Joyce Master Class: Complexions

THE JOYCE MASTER CLASS SERIES AT GIBNEY: COMPLEXIONS
WITH DESMOND RICHARDSON

Price: $25

Your ability to capture complex choreography will catapult your dancing to another level with the fast-paced Master Class taught by Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s founding artistic director Desmond Richardson.  Class starts with a ballet warm-up and moves into original choreographic phrases by Mr. Richardson, who will challenge your body and mind to react quickly, take risks, and improve your dance technique. CCB’s athletic style of movement will make you wanna holler . . . for more!

About Desmond Richardson

Desmond Richardson (Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director Complexions Contemporary Ballet), the first African-American principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre, received Tony Award nominations for his role in the original cast of Fosse on Broadway, as the principal character “Tony” in Twyla Tharp’s Broadway production Movin’ Out, making his Broadway singing debut in the Burt Bacharach/Hal David -Ann Reinking/ Scott Ellis Broadway production The Look Of Love, and as a standout in recent Tony Award-winning Broadway production After Midnight. In January 2016, he graced the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine. With his technical virtuosity and statuesque expressive demeanor, he has been hailed by The New York Times as among the great dancers of his time. Lara Hartley poetically described him on the Ballet Magazine website as “Moving Sculpture, a body that is art, passing through time and space with power and grace – all parts connected, never stopping but heart-stopping in beauty.”

About Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Founded in 1994 by master choreographer Dwight Rhoden and the legendary Desmond Richardson, Complexions’ foremost innovation is to remove boundaries, not reinforce them. The company blends methods, styles and cultures from across the globe, and the result is a continually evolving form of dance that reflects the movement of our world — and all its cultures — as an interrelated whole. Dwight Rhoden’s world premiere of WOKE – A Call to Action is a bold and dynamic socially conscious one act ballet that examines our humanity in conjunction with today’s political climate. This creation uses an ever-evolving plot line to examine the stories of our lives. WOKE is an intense physical narrative inspired by the enlightened awareness and challenging moral compass of today’s generation.

See Complexions Contemporary Ballet at The Joyce Theater January 21 – February 22, 2020: Artistic Directors Dwight Rhoden & Desmond Richardson offer up programming that both provoke thought and entertain. Last seasons political stunner – WOKE – described as a “ physical reaction to the daily news” will return to the stage -set to music by Logic, Kendrick Lamar, Sam Smith and others. In addition the company will present a new production of last seasons Bach 25, an athletic dynamic & celebratory Neo- Classical work. Complexions will also present a new production of INNERVISIONS -an audience favorite set to the music of Stevie Wonder as well as 2 World premieres to round out its 26th Anniversary Season. For more information visit: www.joyce.org/performances/complexions-contemporary-ballet-0

ACCESSIBILITY

Gibney 280 Broadway is accessible via elevator from the main entrance at 53A Chambers Street.

We welcome the opportunity to make this event more accessible. Please refrain from wearing scented products, so that people with chemical sensitivities can join us. Please request ASL interpreting, audio description, or open captioning 30 days before the event or submit other requests by completing our Access Requests and Inquiries Form or calling 646.837.6809 (Voice only).