The Sokolow Dance Foundation and Bridgewater State College, MA have received an NEA American Masterpieces: Dance grant to implement the foundation's Performance Initiative Residency Program for the spring 2009 semester.  The students will learn sections of Dreams, Sokolow's signature piece, and then performs the work with SOKOLOW NOW! April 2, 3, 4, 2009.  Everything Must Go will also be reconstructed on and performed by the students.  This will be the first presentation of this work since its initial performance at the Julliard School of Music in 1982.  As I Remember, performed by SOKOLOW NOW! and rare historical video footage of Sokolow’s life and work will complete the performance entitled 100 Years of Sokolow: A Retrospective Evening.

September Sonnet is commissioned by Joe Cicala, former member of Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project and current member of SOKOLOW NOW! for performance in May 2009 as part of Dancefusion’s 10th Anniversary concert in Philadelphia. September Sonnet, a duet of lyric beauty and intricate design, was choreographed in 1995. His partner, Janet Pila, is also well acquainted with Sokolow’s work, having danced two Sokolow reconstructions housed in Dancefusion’s repertory.

Riding the culture loop in Wyoming will be the focus of a two week residency at the University of Wyoming. Margaret Wilson of the department of theater and dance at the university, has engaged Lorry May to reconstruct Ride the Culture Loop on her students.  The residency will culminate with performances on November 18 - 22, 2008.  We are fortunate to have the opportunity to introduce Sokolow’s work to these aspiring young dancers.

The foundation’s annual Boston workshop will be held at the Green Street Studio, Cambridge, MA on September 27, 2008.  The power of Sokolow’s work enriches the lives of the many Boston dance community members that attend these Sokolow Legacy Workshops.

Ongoing Sokolow technique classes will be held at the American Academy of Dance, Mansfield, MA during July and August.  The teen/adult classes will be taught by Lorry May and Suellen Haag will teach the children’s classes.

The National Dance Educators Organization will host a Sokolow workshop at the 2008 NDEO Conference at Towson University on June 25-28.  Suellen Haag will conduct this workshop entitled Living the Legend and the Legacy using Sokolow's Dreams as the focal point of the one-hour presentation.  An additional highlight of the conference is the inclusion of two archival videos, Dreams and They Are Their Own Gifts, in the newly inaugurated film series.

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