GW SPRING DANCE CONCERT TO SHOWCASE WORKS FROM GUEST ARTISTS AND STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHERS APR. 8-10

Background:

Stacy Palatt, a dancer and choreographer, is currently teaching dance at The George Washington University and The School Without Walls in Washington, D.C. Her performance credits include seven years as assistant director for Moving Forward Dance Company, as well as dancing or directing at the Smithsonian Institution, Dance Place, The Kennedy Center and the LaMaMa Theater in New York City, among others. Palatt has worked in many aspects of technical theater conceptualizing and designing set elements, costumes and light. She is currently the resident lighting designer for the Jack Guidone Theater. The Spring Dance Concert marks her first production at The George Washington University.

Miguel Angel Diaz and Claudia Vasquez Del Mercado are the artistic directors of Asaltodiario, a dance company originally founded in Mexico by Diaz. Politically motivated, the company performs in the streets, parks, plazas, rooftops and gymnasiums. They interact with the children on the street, with public workers, and even gangs to integrate dance, acrobatics, circus techniques, sculpture, painting and music. Their work has been performed in many countries including Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Cuba, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and the U.S. Both have received numerous scholarships and grants and currently hold choreographic scholarships at the National Institute of Dance and Arts in Mexico City.

Joseph Mills joined the Theatre and Dance faculty at GW in 1995. Previously he was a member of the Mid-America Dance Company in St. Louis before joining MOMIX Dance Theater in 1987, which toured extensively throughout the U.S., South America, Europe and Asia. He has performed his own choreography throughout Italy in addition to professional engagements with other companies. Mills maintained his working relationship with MOMIX as a guest artist through 1995. From 1990-1994 he was a soloist with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, touring and performing throughout the U.S., Japan and China. While a member of the Hawkins Company, he taught in the company school and was Hawkins' rehearsal director and choreographic assistant. Recently Mills performed as a guest artist for Dendy Dance and Theater at The Kennedy Center, along with the Smithsonian's "Seeing Jazz Move."

Kirstie Simson, originally from England, studied modern dance and ballet at the Laban Center in London. Since leaving college she has taught and performed improvisation and contact improvisation in festivals, institutions and centers throughout the world. She has been called "one of the legends of British dance and one of the greatest exponents of contact improvisation." Kirstie now lives and works in New York City.

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