TAMIU Hosts Free Performances, World Premieres by Dark Circles Contemporary Dance April 7

An inspiring program of contemporary dance featuring Dallas’ acclaimed Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and world premieres of two dance works will take place Saturday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU)  Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

The free performance, funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts’ Texas Touring Arts Program, is open to all.

Hailed as "Best Dance Company" by D Magazine (2015, 2016) and Dallas Observer (2016), Dark Circles has continually crafted and curated inspiring, innovative, and accessible dance works. In just five seasons, the company has commissioned and produced 24 world premieres by some of today’s top choreographers.

Following a sold-out developmental workshop at DETOUR: A Festival of New Work at WaterTower Theatre earlier this month, the program at TAMIU will open with the world premiere of Founder and Artistic Director Joshua L. Peugh’s “Yellow.” Inspired by the bright yellow leaves of the gingko trees that rain down on the streets of Seoul every fall, the work is a love letter to South Korea, a country Peugh spent six years in and considers his artistic home.

Also featured April 7 will be the world premiere of “Can't Sleep but Lightly,” a newly commissioned creation choreographed by New York City-based guest artist and winner of the Princess Grace Award for Choreography, Gabrielle Lamb. A brand-new score for the work has been commissioned from composer and Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of the Arts alumnus Brandon Carson.

Saturday’s program concludes with Peugh’s modern reimagining of the classic ballet “Les Sylphides,”  titled “Les Fairies.” With music by Frédéric Chopin performed live by pianist Alex Brombal, the work examines tenderness, and features the brilliant dancers of Dark Circles in an athletic romantic-style ballet with a twist.

The production features lighting designs by Roma Flowers (whose credits include work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Donald Bird, Doug Elkins Dance Company, Urban Bush Women, Doug Varone, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and many other distinguished dance companies and artists) and Bart McGeehon. Susan Austin provides the costume design.

For additional information, contact TAMIU assistant professor Traci Klein, event organizer, at 956.326.2625, email traci.klein@tamiu.edu., or visit offices in the CFPA  115.

University information is available online at tamiu.edu and through its social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

For more on Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, visit darkcirclescontemporarydance.com.

"Can't Sleep,"  a selection by Dark Circles Contemporary Dance Company, will be presented April 7 at TAMIU.