Australian Contemporary Dance Company Chunky Move Coming to MASS MoCA

Alisdair Macindoe and Marnie Palomares of Chunky Move in 'Connected' (photo Jeff Busby)

(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Australian contemporary dance company Chunky Move will perform its evening-length work, Connected, at MASS MoCA in North Adams on Saturday and Sunday, March 24-25, 2012, in a co-presentation by Jacob’s Pillow Dance. The appearance will mark a Berkshire farewell to company director Gideon Obarzanek, who will be succeeded as CEO and artistic director by internationally acclaimed Dutch choreographer Anouk van Dijk as of July 1, 2012.

Based in Melbourne, the company’s daring and innovative works have garnered fans around the world, with “strongly conceived and arrestingly choreographed and designed physical theatre” (The Times, U.K.). This performance will mark Chunky Move’s first Berkshire County engagement since its memorable appearance at 2007 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Connected is a collaborative dance work with choreography by Chunky Move founder Gideon Obarzanek and an integrated sculpture by California-based visual artist Reuben Margolin. The work animates the physical relationship between eleven dancers and a kinetic sculpture made of wood, recycled plastic, paper, and steel.

Alisdair Macindoe and Marnie Palomares of Chunky Move in 'Connected' (photo Jeff Busby)

Constructed in real time during the performance, the sculpture has been described by dance critic Deborah Jowitt as “the most compelling presence onstage.” The work begins with effortless movement and builds in momentum as athletic and agile dancers twist and hurtle through space to a powerful electronic score by Oren Ambarchi and Robin Fix.

Founded in 1995, Chunky Move creates diverse dance works, ranging in site specific, stage, new-media, and installation pieces. Known for producing a distinct yet unpredictable brand of genre-defying dance performance, the company redefines the possibilities of contemporary dance.

Dutch choreographer Anouk van Dijk takes the reins of Chunky Move from Gideon Obarzanek starting in July 2012

Chunky Move has performed throughout the U.K., Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including two week-long engagements at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in 2005 and 2007. Succinctly described by ARTS HUB, “Chunky Move has challenged expectations with works that have been innovative, eclectic, physical and bold… The company is Australia’s most successful contemporary dance export.”

Performances are March 24 at 8 pm and March 25 at 3 pm in the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA. Tickets range in price from  $39  to $25; $10 for children under 16; and can be attained from the MASS MoCA box office, Wednesday through Monday, 11am–5pm, or by telephoning the box office at 413.662.2111. The MASS MoCA Box Office is located at 87 Marshall Street, North Adams, Mass.

 

 

 

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