The University of Texas
Department of Theatre and Dance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Gene Bartholomew; 512.471.0632; gbartholomew@mail.utexas.edu

Amanda Flores; 512.232.5337; amflores@austin.utexas.edu

With pieces inspired by tales of American folklore, the delicate form of Greek haiku, and passionate personal experiences, The University of Texas Department of Theatre & Dance's own award-winning student dance company presents, Dance Repertory Theatre Adventures in Motion, February 20 – 22, 2009, at the B. Iden Payne Theatre.

Adventures in Motion Artistic Director and Assistant Professor in Dance, David Justin, showcases his new ballet, Br'er Wood, a departmental wide collaboration involving intensive costumes, sets, props, lighting, dancers and actors. Br'er Wood is a fantasy of story, theatre, puppetry, dance and music that employs the characters and selected tales from Joel Chandler Harris' classic “Uncle Remus" stories. Threaded together with surrealism and metaphor, this comedy takes the shape of a child's imagination, playground rules, and the forces of good and evil. Br'er Wood stars the loveable trickster, “Br'er Rabbit” and his animal friends and nemeses. Dancers portraying these animal roles will wear detailed and highly characteristic masks created by costume designer, Ariana Schwartz (The Shadow Box, Still Life with Iris) and constructed by Professor Jim Glavan's mask making class.

Also featured in Adventures in Motion:

Sextet by Artistic Director and Professor in Dance, Yacov Sharir
Greek haiku brings delicate structure and pleasant surprises to this faculty work. Focusing on form – words are absent and instead left to the viewer to conjure and savor.

Sketches by M.F.A. in Dance candidate, Charlotte Griffin
Drawing inspiration from the sounds and shapes made by pencil and paper, choreographer and composer engage in a delicate and dynamic collaboration.

Interview (2007) by Claire Porter and performed by M.F.A. in Dance candidate, Mary A. Chase
One woman's foray into an interviewing nightmare. The question is…‘is it hers or theirs?’ Interview is a part of Mary A. Chase's M.F.A. thesis Herstory. Herstory is a triptych of solo dance performances investigating three modes of autobiography including personal narrative created and performed, performed biography, and the portraiture created by writing oneself during the moment of performance. The performance of Interview is Chase's research on autobiography and portraiture.

A/Part by B.F.A. in Dance candidate, Meg Rushing
The connotation of the words “A Part” depend entirely on their placement: as one word (apart) it means separation. As two words (a part) it means a part of or a coming together. This work of poetry, music, and dance explores this simple observation with vivid insight.

Duet by M.F.A. in Dance candidate, Julie Nathanielsz
Developed through a practice unique to Nathanielsz work, this little gem plays in space and time with sounds driven by the dancers themselves.

The public is invited to join the cast and crew on February 20 for an Opening Night Reception immediately following the performance.

For more information, please visit www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad

CALENDAR LISTING:
February 20 – 22, 2009 – The UT Department of Theatre & Dance presents DANCE REPERTORY THEATRE ADVENTURES IN MOTION at the UT Performing Center's B. Iden Payne Theatre, located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building (23rd St. & San Jacinto). A map of the campus: http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/win.html. Show times are February 20 & 21 at 8:00 p.m.; February 22 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets ($20 adults, $17 UT faculty & staff, $15 student) are now on sale and may be purchased at the following authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.texasperformingarts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.