Paint By Number
Iona Dancers are Human Paintbrushes
on the Rooftops of Honolulu
read a review
from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
HONOLULU, HI - March 3, 2005
IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre delves into the creative action of music, painting, and dance in ‘Paint By Number’, the second performance of IONA’s new Salon Series.
With jazz-fusion group The Quadrophonix, the Iona dancers will transform the roof of the Niketown building in Waikiki with a fantasy of color, March 18 and 19.
IONA dancers are human paintbrushes and pallets, beginning the evening in the fertile white void of a blank masterpiece-to-be. As the dynamics pick up, the white floor canvas is no longer pristine; the stage comes alive with a new dimension of movement and color complemented and commanded by the Quadraphonix' live music.
It is in the creative process itself that ‘Paint By Number’ tells a story of humanity, humor, peace, passion, and life. This process is a doorway into a unique experience that will leave each audience member with an urge take a dip in the powerful paint elixir.
IONA provides the entire front row of the audience with plastic sheeting -- not to worry though, the paint is washable! Select audience members are also given painting paraphernalia in order to participate in the magnum opus. The intimate audience-dancer interaction combined with the colorful bodies and free-form music of the Quadraphonix, presents a different experience at each performance, magically tying together the process of dance, music, and painting.
The audience can take the magic home with them, as portions of the final painting will be sold at the end of each performance.
Cheryl Flaharty, an award-winning choreographer, draws on her strengths as a fusion artist in the Company’s new Salon Series. The Series takes the creative process of dance, theatre, and visual arts out of the conventional theatre and into the interactive salon environment.
“Performing arts are rapidly moving out of the traditional proscenium and are being made more accessible to the public through raw spaces like this, allowing for an intimate experience for both the performers and audience members” says Flaharty, IONA founder and Artistic Director. IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre kicked off their premiere Salon Series with ‘La Madonna’ at Studio 1, last August and was met with rave reviews. This Series is sure to bring audiences an artistic smorgasbord as it connects painting, dance, and music.
IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre (http://www.iona360.com) is celebrating 15 years of innovative performances ranging from local venues and festivals to national appearances. In an effort to join forces with the new Hawaii Tourism Cultural Development Program, IONA has crossed the threshold into alliances with the business and visitor community, creating custom performances for local and mainland corporations including CS WO & Son’s Z Interiors, Federal Express, and Sun Microsystems. These theatrical appearances range from corporate incentive events to sitespecific pieces and even dinner parties. IONA’s focus in meeting the demands of the visiting populations has furthered Hawaii's tourism product by creating performances related to the niches of Hawaii's host culture.
IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre is dedicated to the creation and performance of innovative dance/theatre works that provide transformational imagery and messages. IONA’s mission is to effect a positive change in the community while providing opportunities for artists to evolve. The Company aspires to create high quality work that inspires social, personal and spiritual growth, bridges cultural experiences, and provides a greater understanding of how the arts affect all of our lives. If you would like more info on this or any other IONA event; or to schedule an interview, please call Crystal Brewe at (808) 262-0110 or e-mail at crystal@iona360.com.
‘Paint By Number’ will be held on the 4th floor the Niketown building (King Kalakaua Plaza). Valet parking is available as well as underground, self-parking.
Performances are scheduled for Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, 2005. Performances will begin at 8 pm.
Tickets can be purchased from the Hawaii Theatre Center Box office at http://www.hawaiitheatre.com or call 528-0506;
tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door.
IONA Salon Series is made possible through the generosity of:
State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
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IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre
http://www.iona360.com
A gallery of Salon Series photographs,
past and present, is available at
http://iona.digital-culture.net/gallery/
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