After reviewing 120 videos and proposals, Carley Conder and a panel of adjudicators from CONDER/dance were able to narrow the field down to 32 artists, choreographers and filmmakers who will be presented at the eighth annual Breaking Ground 2015 Festival March 20-21 at Tempe Center for the Arts. This contemporary dance and film festival brings in artists from across the country and beyond to perform their bold and evocative interpretations of exhilarating dance and movement.
Included again this year is a guest artist from Tel Aviv, Nadar Rosano, a dancer and independent choreographer.
“I was fascinated with Nadar’s work,” says Carley, who founded her company in 2003 and launched the festival in 2007. “He has a different aesthetic than many Americans. His work is very striking; every movement is thoughtful and meaningful; there is nothing extraneous.” For example, Carley noticed a side-to-side movement in his dance performances that she hadn’t seen before. “Nadar explained that shifting weight from side to side is a natural metaphor for those who deal with the Israeli-Palestinian struggle on a daily basis.”
Nadar Rosano is a highly celebrated figure in Israeli arts. His work has been presented in Spain, Lithuania, Cyprus, Israel, Korea, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Holland, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and Switzerland. He was awarded second prize in the 21st International Dance Competition for Choreography in Hanover, Germany, as well as second prize at the International Dance Competition in Dusseldorf, Germany. In 2010-11 he received special grants from the Danish Art Foundation “Ballet Master Albert Gaubier’s” for support and development of his work.
As an educator he is presently teaching “release technique” workshops and contemporary dance in many of the countries where he performs. The release technique emphasizes the flow of movement and spatial awareness, thereby expanding physical abilities and strengthening the dancer’s body. His appearance at the Breaking Ground Festival is made possible in part by a grant from the Consulate General of Israel, LA office. Additional festival funding comes from the City of Tempe, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction, and Target Arts Grant.
While in town, Nadar will also present master classes, and Carley has commissioned him to choreograph a solo performance for her to perform at a later date. Carley is thrilled to be able to include a wide variety of styles in the festival and to showcase cultural influences in the thought and movement of dance. She will be presenting her own new piece, “Enter,” which is inspired by the need to explore changes in human interactions in this digital age. It will feature Arizona company dancers Jordan Daniels, Danielle Feinberg, Shelby Keefe, Stephanie Lebidies and Kassidy Rogers.
Many of the artists will be in residency at McClintock High School in Tempe on March 19. Master classes are being offered to the public on both March 20 and 21 for $10 per class. For more information on the Breaking Ground Festival, go to conderdance.com.
The Tempe Center for the Arts is located at 700 W Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. Main stage performances are at 8 pm.
Tickets for Breaking Ground 2015 are $20 in advance/$25 at the door and are on sale now at tca.ticketforce.com.
