Color-Ography

In honor of Black History Month, the Detroit Opera House brings a brand new production, Color-ography, to the stage February 10 (8:00 p.m.) and 11 (2:00 p.m.), 2007. The work, commissioned and performed by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), celebrates the work of African American painter Jacob Lawrence, with a visual feast of movement. Color-ography will premiere in Dayton, Ohio, February 3, 2007.

The four-part program incorporates some of Lawrence's most famous works (The Migration of the Negro, Harriet Tubman, The Lovers, John Brown, Alice and her Tormentors and Wounded Man, among others) and choreography by four of today's most acclaimed African American choreographers, Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, Kevin Ward and Reggie Wilson.

These artists have drawn their inspiration from the canvas, and combined powerful choreography with video projections and music ranging from traditional Banda-Dakpa from the Central African Republic, to the unmistakable jazz of Sarah Vaughan and the techno stylings of Moby, among others including Bent, Bigga Bush, Amatoso Makaota and Zapp Mama.

Color-ography will feature set and projection design by Tobin Rothlein, costume design by Omotayo "Wunmi" Olaiya and lighting design by James Clotfelter. The Detroit Opera House will be the third stop on Color-ography's 20 city premiere tour, as part of the company's 2007 DaimlerChrysler Dance Series. The Sunday, February 11 performance is sponsored by JPMorganChase.

By www.motopera.org