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Access to Art, Inc.
4l7 E. Pacific Ave.
Cape May Court
House, N.J. 08210
Press Release/for
immediate release
From: Barbara J.
Beitel
Access to Art, Inc.
Telephone: (609)
465-3963
ENERGY, INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM, AND
EMOTIONAL UNDERCURRENT
CHARACTERIZE PHILADANCO’S FABLED DANCE
COMPANY
SCHEDULED FOR A MAY 17TH
PERFORMANCE
Cape May Court
House. Philadelphia is a dance city,
with lots of resident and visiting dance
companies. On May l7th at 7:30 p.m., Access
to Art the l6 year old not for profit, that
has presented ten other dance weekends in
the area, will give you an opportunity to
enjoy an evening of Afro-inspired
choreography, tinged with balletic and
modern influence with “fabulous
Philadanco” so described by the
Fort Worth Star Telegram, a
company who are alternately
characterized as possessing
“..heroically strong men and enticingly
valiant women…” by the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette. The “Dance
ensemble soars…Philadanco’s joy in dancing
is inspiring – and highly
contagious.” said the Royal
Gazette, Bermuda. Critics from New York
to L.A., and everywhere in-between fall all
over themselves to ascribe energy and grace
to the Philadelphia based company who,
although in residence at the Kimmel where
they sell out Spring and Fall performances,
spend most of their time on the road touring
on three continents. Or, to quote the
Washington Post, “The members of
the Philadelphia Dance Company,
better known as Philadanco, can do just
about anything: leap like arrows in
flight, spin, stretch, kick and melt like
hot wax.” According to
Dance Magazine, “Philadanco’s
dancers are a miracle of skill and
energy…The company has built its
success on the ability to do everything.”
The New York Times says that their “…choreography
(is) filled with sleek, propulsive movement
and…emotional undercurrent.” Tbe Miami
Herald chimes in
“…electrifying,: sure, fervent, beautifully
accomplished.”
All this energy, grace
and beauty costs money, so Access to Art has
been raising money to pay for the
performance which will cost in excess of
$33,000 to present in the area.
Access to Art was
awarded $6500. from the New Jersey State
Council on the Arts, Department of State,
administered by the Cape May County Culture
and Heritage Commission, under the authority
of the Library Commission. “We are grateful
to the state and the county for their
support of this event. Without them, we
could not bring this quality of work to the
area, and they are the backbone of arts
operations.” said Barbara Beitel, Director
and founder of Access to Art, Inc. “With
their undergirding and support, we can ask
the private sector to support us as well,”
she said.
The Sheller Family
Foundation awarded them $l,000. toward the
performance. “Steve and Sandy Sheller are
very involved in Philadelphia’s life, and
they also have a summer home in Cape May.
We are grateful for their friendship and
support.” Beitel said.
In addition, area
businesses and banks including Sturdy
Savings Bank, Kindle Ford, and Cape Savings
Bank have supported them as event sponsors,
making the evening of dance possible for
the area. A committee of area citizens are
working on the project, and additional
people interested in joining them are
invited to call Barbara at (609) 465-3963.
Access to Art, Inc.
was awarded a $4800. grant from the
Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation’s American
Masters Program, initiated by the National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) who began in
2005 the American Masterpieces: Artistry
& Influence tour so that people in a
region could celebrate the homegrown genius
in their midst. The award will assist in
the presentation of Philadanco!
at the Middle Township PAC. NEA began the
series with the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation
as a partner in order to build a greater
awareness of the nation’s cultural heritage.
Access to Art will present Philadanco
this May l7th, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. The NEA’s
Mid-Atlantic grant is a major iniative
featuring three centuries of artistic
genius, and Philadanco shares the limelight
this year with two other artists from the
Mid-Atlantic region to acquaint Americans
with the best of their cultural and artistic
legacy. Martha Graham Dance Company and
Sweet Honey and the Rock were also chosen.
“We are grateful for
the support of these national, state and
regional entities, who make culture possible
in our region,” said Barbara J. Beitel,
Access to Art, Inc. Director. “Although we
are in a rural area, there is no reason why,
with the wonderful performing arts centers
in our region, that we can’t partake of the
events possible in larger cities once in a
while right here at home. We need to feed
our souls as well as our bodies, and we need
to see the contributions of art, dance,
music here at home. Access to Art, Inc. has
spent l6 years presenting the visual and
performing arts in the region, and this is
their eleventh dance weekend. We did
present Philadanco! four years
ago, and they were sensational then. They
will also be performing at the Newark PAC
prior to our event. Since our first
engagement, they have toured Europe,
performed at Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center,
B.A.M., in Brooklyn, the Travis Center, in
W. Palm Beach and across the nation and won
the 2006 Dance Magazine award for founder,
Joan Myers Brown. We are delighted to have
a regional company with international
credentials because Philadanco!
has performed to rave reviews in Asia,
Europe, South America and in the U.S. We
note, with pride, that they began 38 years
ago, dancing on the back of recreation
trucks in center city, Philadelphia, and by
determination, will power, effort, grace,
and talent have come this long way.’ Beitel
said. “Now they have joined the ranks of
those who have infused balletic technique,
modern dance and Afro-inspired dance into
its own art form.” Beitel said. Tickets
are $25. and $30. and group rates (of ten or
more) are available by calling Access to Art
at (609) 465-3963. You may send checks to
Access to Art, 4l7 E. Pacific Ave. Cape May
Court House, N.J. 08210. Access to Art will
also feature a benefit social with the
Performing Arts Center that evening to meet
Joan Myers Brown. Call (609) 465-3963 for
reservations. VIP tickets to both the dance
and the social cost $60.
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