Six Degrees of Instigation

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March 23, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT PERSON: Ali Duffy (abduffy@uncg.edu or 336 334-4849) Six Degrees of Instigation An Evening of Dance Works by Ali Duffy April 3rd and 4th, 2009 at 8pm in the UNCG Dance Theater 1408 Walker Ave. Greensboro, NC 27412 Ali Duffy will present six dances in concert as the pinnacle of a three year Master of Fine Arts degree in Choreography. The concert will be presented in the UNCG Dance Theater on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 8pm. Tickets are $12 general admission, $9 for children and seniors, and $6 for students. For tickets and information, please call the UNCG Box Office at (336) 334-4849 or order online at boxoffice.uncg.edu. Five new works created by Ali Duffy will be presented along with one work restaged in collaboration with the performers. "Guerilla Cage" gapes unapologetically at the stark violence and injustice of guerilla warfare. Set to cellist Zoe Keating's chilling score, the work is a tragedy of rapidly shifting alliances and abandoned loyalties. Unspeakable horrors are told through bold, aggressive movement, and moveable fencing panels act as both prison and barricade throughout the piece. "Guerilla Cage" has been selected to appear at the 2009 NC Dances Festival in May. A loose autobiographical sketch of the choreographer's sister, "Caitlin" is a quintet that captures innocence and internal struggle. Arvo Part's heartbreaking violin score highlights the silence between notes as the dance focuses on the stillness between movements. "'not that I care anymore' (the 3rd degree)" features two UNCG graduate students, Melissa Pihos and Tricia Zweier, embattled in a bitterly passive-aggressive relationship. Adapted sound from Hollis Frampton's 1971 film "Critical Mass" heightens the redundant, roundabout argument between the two, while lighting serves to trap them in their oppressive world. First premiered in 2007, and most recently selected to appear at the 2009 American College Dance Festival, "Agresiva, Maliciosa" explores the ever-present phenomenon of female bullying and dominance among young American women today. Four dancers battle for position in an elite clique with a movement style that fuses contemporary and tango elements. "Quitting Betty," a quintet featuring UNCG theatre student Luke Legrand, was created with the support of a summer research grant from the UNCG Graduate School that allowed Duffy to study and develop a feminist creative process. Soloist Rachel Kempson portrays the modern woman who struggles either to conform with or reject the notion of the ideal woman. Projected film, poetry, and movement combine to make both genuine and ironic statements. In "Image Schema," randomly selected audience members provide the dancers with instruction cards to direct them in how to present the dance on that particular evening. At first based on dreams experienced in the dancers' own lives, the large group work is now an improvisational experiment transporting audience members to strange worlds and encouraging the acceptance of fresh perspectives. Originally from Virginia, Ali Duffy currently lives in Greensboro where she is working toward a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from UNC Greensboro. She has performed internationally for Stiletto Entertainment and Holland America Line and for several contemporary choreographers, and has shown her work in NY, CA, NC, and most recently at the 2009 American College Dance Festival at Hollins University. Additionally, Ali is a freelance dance writer for World Dance Reviews, Dance Spirit Magazine and Ballet Dance Magazine, and teaches contemporary and ballet technique at UNCG. Ali has selected an opportunity at Texas Tech University and will join the faculty there in the fall as an Assistant Professor of Dance.