Exit 12 Dance Company, a contemporary dance company founded by United States Marine Corps Sergeant Roman Baca upon his return from Iraq, will perform a live-streamed evening of military-themed repertoire on February 20, 2013 as part of the WiredArts Fest. The 7pm performance at The Secret Theater in Long Island City can be viewed online in real time at virtualarts.tv/wiredartsfest.

The program will feature the premiere of "Yarjuun," with re-created choreography by youth in Erbil and Kirkuk. Translating to mean "mountain," "Yarjuun" explores overcoming the obstacle of war.

Baca worked with the young choreographers last April when he returned to Iraq after serving in Fallujah in 2005. His fellowship with The Mission Continues, an organization that awards community service fellowships to post-9/11 veterans, led him to partner with Battery Dance Company to further explore ways to mesh his performing background with his passion for service.

His mission was ambitious: to introduce the war-torn country of Iraq to artistic healing.In effort to educate and expose Iraqis to dance, Baca led movement workshops that ultimately became the piece his professional company will premiere.

Other Exit 12 works on the program include:
"Homecoming," the company's signature piece set to real letters written to soldiers in Iraq
"Conflict(ed)," which explores the similarities and differences of our enemies
"Re-E-Volution," referencing the Arab Spring uprisings
Solos created to poems from the Warrior Writers organization

Exit 12 Dance Company was dubbed "an unusual union of dance and topicality" by the New York Times. The troupe performs works with military themes, strives to educate audiences about the realities of war, and advocates diversity and mutual understanding through cultural exchange.

Dancers for the WiredArts Fest performance include Aaron Atkins, David Claps, Adrienne de la Fuente, Meaghan Doherty, Lisa Fitzgerald, Taylor Gordon, Paige Grimard, and Chloe Slade.

WiredArts Fest is the first ever live-streamed performing arts festival, presented by VirtualArtsTV. Similar to a fringe festival but online, theaudience is global, the seating unlimited, and the audience can participate in social media interactions during the performance.

Purchase tickets at www.virtualarts.tv/wiredartsfest/calendar-and-tickets/
Tickets to view the live-stream: $2.50. Tickets to the live performance: $18.
The New Media Center at the Secret Theatre, 4 02 23rd St Long Island City, NYC

More information at www.exit12danceco.com