The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Annual 5X5 Festival showcases dancers
WEST HARTFORD — The 5X5 Dance Festival brings together choreographers, performers, educators and students to learn and perform. Artists, students and audiences share their experience, talent and inspiration through master classes, workshops, discussions and performance. The 16th Annual 5X5 Dance Festival will be held in the University of Saint Joseph’s Bruyette Athenaeum in West Hartford, on Saturday with the main showcase performance at 7:30 p.m.
The 5X5 Dance Festival was named for its focus on five professional and five collegiate ensembles. Created in 2003 as a response to a need expressed by greater Hartford dancers for opportunities to perform more sustained works — as opposed to the brief “marathon” performances typical of dance festivals — the 5X5 Dance Festival provides performance opportunities for works from company repertoires, works in progress, or works prepared exclusively for this showcase. In its 16th year, the Festival continues to celebrate the many forms and types of dance, cultural and ethnic diversity in dance, dance that pushes traditional definitions and approaches, and dance that is inclusive in opportunities for artists and audiences.
This year’s 5X5 Dance Festival will feature the talents of University of Saint Joseph, Eastern Connecticut State University, Legible Bodies, Naugatuck Valley Community College, ATTAK Dance Company, Central Connecticut State University, Ballet Hartford, Immix Dance Company, Dimensional Dance, The End Ensemble and Haley Zdebski and dancers.
Site-specific performers include Sonia Plumb Dance Company, River Valley Dance Project, Mark Burns and Erica Nelson, Moxie Dance Company
“The 5x5 Dance Festival has become a tradition for Connecticut Contemporary dance inspiring the next generation of dancers with Connecticut’s abundantly gifted dance artists,” says 5x5 Founder and Artistic Director, Susan Murphy.
Long-time participant and master teacher Lorelei Chang, Artistic Director dancEnlight Dance Company says, “5x5 Dance Festival provides a wonderful opportunity for local choreographers, dancers and community to showcase their work and share their experiences and passion for dance. dancEnlight has the privilege to participate in such a wonderful program since 2010, and it’s been truly rewarding for our dancers and myself. Most importantly, the festival brings us all together—professional companies and college students sharing experience and the stage together.”
This year’s festival has multiple performance opportunities including four sight specific dance pieces open to anyone in the community and a dance showcases that require the purchase of tickets. The 5X5 Dance Festival weekend also includes master classes, free forums and a mentoring program in which professional companies guide collegiate ensembles.
Free events include the 5X5 Festival’s dance film series, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. Films and artist talks which will include panel discussion with the films’ creators. Exhibits prepared by participating companies and professional dance photography exhibitions are also featured.
The Showcase performance is $22 for Adults and $12 for Students. Master Classes are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students. A full Festival pass (includes dinner at the USJ dining hall) is $42
Tickets can be purchased at the Frances Driscoll Box Office: 860231-5555 or online at tickets.usj.edu.