Festival Dance and Performing Arts as part of its 50th Anniversary is bringing the legendary Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble to perform at the Hartung Theatre on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 PM. Under the direction of Cleo Parker Robinson, the Ensemble performs a dynamic body of works inspired by the African American experience and rooted in ethnic and modern dance traditions worldwide. Founder and Artistic Director, Cleo Parker Robinson, will be present to participate in a series of free youth outreach events on Thursday and to kick off the Friday evening performance.
This performance includes works from The Four Journeys tour, nationally funded and recognized by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). The Four Journeys is based on a real story-turned-legend, of Catarina de San Juan. known as China Poblana, who was stolen from her noble family in India and taken
across the ocean to Mexico. There she was sold in marriage to a stranger. The choreographic work embodies the story of enslavement, travel to strange lands, loss of original identity in culture, religion, and language, and lack of choice, and that individual adapting to a new culture and belief system and exercising a level of choice as she develops tenacity of character. This tour was put on hold during the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Festival Dance & Performing Arts (FDPA) is happy to bring the company fully in-person to celebrate their 50 years, in unison with Cleo’s’ 52nd performance year and the longevity of shared programming.
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (CPRDE) is internationally esteemed as one of America’s foremost modern dance companies. Legendary and emerging artists alike are drawn by the spirit of the company to create works that transcend the boundaries of culture, class, and age while unequivocally communicating the complexity of the human condition. Seen by an estimated 2,000,000 fans throughout the United States and more than 40 countries on five continents, CPRDE continues to be a leader in dance innovation and the promotion of American dance heritage. To meet the members of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, visit: https://cleoparkerdance.org/cprd-
The Company will bring portions of this performance along with educational dance programming for area elementary school students on Thursday, Sept. 22 both at the Hartung Theatre and at Lapwai Elementary on the Nez Perce Reservation. This year also marks a first as FDPA collaborates with the UI Dance program’s guest residency week with Cedric Hall of CPRD to work alongside students and set a work that will be performed by the UI students during the Friday evening performance. A Rehearsal on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 5:30-7 PM is open for public viewing in studio 110 of the UI Physical Education Building.
Tickets for Friday evening are $36 for Adults, $32 for Seniors, and $25 for students, including all fees. More information is available through www.festivaldance.org or tickets can be purchased directly at https://uitickets.evenue.net/