The much-anticipated Pilobolus Dance Theatre returns to the Community Concert Hall Jan. 17

 

The Pilobolus Dance Theatre, the award-winning troupe that answers the question “What can be done with the human form?” returns to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, 7 p.m.

Described as “Grace meets physical agility to create movement that is as lyrical as it is astonishing,” by The Sunday Oregonian, Pilobolus is celebrating 40 years of making dance audiences smile. This modern dance ensemble is celebrated for its innovative choreography, eye-popping theatrics, and movement so visually striking that it is “closer to sculpture than dance.”

Launched in a Dartmouth College dance class in 1971, Pilobolus’ collaborative choreographic process and unique weight-sharing approach to partnering gives the company a non-traditional but powerful set of skills with which to create “dance.” The troupe maintains a repertory of more than 100 works, some of which have found their way into the repertoires of other major dance companies including the Joffrey and Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet.

For Durango, Pilobolus will feature a mixed program including some of their most popular dances. Scheduled (though subject to change) are Particle Zoo (1990), a quartet for men with an odd-man-out theme; The Transformation (2009), a shadow piece in which a young woman is transformed; Duet (1992), a classic, rarely performed duet that has not been shown in almost a decade, featuring two women’s intense attraction and affection that turns into a struggle for power and domination; Seraph (2010), which explores the relationship between human and machine in a pastoral fable involving a girl and two flying robots; and Rushes (2007), a full-company work featuring a mix of movement languages in a remarkable exploration of the range and intensity of deep collaboration.

Always evolving, pushing the limits of the discipline, Pilobolus teamed up with OK Go and director and choreographer Trish Sie to produce its first music video “All is Not Lost,” which was recently nominated for a Grammy in the Best Short Form Music Video category. The awards will be presented Feb. 12, 2012.

“All is Not Lost” is an interactive online dance and music experience that showcases the latest in modern browser technology, allowing users the ability to direct segments of the choreography to incorporate a unique message in English, Japanese or any language using the Roman or Katakana alphabets. Spread across twelve separate windows, “All is Not Lost” is a kaleidoscope of movement, music and living letters. The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur-y7oOto14.

The unusual name “Pilobolus” has its origin in the natural world as “Pilobolus” (crystallinus) is a phototropic zygomycete – a sun-loving fungus that grows in barnyards and pastures. When ripe, the Pilobolus propels its spores with incredible force throughout its environs – purportedly with acceleration from zero to 45 mph. Pilobolus makes its mark and statement in the dance world with the same strength and force as its namesake.

Of Pilobolus Dance Insider wrote, “Your beliefs in the nature of strength, endurance and gravity will not hold. In fact, they will be defied. And every time you think, ‘Whoa, how the hell did they do that?’ they will take it further.”

A non-profit organization based in Washington Depot, Conn., Pilobolus Dance Theatre is supported on tour by the MetLife Foundation.

Tickets for Pilobolus – $27/$43/$49 – are available on-line at www.durangoconcerts.com or by calling 970.247.7657, or at the Ticket Office in Downtown Durango at 7th St. and Main Ave. All sales final.

Showtime is 7 p.m., with doors to the Concert Hall and concessions, serving beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, opening at 6 p.m.

The Community Concert Hall is a not-for-profit, multi-use performance venue located on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Its ability to bring a diverse spectrum of shows to Southwest Colorado is made possible through a partnership with the college, a state-supported, independent institution of higher education, as well as through financial and in-kind contributions from generous members of the community.