Dorrance Dance, Myelination

Dorrance Dance (USA)

Triple Bill

April 13 & 14, 2018, 8pm
Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street)

Speaking of Dance Pre-show Talk 7:15PM each night in the Vancouver Playhouse Upper Lobby.
Guests: Donovan Dorrance and Gregory Richardson. Host: Sas Selfjord.
Post-show Social after the performance on Friday night in the Playhouse Salon
Running time: 70 minutes.

An expansion of a piece with the same name that originally premiered at New York City Center’s 2015 Fall for Dance Festival, Myelination (2017) has been extended into a new, full-length work featuring original, live music by Donovan Dorrance and Gregory Richardson with vocalist Aaron Marcellus. The piece, in which each dancer is both an ensemble member and an improvisational soloist, challenges the performers to take risks and achieve new heights of technical and musical execution inside of the form of tap dance.

In addition, the rarely seen, Bessie-Award winning Three to One (2011), and the whimsical Jungle Blues (2012) complete this program, illustrating the great range for which this company is known.

This last show of the season promises to leave dance fans excited about what the future holds both for dance and the next season of DanceHouse.

Production Sponsors

Anndraya Luui

Consulate General of the United States of America

“I’ve seen the future of tap dancing and it looks like Michelle Dorrance. Her Dorrance Dance company… [puts] on a sensational show – one that emphasizes tap’s possibilities as a creative, artistic form, without ever sacrificing its ability to thrill and excite.” – Sarah Crompton, What’s On Stage

“There’s a irresistible collective spirit to this company, too. When they’re all performing together, the stage becomes clamorous with cross rhythms, counterpointed phrases and laughter.” – Judith Mackrell, The Guardian

“[An] effervescent, twitchy piece… [Myelination] showcases a bit of everything: from graceful, gliding swoops to one-armed balances that pull hip-hop back to tap… Throughout, Ms. Dorrance, a brilliant conductor, pushes the boundaries of tap while exposing its true nature: that it is music.” – Gia Kourlas, The New York Times

“It’s a concert for the eyes, contemporary dance for the ears.” – The Nation

Top photo: Dorrance Dance, Myelination © Matthew Murphy.