Acclaimed dance company to make U.S. premiere at Phillips Center Jan. 19

January 4, 2013

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Motionhouse, one of the United Kingdom’s leading dance companies, will make its U.S. premiere at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts with a performance of the critically acclaimed work “Scattered.”

“We welcome the opportunity to present new works and premieres on our stages and under our auspices,” UFPA director Michael Blachly said. “Motionhouse comes highly recommended and their involvement in the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics makes this a great company to share with our audience.”

“Scattered” combines Motionhouse’s trademark highly physical style and mesmerizing imagery in a unique interaction between film and live performance. Using projection technology, daring dancing, a breathtaking set, aerial harnesses and bungees, the dancers plunge into an ocean, wrestle a raging tide and slide on an avalanche to a frozen landscape of arctic beauty.

“We create startling, passionate dance theatre,” Motionhouse artistic director Kevin Finnan said. “Our performances are rooted in dance but draw on theatre, circus, acrobatics and film to create works that make audience members think and feel. We pride ourselves on producing shows of outstanding quality that are accessible and enjoyable for all.”

Finnan was recently appointed choreographer and movement director for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which was viewed by a worldwide audience of one billion.

Tickets are on sale and available for this performance. Call 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll free within Florida), or visit www.performingarts.ufl.edu for more information.

Tickets are $15-35. UF students pay $10.