Society for the Performing Arts Opens the 2012-2013 Season in Jones Hall with Brazil’s Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker

Society for the Performing Arts will celebrate its opening night in Jones Hall on Friday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. with the Houston debut of Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker. Direct from Rio de Janeiro, the Company will perform the award-winning, full-length production titled MIX.

Deborah Colker’s choreography marries physically audacious work with high-concept design. MIX is a seven-movement work featuring Colker’s dynamic choreography and visually striking sets. Each movement of MIX is simply named – such as “Machines,” “Fashion Show” and “Passion” – yet the dancers are complex in their every move, defying gravity and performing daring feats. The final movement of the performance, “Mountaineering,” even features a stage-wide climbing wall upon which the dancers perform without harnesses!

Colker was the first Brazilian awarded London’s prestigious Lawrence Olivier Award in 2001 for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for MIX. She is also the first woman to direct for Cirque du Soleil, creating, directing and choreographing OVO in 2009. OVO made its Houston debut in 2011 and also featured a large climbing wall for its performers. In addition, Colker is a regular choreographer for Rio’s famed annual festival, Carnival.

Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker was founded in 1993. Colker, a former professional volleyball player, often uses concepts of athleticism in her choreography such as ball-play and other movements not usually associated with dance. The Company is known for creating new dance languages and original scenic elements, combining contemporary and traditional techniques and drawing on everyday themes that audiences can relate to. The company works out of a converted factory in Rio where it operates a movement center, offering courses in theater, philosophy, anatomy and dance history as well as visual arts exhibitions, readings and music recitals integrated to dance in an effort to expand students’ perspectives.

Tickets range from $35-$65 and can be purchased online at www.spahouston.org, by phone at 713-227-4772 or at the courtyard level ticket office at Jones Hall located at 615 Louisiana St. Hours of operation: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday. For groups of 15 or more call 713-632-8113.