Kanopy: in Concert

Directed by Lisa Andrea Thurrell

Guest Artists

Under the direction of Lisa Andrea Thurrell, the Kanopy Dance Company will bring their artistic talents together with those of guest artists: Joseph Koykkar and Thomas Powell, composers; Sandi Walker, choreographer and dancer; Andrea Harris-Salisbury, dancer; Kiro Kopulos, performance artist; and Jeff Eisenberg, visual artist. Bill Owen is the Lighting designer.

With costumes enhanced with Eisenberg's designs, Thurrell will premier her choreography for music composed by Prof. Joseph Koykkar of the UW Dance Program. Created for the premier of Kopulos's new performance piece, Powell has composed new music for this concert. The program will also include works from Kanopy's repertoire. Thurrell's acclaimed exultation of autumn in "Come Months, Come Away…" is set to sweeping, romantic music by contemporary English composer, Geoff Smith. Robert E.Cleary's " 3, hepata-none 6 (dimethylamino) 4, 4-diphenyl-hydrochloride" exploits Lou Reed's sound as the choreographer probes the nightmarish explosion of a mind atomized by drugs. On the lighter side will be Liza Nichole Decoteau's "Twist-her." A preview of the February, 2001 concert, "Kanopy Does Metallica," will be presented in "Nothing Else Matters, " also choreographed by Cleary.

This concert promises to be exciting! Get your reservations in early.

Performances are Saturday, November 13 and Friday, November 19 at 8 PM in Old Music Hall, off Park Street and University Avenue, at the foot of Bascom Hill on the UW Campus.

Tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for students and senior citizens. Reservations are available by calling 255-2211.

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The Artists

This concert welcomes new Madison residents: artists Jeff Eisenberg, Andrea Harris-Salisbury, and Sandi Walker of Lodi; and marks the return of former Kanopy Dancer, Ann Christiansen. Kanopy Dance Company members include: Principals, Robert E.Cleary, Liza Nichole Decoteau, and Lisa Andrea Thurrell with Christine Angevine; Ann Christiansen; Rachel Kravitz; and Merritt Yandell. Recent Company additions Heidi Bakken and Jennifer Jett; and new member, Andrea Harris-Salisbury complete the roster.

While in Georgia and the southeast, Sandi Walker danced, created and produced concerts for stage and television. She performed with and taught numerous groups there and in North and South Carolina and New York. As well as working with children and adults, and professional dancers, she has extensive experience with physically and mentally challenged performers for whom she has choreographed and produced programs. Walker has been honored with supporting grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and other agencies.

Andrea Harris-Salisbury recently moved to Madison from the University of Oklahoma at Norman, where she was Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance. She previously performed and toured with the Martha Graham Company, other NYC groups; and studied at the Graham school. She has taught, choreographed and performed her own works and those of others in New York, Texas; Oklahoma; and Mexico.

Jeff Eisenberg has recently exhibited his work at an area gallery. Prior to moving to Madison, Eisenberg completed four years of study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, with an emphasis on Sculpture. Kiro Kopulos, aclaimed in the area for his KirOga Theatre productions and as a Yoga teacher, is a frequent guest artist with the Kanopy Dance Company. Also well known among production professionals in Madison is Lighting Designer, Bill Owen.

After the Saturday, November 13 performance the artists will be available to discuss their creative processes and collaborations at a talk back with the audience. This is an opportunity for the audience to gain a deeper understanding of the creation of contemporary music and of dance. Collaboration between choreographer and composer is a time honored and mutually enriching endeavor.

The November show is part of Kanopy's continuing "New Music, New Dances, 1998-2001" focus marking the beginning of the new century and the Fin de siècle. Kanopy collaborations with area composers: Joseph Koykkar of the School of Education Dance Program; and Thomas Powell, Madison Composer, are featured on this November 13 & 19 program. The music of Todd Welbourne of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music and Middleton composer Vicky Tzoumerka-Knoedler were presented last February and April.