BIODANCE Sold Out the Premiere of the All-New Show “Labyrinth” at Strasenburgh Planetarium
“The highly anticipated Sunday night premiere of “Labyrinth” at RMSC’s Strasenburgh Planetarium did not disappoint.”
— Rochester City News Review by Rebecca Rafferty here.
ROCHESTER, NY— Choreographer Missy Pfohl Smith, director of BIODANCE, and video artist W. Michelle Harris return to the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Strasenburgh Planetarium for an all new work, “Labyrinth,” created for the 2017 KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival. The same artistic collaboration produced the sold-out phenomenon “Anomaly,” presented at the Planetarium as part of the Rochester Fringe Festival in 2013 and 2016, called ” …a brilliantly crafted world of beauty, melody and calmness” by City News. Labyrinth is not your typical dance or music concert, nor is it your typical visit to the planetarium, it is something entirely new, imaginative and immersive.
Photo by W. Michelle Harris
Joining the expressive performers of BIODANCE, including Jeanne Schickler Compisi, Sarah Dearstyne, Sarah Johnson, Natalia Lisina, Nanako Horikawa Mandrino, Laura M. Regna, Julie Schlafer Rossette, Jean Michael Rubingu, and Missy Pfohl Smith, is W. Michelle Harris with live cinematic mix. Live music performance by Emlyn Johnson (flute), Zach Stern (saxophone(s)) and Henry Myers (cello), with advising from conductor Eric Laprade, all from Eastman School of Music, and the young vocal talent of Lyric Voices under the direction of Vince Salvadge will round out this large scale collaboration. Stanzi Vaubel, the site-specific visual and performance artist who is also an accomplished cellist, is joining the team of creatives, alongside costume designer Jennifer Rubens.
Pfohl Smith says “The Planetarium has nooks and crannies yet to be explored. The scale of this collaboration is thrilling for all of us, and this coming together of different perspectives is what makes hope possible in the maze of our world. I am astounded by the new ways in which we have been able to play in one of the most intriguing venues in Rochester.”
Photo by W. Michelle Harris
“Missy and Michelle consider the Planetarium environment with fresh eyes and ears and create work that makes the Star Theater’s unique capabilities an integral part of the artistic product,” says Steve Fentress, Planetarium Director at RMSC. “An innovative and highly professional production like this keeps Rochester’s Planetarium on the cutting edge. We are proud to be a part of this new creation for 2017.”
BIODANCE sold out four of the five performances (with only 20 seats left for the entire run) of “Labyrinth,” Sunday, September 17 through Thursday, September 21 at 6pm each day. Tickets were $12, available at http://rochesterfringe.com/tickets-and-shows/labyrinth.
Phone: (585)-201-1002
BIODANCE Social Media: facebook.com/BIODANCE1 and Twitter: @BIODANCE1
NOTE TO MEDIA: Interviews and photos are available upon request.
BIODANCE is a Rochester-based repertory dance company under the direction of Missy Pfohl Smith, who also directs the Program of Dance and Movement at University of Rochester. BIODANCE collaborates with multi-disciplinary artists, such at W. Michelle Harris, an Associate Professor in Interactive Games and Media at RIT. BIODANCE made their debut at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2017 to sold out houses, and has shared its work nationally and internationally. Visit Biodance.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo and Instagram.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit RMSC.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
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