Concerts, guest residencies fill UW Dance Program fall calendar

If you’re looking for the exhilaration and excitement of live dance, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Dance Program will present a broad range of modern, cross-cultural and multimedia performances throughout the fall semester showcasing guest artists, Dance Program faculty, staff and students.

Highlights include performances by Jin-Wen Yu Dance, Li Chiao-Ping Dance and the following guest artists: American postmodernist choreographer and dancer Simone Forti, in residence Oct. 5-11; Indian scholar, dancer and choreographer Parul Shah, in residence Oct. 20-25; and New York-based dance duo Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig, who will teach modern technique and dance repertory classes for the fall semester. “Dancing – Live at Five,” a free concert, will be performed at Lathrop Hall on Sept. 20 as part of the university’s Arts Night Out activities on campus.

A summary of Dance Program fall concerts follows.

“Dancing – Live at Five”
Saturday, Sept. 20, 5 p.m.
Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave.
Free and open to the public.
In conjunction with Arts Night Out on campus, the Dance Program presents a special hour-long performance featuring modern, Chinese, Korean and African dance performed by Dance Program faculty, staff and students. A talk-back with the choreographers and dancers will immediately follow the performance.

“50 Chairs,” Jin-Wen Yu Dance
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 11, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Madison Civic Center Spotlight Room. Tickets: $15 & $12. For tickets and information, (608) 266-9055, 262-1640 or www.jin-wenyudance.org
An experimental, interactive dance concert featuring multimedia installation, dance video, dance film, movement improvisation, site-specific performance and movement with texts will be performed by Jin-Wen Yu Dance as part of Madison’s annual Dance Improvisation Festival Oct. 7-14.

Indian Dance Concert with Parul Shah
Friday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m.
Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave. For tickets and information: (608) 262-1691.
A troupe of Indian dancers and musicians join Parul Shah on stage for a night of Indian classical dance along with Indian folk dance and music.

Student Concert
Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 6-8, 8 p.m.
Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave.
Tickets: $10 and $8 except on Thursday when students are admitted for $5.
Dance Program students showcase original choreography including a variety of multi-media, solo and group works.

“The Bach Project,” Li Chiao-Ping Dance
Thursday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m.
Wisconsin Union Theater. Tickets: $16 and $13. For tickets and information: (608) 262- 2201 or www.lichiaopingdance.org
“The Bach Project,” performed by Li Chiao-Ping Dance, features two premieres – two unique takes on the cello suites (Nos. 1 and 5) by avant-garde electronic musician and media artist Stephen Vitiello, and breathtaking vocalist and accordionist Amy Denio.

Faculty Concert
Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 20-22, 8 p.m.
Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space, Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Ave. Tickets: $12 and $8. For tickets and information: (608) 262-1691.
New and recent works by guest artists Sara Pearson, Patrick Widrig and Dance Program distinguished faculty and staff including Li Chiao-Ping, Jin-Wen Yu, Marlene Skog and others will be featured.

Dance Program events and guest artist residencies are largely supported by the UW–Madison School of Education and the Anonymous Fund. For more information about Dance Program concerts, classes and other activities, call 262-1691 or go to: www.education.wisc.edu/dance.