A mix of sports and dance, AntiGravity brings its act to UF

March 16, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gymnast Christopher Harrison recognized early that his career as a professional athlete would have a limited shelf life.

In his quest for an alternative, Harrison took his tumbling and flipping skills to the cheerleading world, earning a scholarship to the University of Utah, where he studied business and dance. Tumbling was still in his blood, though, and, as luck would have it, proved a useful skill when “Footloose” was filmed in Utah. Harrison was cast as a principal dancer in the movie.

After graduation, Harrison headed to New York City, where his tumbling and dance skills kept him employed in shows such as “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “West Side Story,” “Damn Yankees” and “CATS.” But Harrison wanted something more. He said his passion for tumbling still “called” to him, and he felt there must be other former gymnasts who felt the same.

In a moment of fortuitousness that in hindsight looks like fate, Harrison was hired by the organizers of the New York City Marathon in 1990 to create a “high-energy” act that would inspire runners. He enlisted the help of some of his acrobatic friends and AntiGravity was born.

Billing itself as “New York’s only aerial performance company,” AntiGravity is no mere acrobatic trick. The members of AntiGravity tumble, twirl and dance. But there’s something more to their performances, something that goes beyond acrobatic thrills. They have taken their passion for tumbling and performing and turned it into an expressive, highly stylized performance extravaganza. Traditional gymnastics forms the basis for the structure of their shows, but AntiGravity also incorporates acrobatic circus arts into its performances.

The group brings its latest production, “AntiGravity: The Tour,” to the University of Florida Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a 7:30 p.m. performance on March 31.

Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-2787 or 800-905-2787 or by calling Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309. Orders may be faxed to 352-846-1562. Tickets are also available in person at the Phillips Center Box Office, University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Student Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the Web at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Phillips Center Box Office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and two hours before performances.