Exposing the Heart
June 5 - 8 at Danspace Project’s DANCE:Access

"a welcome addition to the New York dance scene" -- New York Times

"They’re musical, brave and inclined to gamble" -- Village Voice

Artichoke Dance Company presents Exposing the Heart, an evening of revealing and sensational dances at Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church beginning June 5th. The evening is part of DANCE:Access, a self-produced series administered by Danspace Project.

The program for Exposing the Heart features two premieres and two revivals:

Thread (World Premiere). In this dance for six, gravity and force are tested, tried, amplified and challenged. It combines highly physical partnering, intricate rhythmic patterns and lush, soaring movement. Bodies are hurled, suspended, swung and lofted with the use of large elastic bands. Live music by drummer Melissa "the little drummer girl" Houston and bassist Matthew Dunne accompanies the work.

Flight Vision (World Premiere). Set on a subway, this piece depicts a young woman who day-dreams about shedding her rigid corporate identity in pursuit of a freer lifestyle. At each performance leaders in the business and financial community appear as special guests in the work which is set to Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, Allegro con grazia, movement 2.

Unsolid Ground (1995). This explosively physical duet employs risky partnering and a ten-foot stepladder. An original score by Richard Elam provides a driving tone as the dancers wrestle with each other, hanging, climbing and rebounding off of the ladder.

Bobbing for Piranhas (2001). This quintet, set to the tunes of Aerosmith, pays tribute to 1970's rock-n-roll as it juxtaposes ultra cool with stormy passion to produce a sexy yet potent work. The piece is performed in three parts, one of which is new this season.

Performers for Exposing the Heart include Lindsey Dietz-Marchant, Amy Drum, Richard Kilfoil, Cary McWilliam, Lynn Neuman, Jule Jo Ramirez, Satomi Shikata and Sarah Herndon-Sydnor. The program also features lighting by Peter Jakubowski, original music by Melissa Houston, Matthew Dunne and Richard Elam and set design by Bruce Agate.

Artichoke Dance Company was founded in 1995. Since then, they have presented seven New York seasons in venues including Ohio Theater, Cunningham Studio, and the Sol Goldman Y. They have also extensively toured the U.S. and Canada. The company is under the artistic direction of Amy Drum and Lynn Neuman.

Exposing the Heart runs June 5-8, Thursday - Sunday at 8:30pm. Danspace Project is located at St. Mark’s Church, 131 East 10th Street at 2nd Avenue (accessible from the #6 at Astor Place, the F at 2nd Ave, or the N/R at 8th St). Tickets are $15. For reservations call 212-674-8194.