Randy James' 10 Hairy Legs Dance Company Makes World Debut Today

Randy James' new dance company, 10 Hairy Legs, will have its World Debut at The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College today, November 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm. Originally scheduled for November 3, 2012, it was postponed due to Hurricane Sandy.

10 Hairy Legs is a repertory company of Randy James' work as well as existing and new works by today's most significant modern dance choreographers, not meant to reflect a specific point of view about the male experience, but rather to celebrate and exploit the tremendous technical and emotional range of today's male dancer. 10 Hairy Legs will advance the understanding of the male role in modern dance through the creation, acquisition and performance of exceptional work from the contemporary canon.

The program for the World Debut features James' Pillar of Salt, David Parker's duet "Bang," a solo by Claire Porter entitled "Interview," and a world premiere by Manuel Vignoulle, formerly a member of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and GenEva Ballet.

The founding Principal dancers are Alex Biegelson, Tyner Dumortier, Kyle Marshall, Scott Schneider and Nick Sciscione. All recent graduates, their technical and artistic expertise raised the level of dance at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, during their tenure. They are currently actively employed as performers and educators in the field, working with Stephen Petronio, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, LustigDanceTheatre, Nimbus Dance Works and ZviDance, among others. All currently reside in New Jersey. They are joined by Cyle Jackson and Carlo Antonio Villaneuva, currently seniors completing their Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees in Dance.

10 Hairy Legs, while new in its current form, grows from James' experience as the five founding men's principal teacher, coach and mentor during their four years as dance majors at Mason Gross School of the Arts. During those four years an intimate working relationship evolved that served to create cohesion among the artists while providing James with the palette to produce several new and important works that will form the nucleus of the company's initial repertory. While the company is "new," it hits the ground running with seasoned dancers who have a complete understanding of its vision led by James who has 30+ years of active experience in the field as a choreographer, teacher, educator, and outspoken arts leader in the state and beyond.