HUDSON – On Tuesday, July 27, Kyle Marshall Choreography returns to the area at “Dance By the River.” As part of a three-night event, sponsored by the NYS DanceForce, Operation Unite NY, City of Hudson, Spark of Hudson and the Hudson Sloop Club, Marshall will perform at 7 p.m. at the Hudson Riverfront Park.
Marshall is a choreographer, performer, and artistic director of Kyle Marshall Choreography (KMC), a dance company “that sees the dancing body as a container of history, an igniter of social reform and a site of celebration,” according to a press release. KMC has performed at venues including BAM Next Wave Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Actors Fund Arts Center, NJPAC, NBPAC, Little Island, Philadelphia’s Fringe Arts Festival, the New World Center, and Roulette.
The three-night event began at the Hudson Riverfront Park on June 29 with artists Rashuan Mitchell and Silas Riener. This second night on July 27 with KMC will include the Ujima Community Collective Drum Class with percussionists John Ward at 5:30 p.m. and a live performance by the Heard Jazz Band at 8 p.m.
The third waterfront night will feature A-Y/dancers and Lex Grey Band. A-Y/dancers is a repertory dance company based in the Hudson Valley presenting professional modern and contemporary dance. Directed by Claire Deane, they create dance programs that span the history of concert dance and provide audiences with experiences of classical modern dance, acclaimed contemporary dance and groundbreaking emerging choreography. A-Y/dancers will begin reconstructing Jose Limon’s masterwork “Dances for Isadora” for their next season of performances including “Dance By the River” on August 24.
The fourth concert will be held at The Garage in Chatham and is part of the “Dance By the River Extension” on the evening of September 10. This is a double-bill dance concert with have two sections. The first section is inspired by John Cage, Merce Cunningham and Robert Rauschenberg. The music, composed by Jeffrey Lependorf, will be performed by the NewBorn Trio and feature Jonah Bokaer Choreography. The second section will feature Ghanaian and jazz percussionists Zorkie Nelson of Ghana and community dancers. Zorkie Nelson is a master percussionist from Ga tribal people of Accra in Ghana. Nelson is a founding member of the Pan African Orchestra which toured the US, Canada, France, and the UK for 10 years. Zorkie is the artistic director of West African Drummers and Dancers. He is a member of Yacup Addy’s “Oddada!” and has toured with Wynton Marselis performing “Congo Square” which drew historical connections between African traditions and modern-day jazz/soul music. Zorkie will present three public dance workshops in August resulting in a community performance at The Garage/Dance by the River Extension.
“Dance By the River” is meant to present excellence in dance in one of nature’s most natural and beautiful element, the Riverfront Park of Hudson. Families can enjoy performances with an the back drop of boats, a flowing river, and other park activities. Community partners are City of Hudson, and new partners Adam Weinert, Sam Merritt, George Spencer, and Thomas Bo.
For information call 518 828-3612 or email . For information on collective dance projects across NYS, go to www.danceforce.org. All performances are free to the public.
