DOUG VARONE
AND DANCERS
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Artistic Director
Doug Varone
The Company
Courtney Barth Brad Beakes Jake Bone
Joniece “JoJo” Boykins Marc Anthony Gutierrez
Daeyana Moss Thryn Saxon Ryan Yamauchi
Lighting Designer
Derek Van Heel
Costume Designer
Caitlin Taylor
Production Manager
Tricia Toliver
General Manager
Patty Bryan
Doug Varone and Dancers’ programs are supported in part by Jody and John Arnhold, The Bulova Gale Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Doris Duke Performing Artist Awards, Dubose and Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Gladys Kreible Delmas Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Howard Gilman Foundation, the New York Community Trust, O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation, SHS Foundation, Vapnek Family Fund and Shubert Foundation, as well as public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. We also gratefully acknowledge our many individual supporters.
TO MY ARMS / RESTORE
(2024)
To My Arms
Choreography by Doug Varone
Music by George Frideric Handel, Suite of arias and duets from the operas Atalanta, Orlando, Giulio Cesare, Samson, Serse, Agrippina, Scipione, Alexander Balus, Semele and Teseo
Lighting Design by Derek Van Heel
Costume Design by Caitlin Taylor
1. Courtney Barth and Ryan Yamauchi
2. Joniece “JoJo” Boykins, Daeyana Moss and Thryn Saxon
3. Brad Beakes and Jake Bone
4. Courtney Barth
5. Joniece “JoJo” Boykins and Daeyana Moss
6. Jake Bone
7. Thryn Saxon with Marc Anthony Gutierrez
8. Full Company
9. Brad Beakes
10. Courtney Barth and Ryan Yamauchi
11. Full Company
-INTERMISSION-
Restore
Choreography by Doug Varone
Music Arranged by Festival Voices and Nico Bentley, Handel Remixed
Lighting Design by Derek Van Heel
Costume Design by Caitlin Taylor
Courtney Barth Brad Beakes Jake Bone
Marc Anthony Gutierrez Joniece “JoJo” Boykins
Daeyana Moss Thryn Saxon Ryan Yamauchi
To My Arms/Restore was created in residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Hunter College, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Purchase College, Marbletown MultiArts Center, and The Wheelhouse. The work was commissioned with major individual funding support from Lida Orzeck, Jody and John Arnhold Foundation, Vapnek Family Fund, Joseph Smith and Gavin Berger. The dance received its first performance on March 16, 2024 at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, Purchase NY.
This engagement is supported by The Audience Building Project, a program of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor and New York State Legislature.
Each creative process is a tremendously collaborative event with the dancers, embracing all of our imaginations, instincts, and artistry. My thanks and love to them for being such great, caring allies in the creation of the many dances that fall from my brain.
-Doug Varone
DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS
The 2023/24 season marks the Company's 38th year. On the concert stage, in opera, theater, and on the screen, Varone's kinetically thrilling dances make essential connections and mine the complexity of the human spirit.
On tour, the company has performed in more than 125 cities in 45 states across the U.S. and in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. Stages include The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, San Francisco Performances, London's Queen Elizabeth Hall, Toronto's Harbourfront, Moscow's Stanislavsky Theater, Buenos Aires’ Teatro San Martin, the Venice Biennale, Marble Hall in Tokyo, and the Bates, Jacob's Pillow and American Dance Festivals. In opera and theater, the company regularly collaborates on the many Varone-directed or choreographed productions that have been produced around the country.
Doug Varone and Dancers are among the most sought-after ambassadors and educators in the field. The company was selected to tour as part of the DanceMotionUSA(SM) program, a joint project between BAM and the US Department of State, touring, performing and teaching in Argentina, Paraguay and Peru for a month. This project culminated in the premiere of a new commissioned work for Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival, in collaboration with the Argentina-based Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance. Other BAM produced seasons include Dense Terrain (2007) and the 30th Anniversary Season (2016) and In the Shelter of the Fold/Epilogue (2019). For the past 20 years, the company’s annual summer intensive workshops at leading universities attracts students and professionals from around the globe. The DEVICES Program, a mentoring initiative for emerging choreographers began its pilot year in 2014. This unique program mentors 10 artists over the course of several months in the creation and presentation of new works. Other educational initiatives include Virtual Varone, a program which creates virtual residencies around the globe and the Education/Performance Project which enfolds college dance students into the company’s repertory, directly sharing the stage with company dancers. The Project has been a cornerstone in the company’s teaching and mentorship programs, creating an important dialogue with young dancers about their artistry and the affect they can have in the world today.
Varone, his dancers, and designers have been honored with 11 Bessie Awards. The Company’s creative output is as varied as Varone’s interests. Recent projects include: everything is fine, a full evening movement play based on the poems of Billy Collins, with a new score by David Van Tieghem; The Scrapbook, a digital journal of 10 films created and directed by Varone, set to iconic songs from the 1940s-50’s and Somewhere, Varone’s acclaimed non-narrative version of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. To learn more about the Company, visit dovadance.org.
Doug Varone (Artistic Director) Award-winning choreographer and director Doug Varone works in dance, theater, opera, film, and fashion. His New York City-based Doug Varone and Dancers has been commissioned and presented to critical acclaim by leading international venues for over three decades.
In the concert dance world, Varone has created a body of works globally. Commissions include Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance Company, The Limón Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Rambert Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Batsheva Dance Company, Bern Ballet, among others. In addition, his dances have been staged on more than 100 college and university programs around the country.
In opera, Doug Varone is in demand as both a director and choreographer. Among his productions at The Metropolitan Opera are Richard Strauss’ Salome, the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s An American Tragedy, Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, designed by David Hockney, and Hector Berloiz’s Les Troyens. He has staged multiple premieres and new productions for Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Washington Opera, New York City Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera, among others. His numerous theater credits include choreography for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theaters across the country. Recent projects include directing and choreographing MasterVoices production of Dido and Aeneas at NY’s City Center, starring Tony Award winners Kelli O’Hara and Victoria Clark, staging Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning oratorio, Anthracite Fields for the Westminster Choir and the Bang on a Can All-Stars and choreographing the revival of Kurt Weill’s musical Lady in the Dark at City Center.
Varone received his BFA from Purchase College where he was awarded the President’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Numerous honors and awards include a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, two individual Bessie Awards, an Obie Award, a Doris Duke Artist Award, the Jerome Robbins Fellowship at the Bogliasco Institute in Italy, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Dance Guild.
Courtney Barth (she/they) is a New York-based dancer originally from Las Vegas, NV. They are a graduate of SUNY Purchase where they studied abroad at London Contemporary Dance School. While abroad she performed Crystal Pite’s ‘Polaris’ at Sadlers Wells. Since graduation, she has worked with Shannon Gillen at NYC Fashion Week, Kensaku Shinohara at the Queens Museum and is currently a company member with Hannah Garner’s 2nd Best Dance Company. Courtney joined Doug Varone and dancers in 2017. She also acts as Costume Manager and Workshop Coordinator for the company.
Brad Beakes is a New York City-based dance artist originally from Glendora, California and a graduate of California State University, Fullerton. In his performance career, Beakes has been honored to dance with the Limón Dance Company (2016-2017), Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company (2011-2016), Nikolais Dance Theatre (2011-2018), and Keith Johnson/Dancers among other collaborators. Beakes has had the pleasure of teaching with the New York City Department of Education, Gibney, Limón Institute, Dance International Program of Japan, Manhattanville College, and SUNY Purchase College. Brad has been a performer, teacher, and administrator with Doug Varone and Dancers since 2017.
Jake Bone, originally from Dallas, Texas, earned a BFA in Dance with honors at the University of North Texas where he performed works by Bebe Miller, Nick Cave, Kihyoung Choi, and Anna Sokolow. Since moving to New York City, he has been a company member for Bare Dance Company, Gibney Dance Company, and Awakening Movement. He has also had the pleasure of working with the Median Movement, the Metropolitan Opera, Bulareyaung Pagarlava, Kensaku Shinohara, and Steeledance. Jake joined Doug Varone and Dancers in 2015 and serves as the Company Manager and Tour Manager.
Joniece “JoJo” Boykins is an African American native of Inglewood, California. She received her BFA in dance from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase College. During her time at Purchase, she performed the works of Doug Varone, Peter Chu, Kevin Wynn, Jonathan Reidel, Alexandra Beller, and Nejla Yatkin. Alongside her studies, she has attended professional programs such as Springboard Danse Montreal, Hubbard Street, Alvin Ailey, and Ron K. Brown/ Evidence’s summer workshop. She has performed in works by Donald McKayle, Rennie Harris, Christopher Huggins, Tommie Waheed, Lula Washington, and Tamica Washington-Miller. JoJo joined Doug Varone and Dancers in 2021.
Marc Anthony Gutierrez is originally from the Bay Area, where he began his dance training with DACPAC under the direction of Cheryl Copeland and Dominique Lomuljo. He received his BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance (2022) as a scholarship recipient. He has attended intensives at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Alonzo King Lines, and Springboard Danse Montreal. Over the years, he has had the privilege of performing works by Sidra Bell, Andrea Miller, and Kyle Abraham. During his senior year he began working with Gallim and assisted Miller on a new commission for A.I.M (2023). He began working with Doug Varone and Dancers in 2023.
Daeyana Moss, a Bronx native, attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she received the Father Fame award in 2017. She then continued her education at Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase graduating in 2021. Ms. Moss has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Janis Brenner, Joseph Hernandez, Annie Rigney, José Limón, Lajamartin, Anna Sokolow, and Doug Varone. She recently performed in Armenia with Gaspard & Dancers. Ms. Moss performed in Sleep No More Halloween and New Years Eve in 2023 at the McKittrick Hotel under the creative direction of Stephanie Batten Bland and Marla Phelan. She joined Doug Varone and Dancers in 2021.
Thryn Saxon is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in NYC. Thryn has performed with Sleep No More, Kate Weare Company, and is currently working with Helen Simoneau Danse. Her work under the moniker SAXYN Dance Works has been performed at The Perez Art Museum, Windhover Performing Arts Center, Arts on Site, Gelsey Kirkland Theater, and 92Y where her solo “lorelei” was selected for the Future Dance Festival 2022. Most recently Thryn was selected as the RADicle 22/23 AIR at The Croft in Michigan. Thryn joined Doug Varone and Dancers in 2022.
Ryan Yamauchi was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and began his dance training at the Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts. He later moved to New York and received his BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase. Ryan has had the pleasure of dancing with 2nd Best Dance Company, Loni Landon Dance Projects, NVA & Guests, and Sidra Bell Dance New York. He has also performed as a guest dancer with Gibney Dance Company, Santa Fe Opera, and Santa Barbara Dance Theater. Ryan began working with Doug Varone and Dancers in 2015.
Tricia Toliver (Lighting Director, Production Stage Manager) was the resident Lighting Designer/Production Manager for the Barnard College Dance Department from 2009-2022, designing lighting for new works by many noted choreographers. She has had the pleasure of working primarily in the dance world for such companies as the Trisha Brown Dance Company, Lucinda Childs, Lar Lubovitch, The Limon Dance Company, Doug Varone and Dancers, Donald Byrd/The Group, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Susan Marshall, David Dorfman Dance, Camille A. Brown Dance Company, Parsons Dance and Complexions. She danced with Donald Byrd/The Group from 1987-1991.
Caitlin Taylor (Costume Designer) is a freelance dancer and costume designer based in New York City. She has designed costumes for Sidra Bell Dance New York, UNA Projects, Cirio Collective, HIVEWILD, The Dash Ensemble, Loni Landon Dance Projects, Kayla Farrish, Brandon Coleman, The Limón Dance Company, New York City Ballet, and NVA & Guests. Caitlin has done costume reconstruction for Alexander Whitley Dance Company, the touring production of RENT, and Doug Varone and Dancers. Assisting designer Mark Eric, She has worked on commissions for Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and Ballet X, among others.
Derek Van Heel (Lighting Designer) designs have been seen in venues large and small; from Jazz At Lincoln Center, The Town Hall, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, to the kinds of basements, bars, churches, and teeny-tiny rooms where New York theater is often forged. He is especially drawn to new works, and has contributed to dozens of premieres and workshop productions. Notable collaborations include New York City Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Madison Opera, The Montana Repertory Theatre, Finger Lakes Opera, Syracuse Opera, Red Fern Theatre Company, Palm Beach Opera, Actor’s Studio Drama School, Scandinavian American Theatre, Origin Theatre, and The Civilians. His award-winning designs for Ren Gyo Soh’s Butoh Medea have been seen internationally in Italy, Turkey, Poland, Czechia, and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Festival Voices (Score Arrangement) Formed in 2017 by creative producer Oskar McCarthy and conductor Gregory Batsleer, Festival Voices' mission is simple: to create transformative choral experiences. Festival Voices believes in the power of choral music to change lives. At Festival Voices’ core is a professional vocal ensemble dedicated to advancing and redefining the choral tradition, with a particular focus on presenting large-scale choral works reimagined live with electronic music. Festival Voices has curated performances for various UK summer festivals, including Wilderness and Latitude. The group has appeared twice at the London Handel Festival and created multi-art performances at Ugly Duck and Southbank Centre. In summer 2024, Festival Voices will partner with Bold Tendencies, London, for the launch of their summer season, in a programme that will include FV’s new version of Mozart’s Requiem. https://www.festivalvoices.com/ | @festivalvoices
Nico Bentley (Composer) Nico Bentley is a composer, producer and DJ from London. He takes a deep interest in all forms of music, but especially jazz, classical, African and electronic music, holding a BA and MA in the first two respectively from Leeds Conservatoire. Nico is a key regular collaborator with Festival Voices and the musical director and producer of the live African dance music collective Afriquoi, fusing traditional African music with western electronic music. Nico has performed as a session musician live on tours around the world; credits include Seal, Shift K3y, Secaina Hudson and Idris Elba/Wretch 32. Studio credits include James Morrison and Billie Martin. Nico has extensive experience of producing music for advertising and TV, including for Schwarpzkopf Live, McArthur Glenn, Tesco and Adidas/Stella McCartney. He was also a producer for The Beating Heart project, including producing an LP release for Faith Musa, released on Decca in 2019.
Patty Bryan (General Manager) has been involved with dance companies and dance organizations throughout her professional career. She has held senior administrative positions with Rena Shagan Associates, Armitage Gone! Dance, DanceBrazil, Gina Gibney Dance, Shen Wei Dance Arts and the New York State Dance Force. She has served as Board Chair of Pentacle Dance/Works, President of the Nancy Meehan Dance Company Board, President of the Laban/Bartinieff Institute for Movement Studies Board and was co-founder and Board President of Dance Umbrella in Austin, TX. She also performed with the Nancy Meehan Dance Company. She has been with DOVA since 2019.
DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS is incorporated as DOVA, Inc., a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization founded in 1995. Contributions to the Company's work are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
Please make your gift payable to:
DOVA, Inc.
224 W. 35th St, Suite 500 #591 New York, NY 10001 USA
Website: dovadance.org
Instagram and Facebook: @dovadance
Email: info@dovadance.org
Board of Directors, DOVA, Inc.
Carol Walker, President
Richard J. Caples
Guillermo Izabal
Naomi Grabel
Miranda Kozak
Jeanne Murphy
Barbara Parker
Gabrielle Presser
Mylene Ramos Seidl
Doug Varone
Advisory Board
Julia Glawe
Lawrence Greene
Lynn Wichern
DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS
Artistic Director: Doug Varone
General Manager: Patty Bryan
Development: Fran Kirmser
Financial Officer: Lynn Wichern
Production Manager: Tricia Toliver
Rehearsal Director: Ryan Yamauchi
Company Manager: Jake Bone
Education Manager: Brad Beakes
Tour Manager: Jake Bone
Costume Manager: Courtney Barth
Workshop Coordinators: Courtney Barth, Ryan Yamauchi
Licensing and Staging: Brad Beakes
Social Media Coordinators: Joniece “JoJo” Boykins, Daeyana Moss
This presentation of Doug Varone and Dancers is presented with the collaborative administrative support of Performing Arts Strategies. For touring/performance information: info@performingartsstrategies.com
MUSIC CREDITS
The State of New York maintains contracts with ASCAP and BMI for performances of licensed works.
This permission was granted:
The Handel Dixit Dominus performed by the Bavarian Radio Chorus, Concerto Koln, Dijkstra, recorded on the BR Klassik label, is used by permission of Naxos USA.
Handel: Renee Fleming; the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by Henry Bicket
Enemies in Love / Arias & Duets by Handel (Natalia Kawalek; Jacub Jozef Orlinski, vocalists)
Handel Remixed was commissioned and premiered by Festival Voices.
Cast and program are subject to change.