Brazilian Dance Company Grupo De Rua Brings Vibrant Hip-Hop Moves to Contemporary Dance

Fri, Dec 18, 2009

Known for infusing hip-hop approaches and attitudes into contemporary dance, Brazilian company Grupo de Rua—a group of nine male performers that has become an international sensation—brings H3, its latest work, to Ohio State’s Thurber Theatre in a performance presented by Wexner Center on Sunday, January 10 at 8 pm in the group’s Midwestern debut.

Rising choreographer Bruno Beltrão has adopted a unique approach, subverting hip hop clichés as he explores more subtle choreographic strategies. Instead of showy acrobatic displays, macho stances and booming beats, Beltrão employs athletic break dance moves and hip hop accented footwork to build a pulsating ambient rhythmic base through a series of electrifying duets and group sections.

Grupo de Rua launched onto the international scene in 2002 and has toured around the world to great acclaim (one critic wrote, “Beltrão’s most complex and compelling work to date...H3 is often spectacular because of its highly energetic flow”), winning such fans as American vanguard choreographer William Forsythe—although this marks the group’s U.S. debut tour. Video can be viewed of the innovative dancing in H3 at http://www.youtube.com/user/grupoderuadeniteroi

Prior to the performance, GenWex (the Wexner Center’s young patrons group) and the Columbus Young Professionals Club will host a public reception at 6:30 pm in Thurber Theatre for CYP Club members and other young professionals, as part of CYP Club’s Cultural Series.

EVENT AND SEASON SUPPORT

Major support for the Wexner Center’s 2009–10 performing arts season is generously provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Funded in part by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and additional funding from the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation. Accommodations provided by The Blackwell Inn. All performing arts programs and events also receive support from the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation and Wexner Center members, as well as from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council.

CALENDAR INFORMATION: The Wexner Center presents Brazilian dance company Grupo de Rua, which will performs its latest work H3 Sunday, January 10 at 8 pm in the Drake Center’s Thurber Theatre, 1849 Cannon Dr. on the Ohio State University campus. Run time: 70 minutes, no intermission. Public reception preceding at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $17 for Wexner Center members, and $10 for students. Call 614 292-3535 or visit ticketmaster.com (1-800- 745-3000).

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