattle-based modern dance company driven to create works of dance that captivate, connect emotionally and intrigue through unique and unusual choreographic structure. Artistic Director David Lorence Schleiffers draws inspiration from his experience in musical theater, historic modern dance and contemporary dance. Through this company, he continually creates theatrical pieces which tells stories through movement. It is his artistic goal to present work that is both artistically intelligent and entertaining. Quark will be presenting Once and Never Again, which toys with organized dance structures as a means of highlighting moments of complete destruction and desolation.

Michael Rioux, Artistic Director of The Sho, is your favorite artists' favorite artist. He seriously insists that since everything is so damn serious that nothing should be taken seriously. He recently got into a Facebook argument about the existence of time. Returning by popular demand, The Sho will be performing site-specific work, People Believe Themselves, in the lobby and various locations throughout The Theatre at Meydenbauer pre-show and at intermission.