Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Mosaic Dances: Celebrating 15 Years of Mediterranean Magic



Mosaic Dances: 

Celebrating 15 Years of Mediterranean Magic


It doesn’t seem so long ago, that hot summer of 2003, when rehearsals were underway at Fazil’s for Mosaic: A Celebration of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Dance. Those three performances held in early November in Montclair, NJ as part of the 12 Miles West Theater Company’s Guest Artist Series were the genesis of what was to become Mosaic Dance Theater Company. The fifteen years since have been an exciting journey of artistic growth and discovery.  It’s time to celebrate, and we enthusiastically invite you to join us.



We have three performances to share with you some favorite pieces from MDTC’s repertory. We open on November 17 with one performance at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center (MMAC) in New York City, then we cross the Hudson for two performances on December 1 at the Doris M. Byrne Performing Arts Center at Mount St. Dominic Academy in Caldwell, NJ. We have a dynamite cast who can’t wait to delight you. Mosaic Company dancers Samara, Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, Nina Brewton, Kendra Dushac McCarthy. We welcome back guest artists Heather Panikkar, Carlos Fittante, and Allan McCormick, and welcome as new guest performers Danielle Hartman and Kaitlin Hines.



As opening night approaches, you’ll receive complete information on each of our engagements, as well as more in-depth information about the different works planned for the production.  But, for now, to whet your anticipation, here are three (the BIG three!) of the pieces in the program:


·      “Raks al-Sai’idi,” a joyous folkloric dance of Upper Egypt, and one of MDTC's signature dance works, featuring sagat (finger cymbals), assaya (cane), and balas (water jug);



“Enheduanna” an excerpt from “Fo(u)r Women,” a theatrical multi-media work celebrating the life of this first non-anonymous author of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer;

   
  “La Lettera d’Isabella,” an original scenario for the commedia dell’arte, portrayed through movement and dance to an underscore of traditional Italian folk music.



Oh! What a time we’ll have.