Jan. 15-17, UAB’s Alys Stephens Center to Present Battleworks Dance Company

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center will present Battleworks Dance Company at 7:30 p.m. each night Jan. 15-16 and at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $55, $45, $35; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

     December 9, 2009

Battleworks Dance Company. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's Alys Stephens Center will present Battleworks Dance Company at 7:30 p.m. each night Jan. 15-16 and at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $55, $45, $35; $20 for students. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. These performances are presented as part of the 2010 Alabama Dance Festival.

On Jan. 15, Battleworks Dance Company will perform free for hundreds of area schoolchildren as part of the ASC Arts in Action "Meet the Artist" education and outreach program. Since its inception in 2002, more than 50,000 students have participated in Arts in Action events and programs.

The dance company, founded by Juilliard graduate and Parsons Dance Company alum Robert Battle in 2001, shows off its strong repertoire with vigor and technical virtuosity. Battleworks premiered at the World Dance Alliance's Global Assembly in Germany and was selected as the American representative to the festival for its unique outlook on the future of modern dance. The company since has performed extensively, including at American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Dance Theater Workshop and the Joyce Theater.

While at Julliard, Battle received the Princess Grace Dance Scholarship and the Martha Hill Prize. As a member of the Parsons Dance Company (1994-2001), Battle began setting his work on the company in 1998. His choreography has been performed by Parsons across the United States, Italy, Chile, Latvia, Columbia, Germany, Japan and for seven weeks at the Sydney Opera House. Battle's work has been featured in five Parsons seasons in New York City.

On the program for the Alys Stephens Center show: "Overture," "Takademe," "In/Side," "Sidewalk," "Still," "Ella" and "Juba." This show is part of the Movement & Magic Series and is sponsored by Jemison Investment Co., Alabama Dance Council, The Birmingham News and Viva Health.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world's best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama.