One of the most revered dance companies in the world – the Martha Graham Dance Company – comes to Charlotte on Friday, Jan. 18.
The UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture is hosting the dance company for its first performance in the Queen City in more than 30 years. It will take place at 8 p.m. in the Knight Theater, Levine Center for the Arts.
The Martha Graham Dance Company, named for the groundbreaking 20th-century choreographer of modern dance, will present a program that includes “Appalachian Spring,” Graham’s most famous piece. It will feature the original set by Isamu Noguchi and a live performance of Aaron Copland’s beloved score.
Additional highlights of the performance include the premiere of a lost Graham work “Imperial Gesture,” reanimated by Kim Jones, assistant professor of dance and a former Martha Graham dancer, and “Panorama,” which will be presented by a 33-member ensemble of dancers from the University (current and alumni) and across the broad spectrum of the dance community. These dancers were chosen through professional audition and have been trained by Jones throughout the four months leading up to the January performance.
In presenting this performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company, the College of Arts + Architecture seeks to present to the community distinctive and high-profile cultural programming of exceptional quality that reflects particular expertise and research activities within the college. This presentation is rooted in the expertise and research of Jones.
The Jan. 18 performance by the Martha Graham Dance Company is supported in part by Wells Fargo Private Bank, with media partners WDAV and WFAE. The reanimation of “Imperial Gesture” is being funded through a UNC Charlotte faculty research grant.
Tickets are $35 and $45 and are available online at www.carolinatix.org. For more information, visit www.dance.uncc.edu.