Parsons Dance reaches out to Gainesville community

September 11, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Members of the Parsons Dance company will immerse themselves in the Gainesville community Wednesday through Friday for outreach activities in conjunction with their public performance Friday.

On Wednesday, members will participate in “AIM Together,” an initiative that brings artists from the University of Florida Performing Arts season into Shands hospitals and clinics to work with patients, family members and hospital staff. Led by company member Julie Blume, the artists will work with the pediatric clinic, followed by bedside visits and activities at Shands Children’s Hospital.

“Parsons Dance is deeply committed to arts education and outreach programs such as ‘AIM Together,’” said David Harrison, executive director of Parsons Dance. “Julie Blume has devoted a tremendous amount of her personal time and attention to the study of arts in medicine. Parsons Dance believes that performing arts experiences can be life-changing. This is clearly the case with regard to ‘AIM Together.’”

On Thursday, associate artistic director and dancer Elizabeth Koeppen will lead a master class with college dance students. A member of Parsons Dance since 1989, Koeppen will give local students access to a professional dance class which is often available only in large cities, such as New York City.

On Friday, UFPA will team up with the UF Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute Motion Analysis Lab to explore technological opportunities and collaborations between the two entities through a presentation by Parsons Dance artistic director and founder, David Parsons. Similar to sport athletes, the stress on dancer’s joints, muscles and bones warrants further evaluation for research, preventive medicine and physical therapy.

“Using David to begin this relationship with the Motion Analysis Lab was a natural,” says UFPA Assistant Director Elizabeth Auer. “Through previous work and knowing how creative David is, he is a great representative for the dance community, as well as an incredible athlete at the top of the dance field.”

“I think this relationship can be beneficial for both sides,” says Parsons. “We both have something to learn from each other in relation to the human body that can be explored through this opportunity.”

Parsons Dance will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $35, front orchestra, mezzanine and mid-orchestra; $30, rear orchestra; and $25, balcony. Parsons and Harrison will lead a pre-performance discussion beginning at 6:45 p.m., in the Phillips Center Black Box Theatre.

Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll-free within Florida) or by calling Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309 or toll free at 800-277-1700. Orders may also 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 Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the web at www.ticketmaster.com. Cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Group tickets are also available.

Performance dates, times and programs are subject to change.