Artistic Director
DAVID PARSONS
Executive Director
REBECCA JOSUE
Dancers
ZOEY ANDERSON
CROIX DIIENNO
RACHEL HARRIS
MEGAN GARCIA
TÉA PÉREZ
CHRISTIAN PARIS BLUE
NICK FEARON
LUKE ROMANZI
Understudy
ERIN HOLLAMON
Stage Manager
MICHAEL MEGLIOLA
Lighting Supervisor
CHRISTOPHER CHAMBERS
Program
SWING SHIFT
(2003)
Choreography by David Parsons
Lighting Design by Howell Binkley
Music by Kenji Bunch
Costume Design by Mia McSwain
ZOEY ANDERSON
CROIX DIIENNO
RACHEL HARRIS
MEGAN GARCIA
TÉA PÉREZ
CHRISTIAN PARIS BLUE
NICK FEARON
LUKE ROMANZI
Swing Shift was commissioned in celebration of the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial by the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana; Irvin David in honor of his wife Karin; the Kentucky Center for the Arts, the Lied Center for Performing Arts, a unit of the University of Nebraska; Altria Group, Inc., Parsons Dance’s New Works Fund 2003, and the John A. Sellon Charitable Residual Trust. The original music for Swing Shift was composed by Kenji Bunch.
HAND DANCE
(2003)
Choreography by David Parsons
Lighting by Howell Binkley
Musical arrangement by Kenji Bunch
Costume Concept by David Parsons
FI DANCERS
MR. WITHERS
(2022)
Choreography by David Parsons
Lighting by Christopher S. Chambers
Costumes by Christine Darch
Music by Bill Withers*
ZOEY ANDERSON
CROIX DIIENN
RACHEL HARRIS
MEGAN GARCIA
TÉA PÉREZ
CHRISTIAN PARIS BLUE
NICK FEARON
LUKE ROMANZI
ERIN HOLLAMON
Mr. Withers was generously commissioned by Joe Lalka and Teresa Ribadeneyra in honor of her parents, Carol and Tom Ribadeneyra; Mark and Carol Pollard; and Warner Bros. Discovery. Additional support was provided by Charlton Andrews.
*Music:
Use Me. Written by Bill Withers. Published by Interior Music Corp c/o/ Songs Of Universal, Inc.
Masters licensed by Sony Music Entertainment. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Ain’t No Surprise. Written by Bill Withers. Interior Music Corp c/o/ Songs Of Universal, Inc. Masters licensed by Sony Music Entertainment. Used by permission. All rights reserved. I Can’t Write Left Handed. Written by Bill Withers and Raymond M. Jackson. Published by Interior Music Corp c/o/ Songs Of Universal, Inc. Masters licensed by Sony Music Entertainment. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Grandma’s Hands. Written by Bill Withers. Published by Interior Music Corp c/o/ Songs Of Universal, Inc. Masters licensed by Sony Music Entertainment. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Lean On Me. Written by Bill Withers. Published by Interior Music Corp c/o/ Songs Of Universal, Inc. Masters licensed by Sony Music Entertainment. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Dialog assembly and Music editing by Frank Dickinson / 90 East Productions.
-Intermission-
THE RIDE THROUGH
(2023)
Choreography by Rena Butler
Lighting by Christopher S. Chambers
Costumes by Christine Darch
Music by Darryl J. Hoffman*
ZOEY ANDERSON
CROIX DIIENNO
RACHEL HARRIS
MEGAN GARCIA
TÉA PÉREZ
CHRISTIAN PARIS BLUE
NICK FEARON
LUKE ROMANZI
ERIN HOLLAMON
The Ride Through was commissioned by Parsons Dance as a part of its GenerationNOW Choreographic Fellowship program and was made possible by commissioning grants from The O'Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
*Music:
Music: The Output, Reverse Gnossiennes, Reversed Trauma, Ride Through, and Sip the Brew written and performed by Darryl J. Hoffman.
CAUGHT
(1982)
Choreography by David Parsons
Lighting Concept by David Parsons
Lighting Design by Howell Binkley
Music by Robert Fripp – “Let The Power Fall”
Costume Design by Judy Wirkula
ZOEY ANDERSON or CROIX DIIENNO
Caught is maintained in the active repertory of Parsons Dance through generous support from the Jim and Linda Ellis Foundation.
Please be advised that strobe lights will be used during this piece.
IN THE END
(2005)
Choreography by David Parsons
Lighting Design by Howell Binkley
Music by Dave Matthews Band
Costume Design by Mia McSwain
ZOEY ANDERSON
CROIX DIIENNO
RACHEL HARRIS
MEGAN GARCIA
TÉA PÉREZ
CHRISTIAN PARIS BLUE
NICK FEARON
LUKE ROMANZI
In the End was commissioned by The Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA. Additional support was provided by the Jim and Linda Ellis Foundation, in memory of Jim Ellis.
Theater
The Eccles Center is the largest theater in Park City, Utah with 1,269 seats. It is home to Park City Institute's Main Stage Season from October through April each year, presenting a broad range of world-class performing arts from international dance companies to Broadway icons to beloved authors/humorists to virtuosos in a host
Health and Safety
The Park City Institute and the Park City School District have taken measures to assure the health and safety of our patrons, staff, and performers. We are constantly adjusting our COVID protocols based on the recommendations of the CDC, and directives of local and state health departments. Permanent changes include updated HVAC, touch-less restroom faucets, electronic ticketing, electronic programs, enhanced cleaning, and all volunteers and staff to be fully vaccinated.
We recognize that being fully vaccinated and wearing a mask are the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus. If you don’t feel well or have a cough or a fever we ask that you remain home.
Park City Institute
Presents
Parsons Dance
PARSONS DANCE is a New York City based contemporary American dance company, internationally renowned for its energized, athletic ensemble work. Founded in 1985 by Artistic Director David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, the company has toured to more than 447 cities, 30 countries, and 5 continents and has appeared at such notable venues as The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sydney Opera House, Maison de la Danse, Teatro La Fenice, and Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro.
Parsons Dance performs works selected form the vast and varied repertory of more than 75 works created by David Parsons. The company commissions new dances from established choreographers like Trey McIntyre and Monica Bill Barnes and restages works from the American canon, including works by Robert Battle and Paul Taylor. And, through its GenerationNOW Fellowship, the company offers commissions to young American choreographers whom Parsons mentors through the creative process.
Parsons Dance is committed to providing enriching experiences beyond its performances as it seeks to engage audiences of all ages through education and outreach programs; through post-show discussions, open rehearsals, studio showcases, video workshops, open company classes, summer workshops for pre-professional dancers; and in-school workshops for public school students. The company is especially proud of its Autism-Friendly Programs initiative, launched in 2016, that features sensory-friendly workshops and relaxed performances for audiences of all abilities.
All these activities are driven by the vision of Artistic Director David Parsons, who, for 35 years, has combined his choreographic gifts and talent for training highly skilled dancers with a real passion for the art form.
The Company
DAVID PARSONS (Artistic Director/CoFounder) has enjoyed a remarkable career as a director, choreographer, performer, master teacher and producer. Raised in Kansas City, Parsons made it to New York at the age of 17 when he received a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey School. After Ailey, he became an understudy with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and then joined the company as a principal dancer. He stayed for eight years. During summers, he toured with MOMIX; he appeared with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris in the first White Oak tour; and he launched his choreographic career by setting work on the Taylor Company and on the National Ballet of Canada, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Batsheva Dance Company, and the Paris Opera Ballet.
After leaving the Taylor company, Parsons was a guest artist with New York City Ballet for four years before his artistic prowess led him to undertake such diverse projects as choreographing Aida at Arena di Verona and producing and co-choreographing María de Buenos Aires at the Skirball Center, as well as creating the choreography for Fool’s Fire, a 1992 film directed by Julie Taymor. Perhaps one of his most thrilling assignments was choreographing and directing the dance elements for Times Square 2000, the 24-hour festivities in Times Square celebrating the turn of the Millennium. Since then, Parsons has participated in many projects, such as choreographing A Knight’s Tale, a new musical theater work directed by John Caird, who previously directed the Broadway and West End productions of Les Misérables and the London National Theatre’s production of Candide. Staged at Tokyo’s iconic Imperial Theatre in summer 2018, the work featured Japanese pop stars.
In addition to the more than 75 works that he has created for Parsons Dance, Parsons has received commissions from such companies as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the American Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, the Spoleto Festival, and Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, with his most recent from the Kansas City Ballet, whose staged his work A Play For Love in May 2019.
Heralded by The New York Times as “one of the great movers of modern dance,” Parsons has received many accolades throughout his career, including three Choreography Fellowship Grants from the National Endowment of the Arts; the American Choreography Award; the Dance Magazine Award; a Howard Gilman Fellowship, and the Dance Masters of America Annual Award. In May 2018, he received the Capezio Award, one of the most prestigious awards in dance.
HOWELL BINKLEY (Resident Lighting Designer 1985-2020 / Co-founder) was the proud co-founder of Parsons Dance for which he has designed more than 70 pieces. His Broadway designs include: Ain’t Too Proud (2019 Tony nomination), Come From Away (2017 Tony nomination), Allegiance, After Midnight (2014 Tony nomination), How to Succeed... (2011 Tony nomination), West Side Story (2009 Tony nomination), Gypsy starring Patti LuPone, In The Heights (2008 Tony nomination), Avenue Q, The Full Monty, Parade, Kiss Of The Spider Woman (1993 Tony nomination). He has made extensive regional and dance works for companies such as Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and The Joffrey Ballet’s Billboards. He is a five-time Helen Hayes Award recipient and received the 1993 Sir Laurence Olivier Award and the Canadian Dora Award forKiss of The Spider Woman. Howell also received the 2006 Henry Hewes Design Award; the 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award; and the 2006 Tony Award for Jersey Boys. In addition, he won both the 2017 Tony Award and the 2018 Sir Laurence Olivier Award for the lighting design of Hamilton.
Zoey Anderson
ZOEY ANDERSON (Dancer) was born and raised right here in Utah, where she trained in contemporary, ballet, jazz and ballroom dance at Center Stage. She was the ballroom national smooth champion in 2010. Zoey graduated cum laude from Marymount Manhattan College in 2015 with a BFA in Ballet under the direction of Katie Langan. She has performed works by Dwight Rhoden, Lar Lubovitch and Aszure Barton, among others. In 2013, Zoey performed with Nikolais Louis in the Yang Liping International Dance Festival in Kunming China. Other credits include the Broadway premiere gala of On The Town, the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Dancing With The Stars webisodes, and Macy’s Passport Tour with P. Diddy. Zoey was nominated for the 2018 Outstanding Performer Bessie Award for her sustained achievement in Parsons Dance and is the recipient of the 2019 Clive Barnes Dance Artist Award. Zoey joined the company in 2015.
Deidre Rogan
DEIDRE ROGAN (Dancer) began her dance training in Fort Myers, FL at Gulfshore Ballet, under the direction of Melinda Roy and Roberto Munoz. Deidre has worked with such choreographers as Judith Jamison, Milton Myers, Matthew Rushing, Hope Boykin, Ronald K. Brown, and Cheryl Copeland. She performed as a United States Arts Ambassador for President Barack Obama during the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Hannover Messe. She is a three-time recipient of the BIG ARTS awards scholarship and a National Young Arts award scholarship. Deidre graduated with Honors from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance and was a member of Ailey II from 2014 through 2016.. She was an understudy with Parsons Dance for the 2016-17 season before joining the company in Fall 2017.
Croix DiIenno
CROIX DIIENNO (Dancer) ) was raised in Bucks County, PA where he demonstrated his devotion to the performing arts by participating in local musicals before discovering dance at age 12. His first love was for hip-hop, and then he branched out to train in ballet and the Fosse technique. Under the mentorship of Scott Jovovich, he received his BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University where he studied a range of dance styles with Rhonda Miller, Jess Hendricks, Alexandra Damiani, Donna Drake, Dominique Kelly, and Jenn Hamilton, as well as with award-winning choreographers Josh Bergasse and Mandy Moore. As a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer, he is dedicated to the study of human movement and for educating the next generation of dancers. Croix joined Parsons Dance in the Fall of 2019.
Rachel Harris
Rachel Harris (Dancer) was born and raised in Charlotte, NC where she began training at Dance Productions and received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in 2020. She has attended summer intensives at Jacob's Pillow, The Ailey School, BalletX, and A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. She has performed in works by Crystal Pite, William Forsythe, Barak Marshall, Dwight Rhoden, Paul Taylor, Jodie Gates, and many others. She is a founding member of Zeitgeist Dance Theatre and has danced with several noted artists including recording artist Brandy. Rachel has worked as Diversity Liaison, Education Coordinator, and Apprenticeship Director for Parsons Dance since joining the company in 2020.
MEGAN LEIGH GARCIA
(Dancer) began training at Progressions Performing Arts in Spring, TX. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2019 with a BFA in dance and a business administration minor. She was privileged to perform works by Nacho
Duato, Martha Graham, Bella Lewitzky, Larry Keigwin, and more. Megan attended intensives at Hubbard Street, Giordano Dance, River North Dance, the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, and the Rockettes. After graduation, Megan was offered the role of Rockette in the 2019 Christmas Spectacular. She performed in 102 shows, and was interviewed by TODAY, News 4 New York, and Telemundo. This is Megan's second season with Parsons Dance.
TÉA PÉREZ (Dancer) is originally from Dallas, TX, where she trained and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA) under the direction of Lily Cabatu Weiss and Kate Walker. Perez moved to New York City in 2017 to attend the Ailey/Fordham BFA Dance Program under the direction of Melanie Person. Pérez graduated in May of 2021 from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program with a BFA in Dance along with a BA in Art History, with a concentration in Contemporary and Modern Art. During her studies, Pérez performed works by Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, Kyle Abraham, Jessica Lang, Aszure Barton, Lar Lubovich, and Dwight Rhoden, among others. Téa served as an understudy for one season with Parsons Dance, and was promoted to Company Dancer in June 2022.
CHRISTIAN PARIS BLUE (Dancer) is a contemporary dance artist based in New York City who hails from Phoenix, AZ. Christian holds a BFA in Dance with a distinction in Modern Dance from The University of Arizona. As an original cast member of Terrence Blanchard's Opera Fire Shut Up In My Bones, Blue's work has been seen live at the Metropolitan Opera, The Lyric Opera, and streamed internationally through PBS and NPR. Christian is thrilled to be joining Parsons Dance for their first season with the company.
NICK FEARON (Dancer) began dancing in San Antonio, TX, his hometown, and went on to earn his BFA in donee from Point Park University, where he performed works by David Parsons, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris, and José Limón. While studying at Point Park, he danced with Pittsburgh's Texture Contemporary Ballet. Following his 2015 apprenticeship with Parsons Dance, Nick danced with Ballet Hispanico for three years. He has also performed with BHdos, RWS Entertainment, and Step One Dance Company. This is Nick's first season with the company.
LUKE ROMANZI (Dancer), a Brooklyn native, is an alumni dance major of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. He was most recently the youngest dancer in Rock The Ballet, a contemporary ballet company. While with the company, he toured in Germany, France, and Dubai and was featured on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance and HBO's Random Acts of Flyness. In 2018, he was accepted into the Young Choreographers Festival, held at Symphony Space in New York City, and was designated a YoungArts finalist. This is Luke's first season with Parsons Dance.
ERIN HOLLAMON (Understudy) is a Houston, TX native and attended the High School for Performing and Visual Arts. In 2021, she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She moved to New York City to start her professional dance career with the Limón Dance Company as a member of Limón 2. She has had the privilege of working with renowned choreographers such as Rena Butler, Doug Varone, Omar Roman de Jesus, Gregory Dolbashian, and many more. Since moving to New York, Erin has performed at The Joyce Theater, Lincoln Center, Theater at St. Jeans, and toured all through Italy. She is thrilled to continue her professional career with Parsons Dance!
CHRISTOPHER S. CHAMBERS (Lighting Designer, “Mr. Withers” and “The Ride Through”): Dance: Ailey II, American Repertory Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Boca Tuya, Jose Limon Dance Foundation, Lustig Dance Theatre, Parsons Dance, Yin Yue Dance Company, Manchester Ballet, Ram Island Dance. Theatre: Houses on the Moon, Cape Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, York Theatre, Curtain Call Inc., Boston College, Montclair State University, University of Hartford, Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company, Resort Players, M+D Productions, Weston Playhouse. A Connecticut native, Chris currently lives in New York. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut and is a proud member of USA 829.
REBECCA JOSUE(Executive Director) joined Parsons Dance in 2010 as the Company Manager and Stage Manager, and was lucky enough to tour with the company both nationally and internationally for her first five seasons. Rebecca became the General Manager for the 2013-2014 season and was appointed Executive Director in June 2019. Before joining Parsons Dance, Rebecca was a freelance company manager, stage manager, producer, theater administrator, and director. She has worked at New York Stage and Film, Mabou Mines, The Public Theater, New World Stages, La Mama, and the Under the Radar Festival among other places in company management, production management, stage management, and Development. A graduate of Wesleyan University, Rebecca completed the Senior Leaders Program for Non-Profit Professionals at Columbia Business School in May 2019, earning her a Certificate in Business Excellence.
PARSONS DANCE
124 East 91st Street, 2B, New York, NY 10128
212-869-9275 • info@parsonsdance.org
www.parsonsdance.org
Executive Director: Rebecca Josue
Business Manager: Robert J. Ford
Director of Institutional Support: Kate Taylor
Lighting Supervisor: Christopher S. Chambers
Production Coordinator & Lighting Associate: Michael Megliola
Artistic Associate: Eoghan Dillon
Executive Assistant and Research Analyst: Grace Puckett
Marketing Consultants: Martha Cooper and Will Albach
ARTISTS’ REPRESENTATIVE
MARGARET SELBY, President, Selby/Artists MGMT
262 West 38th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY 10018
mselby@selbyartistsmgmt.com | Office: 212-382-3260
Parsons Dance gratefully acknowledges the following for their support: Booth Ferris Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, Meringoff Family Foundation, New Music USA, NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund in The New York Community Trust, The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The SHS Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Theater Development Fund, and generous individual donors. Parsons Dance is supported, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
SUPPORT PARSONS DANCE
Donate online at www.parsonsdance.org
The 2022-23 Main Stage Series is made possible with the generous support from the following individuals and organizations:
Katherine Bergmann
Beano Solomon
Allison and Benjy Boxer, Bob Shallenberg, Eileen & Pete Kintner, Holly Etlin, Jan Manning, Jodi & Doug Berman, Joy & Bruce Soll, Mark Gottung, Michael & Erin Ruzek, Patricia Lebow, Robin Hauser, Randi and Brian Schwartz, Mindy and Randy Wolpert, St. Regis Deer Valley, The Park City Community Foundation, The Promontory Foundation, The Doubletree Hotel, Summit County Cultural RAP Tax, WESTAF, Park City Chamber of Commerce, and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums