Contact: Bryan Wallk 310/390-8610 or [email protected] [photos available on request]

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

TO N G U E A CONTEMPORARY MODERN DANCE COMPANY FEBRUARY 18, 2000 at The Luckman Fine Arts Complex Calendar: Dance The sinuous and athletically powerful TONGUE, brings Full Frontal Enigma to the Luckman Fine Arts Complex. Full Frontal Enigma is a monumental journey of physicality, sensuality and athleticism. Eight dancers are pushed to the limits of technique and stamina by choreographer Stephanie Gilliland to provide a thrilling and viscerally potent spectacle of spirit and raw physicality. Who: Tongue – A Contemporary Modern Dance Company What: Full Frontal Enigma and the premiere of a new work entitled Soon When: February 18, 2000 Where: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the campus of Cal State LA Ticket Price: $25.00 Reservations: The Luckman Fine Arts Complex Box Office 323-343-6600

The Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the campus of Cal State LA is proud to present TONGUE, Los Angeles’ most sensuous and athletically articulate modern dance company in concert on February 18, 2000 as part of their subscription series. TONGUE is a contemporary modern dance company that resonates the power and passion of movement. Eight dancers led by choreographer/dancer Stephanie Gilliland have created a company that speaks a universal language of motion and momentum. Gilliland has been creating dances for over 20 years working with a number of different companies and collectives. TONGUE represents the culminating effort to create an instrument that unites breathtaking athleticism, sinuous sensuality and idiosyncratic vocabulary filtered through the dynamic and powerful bodies of her dancers. As a result, Gilliland’s work has been described as marked by “craft and courage” in the Los Angeles Times (Victoria Looseleaf, 4/10/99). Gilliland fashions full-bodied movement poems that speak on a visceral level to the audience, eschewing the present fashion for “issue-oriented” dance or autobiographical, text-based pieces. The stories being told are the ones occurring between the dancers and the audience at the moment of performance. In this way, TONGUE creates a fully present human dialogue in which all people can engage.

The Luckman Fine Arts Complex subscriptions series presents TONGUE on February 18, 2000 continued… Full Frontal Enigma is an hour long work that takes the audience on a monumental journey of physicality, sensuality and athleticism. To a score compiled from sources as diverse as industrial rock to eastern devotional chanting, eight dancers are pushed to the limits of technique and stamina by the choreography to provide a thrilling experience that reaches directly to the audience on a visceral level. Choreographer Stephanie Gilliland places complete trust in the power of pure movement to convey the ancient and contemporary themes of the human condition: female and male strength, as well as the shared strength of the community, and the profound joy of human bodies in motion. That these disparate elements can unite is evident in the company’s dances. Full Frontal Enigma spans a wide range of moods that progress from an ecstatic opening for the entire company, to contemplative duets and solos. The piece also features resonant sections for the women and then the men, a playful interlude featuring constantly shifting groups of soloists, a passionately lyrical “dance” section and a hair-raising culmination featuring a dense partnering section with bodies flying through the air, near misses and split-second timing. The Los Angeles Times said it best when they referred to Full Frontal Enigma as “... an orgy of the body as resolute communicator.” (Victoria Looseleaf, 4/10/99) In addition to Full Frontal Enigma, TONGUE will premiere a brand new work for this concert at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex. The Luckman Fine Arts Complex is located on the campus of Cal State LA off Eastern Ave. where the 10 and 710 freeways meet just east of downtown Los Angeles. For further information regarding tickets, parking or directions please call the Luckman Fine Arts Complex box office at 323-343-6600.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:   

Attached is a piece description of “Full Frontal Enigma” and “Soon” as well as biographical summaries of Choreographer and Artistic Director Stephanie Gilliland and TONGUE company members. Detailed information on Stephanie Gilliland, TONGUE company history and repertoire as well as community outreach programs are available on request. Black and white photos available on request.

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Description of Work

FULL FRONTAL ENIGMA

Full Frontal Enigma is an hour long work that takes the audience on a monumental journey of physicality, sensuality, lyricism and athleticism. To a score compiled from sources as diverse as industrial rock to eastern devotional chanting, eight dancers are pushed to the limits of technique and stamina by the choreography to provide a thrilling experience that reaches directly to the audience on a visceral level. Choreographer Stephanie Gilliland places complete trust in the power of pure movement to convey the ancient and contemporary themes of human connection, female and male strength as well as the shared strength of community, and the profound joy of human bodies in motion. The piece spans a wide range of moods that progress from an ecstatic opening for the entire company, more contemplative, resonant sections for the women and then the men, a playful interlude featuring constantly shifting groups of soloists, a passionately lyrical “dance” section and culminates in a hair-raising, dense partnering section with bodies flying through the air, near misses and split-second timing. The Los Angeles Times said it best when they referred to Full Frontal Enigma as “. . . an orgy of the body as resolute communicator” (Victoria Looseleaf, 4/10/99).

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Description of Work

SOON

A mesmerizing new work for seven dancers. A passionate essay of liquid motion. This year choreographer Stephanie Gilliland explores an entirely different physical landscape with a new dance entitled Soon, an introspective, intense ensemble piece. Gilliland continues to push artistic boundaries with this richly layered, dense work of magnetic intensity and sensuality. Set to a haunting original score by composer Jeff Mayor, the piece is a mysterious ritual for seven dancers that continually, relentlessly evolves from simplicity to manic complexity. Having created full-bodied movement pieces such as 1998’s Les Soliers De Plomb and 1999’s Full Frontal Enigma to develop the company’s power, Gilliland now harnesses that power and sharpens the focus to create a work in which the subtlest nuances coexist within regions of total release; where the glimpsed, halfseen moment can speak as clearly as the roar of the ensemble crashing to the floor; a work in which the dancers move together and individually simultaneously. Soon will be a major new work for TONGUE and should not be missed.

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TONGUE BIOGRAPHIES Stephanie Gilliland, Artistic Director is a West Coast choreographer and solo artist who has been working outside mainstream dance since 1977. She has founded and directed two dance collectives and her own companies both in New York and California. Her choreographic work includes opera, television and musical theater as well as modern concert dance. Gilliland, has presented work throughout the United States and abroad including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Encuentro Binacional De Danza Contemporanea of Mexico, in the Soviet Union and in Canada where she was commissioned to create a work for Landed Immigrants at the Winnipeg Festival Fringe. Locally her work has been presented in Dance Kaleiodoscope, Summer Nights at the Ford, Prime Moves, the Cal State Local Artist Series, LACE, and Highways. Gilliland has received several choreographic commissions, conducted master classes, residencies and workshops for universities, private studios and professional dance companies both nationally and internationally for over eighteen years. She is the recipient of two Lester Horton Awards for choreographic achievement and was recently nominated for the second time for a Cal Arts Alpert Award in Dance. Gilliland currently teaches at Idyllwild Arts Academy and Loyola Marymount University. Holly Johnston, Rehearsal Director was born and orphaned in South Korea. Holly was adopted with her sister at the age of four and boarded an airplane to the United States. Upon landing on American soil she became the daughter of a single parent who currently enjoys Llama farming surrounded by a view of the Cascade Mountains. It was with the inspiration of her mother's vision that Holly chose a career in dance; they are both advocates for the liberation of artistry. In 1996, Holly graduated with a BA in Dance from Loyola Marymount University, under the academic direction of Judy Scalin. While at LMU she had the opportunity to work with such artists as Diana McNeil, Laura Dean, Charlotte Richards, Rose Polsky, and Scott Heinzerling. It was while attending LMU that Holly first met and worked with Stephanie Gilliland. In 1997, she was invited to become a founding member of TONGUE. Holly brings with her a developed understanding of ballet, jazz, and modern dance technique. She also contributes an extensive knowledge of kinesiology, body mechanics, injury prevention for dancers and a unique system for actualizing physicality. She currently works as a massage therapist in Los Angeles. Holly has taught modern dance classes for Idyllwild Arts Academy, University of California, Santa Barbara, California State University, Fullerton, TONGUE summer workshops at Orange Coast College, and currently teaches at Loyola Marymount University. Caroline Aizawa, began dancing at the late age of twenty. Her first teacher, Charles Edmundson, continues to be a source of inspiration. She furthered her training and development in the dance program at Orange Coast College where she studied ballet and modern dance, and regularly performed in the student and faculty concerts. In 1995, Caroline was a member of the Joel Christensen Dance Company, the following year, she met and worked with Stephanie Gilliland on a commissioned project for OCC. In 1997, she was invited to become a founding member of TONGUE. Caroline currently works as a massage therapist and as a Pilates instructor at On Center Conditioning in Newport Beach.

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TONGUE BIOGRAPHIES (Cont.) Patrick Damon Rago, received his BA in Dance from California State University, Fullerton in 1994 and went on to the University of Utah for his Master’s Degree. While there, he was a member as well as assistant artistic director of Performing Dance Company. Before he graduated, he was accepted into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi and Orchesis Dance Society. He was also the recipient of the Dee Winterton Award for Outstanding Achievement. Upon graduating in 1996, Damon was asked to join the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. While there, he worked with Murray Louis, Janis Brenner, Della Davidson, David Rousseve, Ming Lung Lang, and Keith Johnson. He also performed works by Doug Varone, Creach and Koester, Laura Dean, and Douglas Nielsen. In 1998, he left RWDC to pursue a career in education. He currently teaches at Orange Coast College and California State University, Fullerton. In addition to dancing with TONGUE, Damon also spends time as a freelance choreographer and recently completed dances for NC InterArts and Project Dance of Long Beach. Wendy Andronika Samuels, received her BA from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. Since then, she has performed with numerous choreographers, musicians, and visual artists in Seattle, New York, and Los Angeles. Some include, Wade Madsen and Dancers, Zen Fred Dance CO., Winifred Harris' Between Lines, Rosanna Gamson, Eyvind Kang, K.T. Niehoff and Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet. Her current studies are immersed in the depth of Astanga Yoga and the science of snowboarding. William Schurmann, was born in Milwaukee, WI. He began studying dance at the University of Wisconsin, Madison under Edward Burgess. In 1991, he moved to California and continued his training at Orange Coast College. While there, he studied with Karen Shanley, Linda Sohl-Donnell and Shana Menaker. In the past six years, he has danced with Karin Jenson, Rules Dance Company, Lawrence Rosenburg, Coast Ballet, Joel Christenson Dance Company and finally in 1997 became a founding member of TONGUE. It is through his affiliation with TONGUE that William has found his true voice, redefined the word professionalism for himself and discovered a support system stronger than any other. He has been a student of Joe Goode for the past two summers at workshops in San Francisco, and credits Joe, one of his favorite choreographers, for much of what he has learned. Melissa Spooner, received her BA in Dance from California Institute of the Arts in 1998. While at Cal Arts, she performed in many faculty and student works, one of which took her to the Kennedy Center in May 1998 to perform at the American College Dance Festival National Gala. She is also involved in interactive dance performing projects with the Shipp Company. She was asked to join TONGUE in August, 1998.

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TONGUE BIOGRAPHIES (Cont.) Bryan Wallk, Company Manager has an extensive and hugely varied background in dance as well as a Master’s Degree in aerospace engineering. He has performed in musical theater, operas and in a wide range of modern dance styles. Beginning his initial training in jazz, ballet and tap at the Gus Giordano Dance Studio in Chicago while in high school, Bryan went to on train in modern dance and ballet at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana while majoring in engineering. At the U of I, he had the opportunity to work with Stephen Koester, Jan Erkert and Doug Nielsen, among others, and performed in numerous dance, opera and theatrical productions. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to work at Douglas Aircraft (now Boeing) and continued ballet training with ABT's Danilo Radojevic and modern dance with Charles Edmundson. In 1998, he became a founding member of the Pacific Dance Ensemble, a Los Angeles based repertory group. With PDE, Bryan worked with most of the prominent West Coast choreographers including, Joe Goode, Rudy Perez, and Stephanie Gilliland and performed extensively throughout California. During this time, Bryan also trained in the Pilates method for three years with Marie Jose-Blom at the Long Beach Dance Conditioning Studio and went on to train as a teacher and teach at LBDC. After seven years with PDE, Bryan went on to work as a solo artist with many local modern and ballet companies. In 1997, he was invited to become a founding member of TONGUE. In addition to performing, Bryan teaches company class, is on the board of directors of TONGUE, and oversees all of the administrative operations for the company.