One of the hottest tickets in American contemporary dance, the Parsons Dance Company, will leap onto the stage at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m.

The Elm City Ensemble will provide live music for the performance which includes: "Images" (which premiered in June), "Bachiana," both choreographed by David Parsons, artistic director, and, "Caught," his signature piece. Robert Battle has also choreographed three pieces for the program, including: "Mood Indigo," and "Family Portrait" (both of which premiered in June), and "Strange Humors."

The remarkable, worldwide success of the company is attributable not only to the strength, precision and passion of the dancers, but especially to its innovative choreography. It is at the same time witty and inventive with an uncanny ability to capture the imagination, to touch the spirit and, above all, to entertain.

Founded by David Parsons in 1987, the Parsons Dance Company maintains a repertory of 40 works, ten with commissioned scores, and has given almost 1,000 electrifying performances worldwide. They have appeared at several locales New York City including: City Center, the Joyce Theater, Lincoln's Center's "Serious Fun!," Central Park Summerstage, the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Dance Theatre Workshop, on five different continents, and have toured extensively throughout the United States.

The company has performed at the Spoleto Festivals in Italy, Charleston and Melbourne (the only company to perform at all three Spoleto Festivals in a single year), and has appeared at Jacob's Pillow for six consecutive seasons. It has been featured on the PBS television series "Behind the Scenes," which was also broadcast on the Bravo and A&E television networks and the New Jersey Channel. Danmarks Radio filmed the company for a television program that was broadcast throughout Europe and featured on South American television.

Tickets for the Parsons Dance Company are $38, $33 and $28, with discounts available for seniors, students and groups of 20 or more. A post-show "Art-to-Heart" question and answer session follows the performance. For information or tickets, call (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.

Posted On: 09-20-2000 09:09 AM

Volume: 33 Number: 52