Backhausdance

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8pm

This performance will include a 15-minute intermission.

Artistic Director: Jennifer Backhaus
Associate Artistic Director: Amanda Kay White
Guest Choreographers:
FLOCK: Alice Klock and Florian Lochner
Peter Chu

Dancers: Kira Bartoli, Samuel DeAngelo, Mo Goodfellow, Kaitwan Jackson, Katie Natwick, Adrien Padila, Kaitlin Regan, Chihiro Sano, Sophia Lang, Kyle Schrader, Marco Vega, Samantha Waugh
Apprentice: Anne Elise Garrison

Guest choreographers sponsored in part by:
Valerie Van de Zilver, Backhausdance Board Member

Stage Manager, Director of Production: Matthew Jackson

Choreography: FLOCK: Alice Klock and Florian Lochner 
Music: "Sapir-Whorf," "Heptapod B," "One of Twelve," "Kangaru" - Jóhann Jóhannsson

Serse, HWV 40, Act I: "Ombra mai fu" - George Frideric Handel, Renée Fleming, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Harry Bicket.

Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30 / Act Il: "Dance of the Blessed Spirits" (Arr. by Mathieu Hergzog for Cello and Strings) - Christoph Willibald Gluck, Camille Thomas, Brussels Philharmonic 

Lighting Design: Stacy Fireheart
Costume Design: Jennifer Deck
Dancers: Kira Bartoli, Samuel DeAngelo, Morgan Goodfellow, Katie Natwick, Adrien Padilla, Kaitlin Regan, Kyle Schrader, Marco Vega

“The Barest Echo explores the physical and metaphorical power of breath. There is so much beauty and possibility between an inhale and an exhale, a birth and a death. This piece takes us on a journey through it all and we hope the audience breathes with us as we go.” - Alice Klock and Florian Lochner

-PAUSE-

Premiere: Alex Theatre, Glendale, CA (2006)

Choreography: Jennifer Backhaus
Premiere: Alex Theatre, Glendale, CA
Music: Pink Martini
Lighting Design: Stacy Fireheart
Costume Design: Rhonda Earick, restaging adaptations  by Jennifer Deck
Dancers: Samuel DeAngelio, Kaitwan Jackson, Sophia Lang, Katie Natwick, Kaitlin Regan, Chihiro Sano, Kyle Schrader

-INTERMISSION-

Choreography: Amanda Kay White
Movement in collaboration with performers, Backhausdance Season 20, community dancers from Chapman University, Orange County School of the Arts, and South Coast Conservatory.
Music: "Dance Now" - Girl and Girl; "Yurikamome" - Akusmi;  "Always Running" - Corinne Sharlet;
"Save the Last Dance" - Dolly Parton (sound design by Connor Lemon) 
Lighting Design: Stacy Fireheart
Costume Design: Jennifer Deck
Dancers: Kira Bartoli, Morgan Goodfellow, Adrien Padilla, Marco Vega, Samantha Waugh

Choreography: Peter Chu
Music: Written, performed and produced by Djeff Houle
"Glimpses," written and performed by Alex Ebert
Lighting Design: Stacy Fireheart
Costume Design: Jennifer Deck
Portal Design and Fabrication: Blair Dodson
Dancers: Kira Bartoli, Samuel DeAngelo, Kaitwan Jackson, Sophia Lang, Katie Natwick, Adrien Padilla, Kaitlin Regan, Chihiro Sano, Marco Vega, Samantha Waugh

“Amidst a realm where intangible algorithms and the skillfulness of artificial intelligence entice and form our digital encounters, can we coexist with this technological sensation while daring to question its influence and allure, acknowledging its intrinsic connection to our very existence?

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the exceptional dancers of the 2023-24 Gibney Pro cohort, who have been under the remarkable guidance of Alexandra Wells. Your dedication to incubating and workshopping some movement material and imagery was genuinely inspiring. Thank you for being a part of the process!” - Peter Chu

Celebrating our 21st Season! 

Our vision: dance every day for every body!

Founder and artistic director, Jennifer Backhaus

Backhausdance’s mission is to engage and educate diverse audiences about the relevance and vitality of contemporary concert dance, both as an art multisensory art form and as an essential connection to learning, creative expression and overall well-being. Known for its lush and eclectic movement vocabulary and ensemble aesthetic, the company presents performances with original choreography and guest choreographers throughout Southern California, nationally including an engagement at New York’s renowned Joyce Theater, and internationally on a European tour. Dedicated to empowering the next generation of dancers and artists, the company hosts an annual Summer Dance Intensive program, a life-changing experience for teens, emerging, and professional dancers, where over half of the participants receive scholarships, making this powerful program accessible to the entire nationwide and international dance community. 

Backhausdance company members also serve as teaching artists, providing students in grades TK-12, adults and multigenerational audiences through a variety of workshops, residencies, performances, and master classes in cherished partnerships with schools and community-based organizations including the Orange County Department of Education, ArtsTeach program, Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Costa Mesa, and the McCallum Theatre’s Education department in Palm Desert), and the City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency. Since our inception in 2003 we have presented programs for thousands of students and educators in public and private schools across Southern California. Our newest education programs, The Dance for Kindness Project, and Dance Expressions: Creativity and Choreography are closely integrated with social-emotional learning concepts, STEAM and creative expression. Woven into the fabric and soul of Backhausdance is advocacy for inclusivity, equity and celebration of our common humanity, all perspectives and ideas. 

Jennifer Backhaus: Founder and Artistic Director
Amanda Kay White: Associate Artistic Director
Kimberly Olmos: Managing Director
Matthew Jackson: Director of Production
Nancy Warzer-Brady: Education and Community Engagement Director
Chihiro Sano: Education Coordinator and Rehearsal Manager
Samantha Waugh: Summer Intensive Coordinator, Graphic Designer and Administrative Assistant
Kira Bartoli: Marketing and Social Media Manager, Special Events Coordinator
Sophia Lang: Marketing Assistant

Michael Kerr, President
Christopher Blank
Sue Colombo
Jim Colombo
Joann Leatherby
Benny Mor
Alex Stimpson
Valerie Van de Zilver

Backhausdance gratefully acknowledges our collaboration with Irvine Barclay Theatre’s exemplary marketing team: Chris Adriance, Helena Danovich, and Jane Gillespie, the outstanding support of Lu Bauer and the entire ticketing office, and the wonderful assistance of the production and operations and administration staff. 

Backhausdance extends our deepest gratitude to the Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation for their generous support.

With sincere appreciation to the Sandi Simon Center for Dance, Department of Dance, College of Performing Arts, Chapman University, and Lawrence & Sarma Lapenieks Rosenberg and Ashlee Duree from Anaheim Ballet for their continued support and for providing state-of-the-art studio space in which our Season 21 performance was created and rehearsed. 

Rachel Cohen
Cadence Arts Network
rachel@cadencearts.com
www.cadencearts.com
310.701.9191 

Visit our website for upcoming events and information: www.backhausdance.org   

Get connected with us! @backhausdance