the 9 muses
Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 1PM
Virginia Zoo in Norfolk
3500 Granby Street (adjacent to Lafayette Park) in Norfolk, Virginia
Music & Motion Dance from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will be bringing their new dance work – the 9 muses to the Virginia Zoo on Saturday, July 11th at 1:00 pm as part of their week long tour of the Virginia area. The performance is free with admission to the zoo and will take place under the large open air tent.
For the creation of the 9 muses, each of the company’s members of this pre-professional, youth based group, were asked to create choreography, both as individuals and as a group, based on what personally inspires them.
The concept was developed as a result of this group’s history of performing at outdoor sculpture parks, public gardens, zoos and museums. The program derives it name and from a life size sculpture piece, the 9 muses, by artist Carlos Dorrien, that the group has literally danced on as part of their public performances for the past five years.
All totaled, a series of eighteen new dance pieces will be presented. According to dancer, Andrea Piovane, “muses have the potential to inspire, motivate, uplift, create solace, fill us with joy and allow us to reveal ourselves in new and undiscovered ways. What they ultimately do is allow us to create and in our case - to dance!”
In ancient Greece, the nine muses ruled over the arts and sciences and offered inspiration in those subjects. But for dancers it is a sacred space, where you can find yourself again and again. A place where one can retreat, nourish the muse and ultimately find oneself. It is a playground that has the power to transport us and help us to resuscitate our imagination. Company member Courtney Schiff adds “We are very excited to be able to bring our porgam to the zoo to share with families and to have them perhaps share in our muses and take a flight of their own imagination.”
Founded in 2000, under the artistic direction of Steven Weisz, Music & Motion is a fresh, innovative, performance-
Music & Motion's mission is to empower youth through dance, movement and the performing arts, ultimately building self-esteem and inspiring creative self-expression and community action and interaction.
Music & Motion Dance has performed throughout the United States and even internationally to a range of audiences in its short yet diverse history. With a deep commitment to group collaboration and exposing new audiences to dance and the performing arts, the company has won both critical acclaim as well as many new fans.
About Virginia Zoological Park
The Virginia Zoological Park seeks to increase understanding of the world's flora and fauna and to add to the growing body of knowledge about them; to display animals respectfully, in a way that encourages their natural behavior; to conserve animals and their habitats; and to offer opportunities for learning and enjoyment to the public. It will strive to fulfill this mission through education, conservation, research and recreation.
The mission of Virginia Zoological Society is to ensure that the Virginia Zoo thrives as a superior zoological institution, reaching its fullest potential to serve people, animals and the environment through programs that emphasize recreation, education and conservation. For more information visit http://www.virginiazoo.org/
