Dance Theatre In Concert
The Roger Williams University Dance Theater will be presented at the University’s Performing Arts Center December 7 to 10.
Dance students will perform works by guest artists Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie and Christina Robson, and by RWU dance faculty members Michael Bolger, Cathy Nicoli, Gary Shore, and Kathy Gordon Smith. Pieces by dance majors Emilee Olivari, Erin Saunders, and Layne Willis will also be performed.
Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, a 2016 Bessie Award Winner for Innovative Achievement in Dance, is a New York City based B-girl, dancer and choreographer. As artistic director of Ephrat Asherie Dance (EAD) she has presented work at the Apollo Theater, FiraTarrega, Jacob’s Pillow, New York Live Arts, Summerstage, and the Yard, among others. Ephrat has received numerous awards to support her work including, a Mondo Cane! commission from Dixon Place, a Creative Development Residency from Jacob's Pillow, Workspace and Extended Life Residencies from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, a Travel and Study Grant from the Jerome Foundation and two residencies through the CUNY Dance Initiative. Her first evening length work, A Single Ride, received two Bessie nominations in 2012 for Outstanding Emerging Choreographer and Outstanding Sound Design by Marty Beller. Most recently Ephrat received a National Dance Project award to support the development and touring of her newest work, Odeon, set to premiere in the summer of 2018. Ephrat is a regular guest artist with Dorrance Dance and has worked and collaborated with Doug Elkins, Rennie Harris, Bill Irwin, David Parsons, Gus Solomons Jr and Buddha Stretch, among others. She earned her BA from Barnard College, Columbia University in Italian and her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she researched the vernacular jazz dance roots of contemporary street and club dances.
Christina Robson originally from Tewksbury, Massachusetts, received her early dance training from Tammy Ivers Aspell and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Roger Williams University in 2009 under the direction of mentor Kelli Wicke Davis. Since relocating to New York City, she has had the opportunity to perform with The Sean Curran Company, David Dorfman Dance, Monica Bill Barnes and Company, Alexandra Beller, Heidi Henderson, Third Rail Projects, and Deganit Shemy. Christina became a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in 2015. She is on faculty at a Gibney Dance Center in New York City.
Performances of the Dance Theater will be held on Thursday, December 7, Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, December 10 at 2 p.m. The RWU Performing Arts Center is located on the University’s Bristol Campus at One Old Ferry Road. Tickets cost $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Seating is limited. To purchase tickets online, visit rwudtfall.brownpapertickets.com.
For media inquiries, contact Associate Professor of Dance and Performance Studies Cathy Nicoli at (401) 254-3623.