GATHER ROUND
MEET THE ARTIST PANEL WITH DWIGHT RHODEN, JODIE GATES AND DANCERS, LARISSA GERSZKE AND BRANDON GRAY
Sunday, April 25, 2021 – 5:15pm PT | 8:15 pm ET (directly following the premiere of Gather Round)
Join us for a Meet the Artist panel with Dwight Rhoden (Complexions Contemporary Ballet), Jodie Gates (Laguna Dance Festival), Larissa Gerszke (dancer) and Brandon Gray (dancer).
They will discuss “Gather Round,” a collaboration between LEE ROCKER of The Stray Cats fame and the award-winning COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet featuring three songs from the Grammy-nominated upright bass player, singer and songwriter’s current solo album Gather Round.
DWIGHT RHODEN
Dwight Rhoden has established a remarkably wide-ranging career, earning distinction from The New York Times as “one of the most sought out choreographers of the day.” A native of Dayton, Ohio who began dancing at age 17, Rhoden has performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal and as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As a performer, he has appeared in numerous television specials, documentaries and commercials throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and has been a featured performer on many PBS “Great Performances” specials.In 1994, Rhoden and legendary dancer Desmond Richardson founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet. READ MORE.
LARISSA GERSZKE
Larissa Gerszke (Ontario, Canada) began her formal dance training at Canterbury Arts High School in Ottawa, Ontario. She has attended summer programs at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Canada’s Ballet Jorgen, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Alonzo Kings LINES Ballet. She has performed works by Matthew Rushing, Taryn Russell, Alvin Ailey, Bob Fosse, and Carmen Rozestraten. Ms. Gerszke graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in 2016 and is currently a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
JODIE GATES
Jodie Gates has established a significant career in the field of dance. For over thirty years she has contributed to the profession as a visionary leader, artistic director, educator, choreographer, producer, stager and principal dancer. She is an experienced founder of programs and organizations, and serves as a facilitator for artistic collaborations and educational initiatives nationally. Ms. Gates leads with integrity, bold ideas and risk- taking as guiding principles, and continues to usher momentous ideas forward to create groundbreaking and lasting change within the dance field, while creating a positive impact more broadly in society. READ MORE.
BRANDON GRAY
Brandon Gray began training at the age of 13 at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. He has trained with Charles Augins, Katherine Smith, Melvin Deale, Treanna Alexander, and Nikki Sutton-Mackey, and was a part of Darnese Wilkerson’s first Summer Dance Experience in 2012 at the Atlas Theater. He also attended The Ailey School Scholarship Program. Brandon has performed in productions of Black Nativity, The Ailey School’s Roof Breaking Ceremony, The Hudson Yard’s New York unveiling choreographed by Matthew Rushing, as well as Alvin Ailey’s Memoria at The Kennedy Center and New York City Center with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Brandon is a recipient of the DC-Capital Scholarship. He is currently a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
PREMIERE DATE
Sunday, April 25, 2021
5:15 pm PT | 8:15 pm ET
(immediately following the premiere of Gather Round)
LOCATION
ZOOM
PRICE
FREE