Valencia College receives a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to re-stage “3 Epitaphs,” a master work by iconic modern-dance choreographer Paul Taylor.
Valencia College’s annual summer dance show will take place this weekend, but the school already is looking ahead to a big performance next season — funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Orlando college has received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to restage “3 Epitaphs,” a master work by iconic moderndance choreographer Paul Taylor. The NEA money comes through the Art Works program, which supports projects that focus on the creation of art that reinforces lifelong learning and strengthens communities.
“The project is significant because it will provide an opportunity for Valencia dancers to re-create a legendary performance of technical difficulty and with historical importance,” says Suzanne Salapa, chair of Valencia College’s dance program. “For Valencia’s audience, this is an opportunity that they are unlikely to have experienced prior and one that can have a significant impact on their views of the performing arts.”
The $10,000 award will support an artist-in-residency for Francie Huber, an award-winning principal dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company for 14 years. She has taught modern dance and Taylor workshops for the past 25 years.
“3 Epitaphs” is Taylor’s oldest surviving work. It features unique costuming for the dancers and a New Orleans jazz-style score.
Taylor, 87, is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, an Emmy Award, the National Medal of Arts and the French Légion d'Honneur, among his worldwide recognition.
The “3 Epitaphs” performance will be March 22-23, 2019.
Meanwhile, this week’s summer show features high-school, college and guest dancers. It will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 13-14, at the east campus performing-arts center, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando. Tickets are $12; $10 for seniors and Valencia students, staff and alumni; $6 for children 12 and younger; go to valenciacollege.edu/arts.