An Evening of Modern Dance, dance workshops and performances

An Evening of Modern Dance, a showcase of historic as well as contemporary modern dance, will grace the studio at Seven Star School of Performing Arts in Brewster, NY, July 28 at 7:30 p.m. This showcase includes early modern dance choreographies from Isadora Duncan, and choreographies by the performers themselves, some created just this year. The pre-performance introductory workshop is from 6:00-6:45 p.m. and led by Tareake Ramos and Bailey Reese from Gaspard & Dancers who will later perform. The 7:30 p.m. performance follows with local dance artists Marie Carstens and Erin Jennings as well as modern dancers from NYC and North Carolina: Ivanova Aguillera, Nika Antuanette, Alison Cook Beatty, Faith Kimberling, Gaspard Louis & Dancers, Heather Pannikar and Justin Wingenroth. This is the first performance in a series of three created by Jennings and Carstens under the Putnam County Dance Project grant which is sponsored by Town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition, made possible in part through Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program, with public funds provided through the NY Sate Council on the Arts with support from Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NY State Legislature. Other workshop performances include a three workshop series at Kent Public Library beginning July 17th and an workshop/ performance on October 27^th at Studio Around the Corner.

“We wanted to bring modern and folk dance to the fine art performance scene in Putnam County. There are so many wonderful dance schools for children, and music, theater, art showings for adults but few professional modern dance shows around here and we usually have to travel outside of Putnam County,” said Marie Carstens. “We are inviting people to discover the joy, freedom and vitality of modern dance either as workshop participants, audience members or audience participants at the end of the show”.

Jennings, Carstens and Kimberling created and performed several modern pieces as part of the Putnam Chorale production this past April at Starr Ridge Banquet Center in Brewster. The new choreographies were to Brahm’s Love Songs, Opus 52, Liebeslieder and Opus 65, Neue Liebeslieder. These dances will also be part of the July 28th performance.    

Tickets for An Evening of Modern Dance, July 28th can be found on Eventbrite, or reservations can be made by calling (347)742-6591.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years old or seniors.