Parsons Dance

Thursday, March 28, 2019 – 7:30 PM

Parsons Dance is a New York City-based modern dance company, internationally renowned for creating and performing contemporary American dance of extraordinary artistry that is accessible and enriching to diverse audiences. Founded in 1985 by artistic director David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, Parsons Dance is known for its energized, athletic, ensemble work, and has collaborated with iconic artists across all disciplines including Billy Taylor, Milton Nascimento, Allen Toussaint, William Ivey Long, Donna Karan, Annie Leibovitz, and Alex Katz. The company has toured to more than 445 cities, 30 countries and 5 continents for the most notable theaters, festivals and presenters worldwide including The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Maison de la Danse, Teatro La Fenice and Téatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro.

New York Magazine called Mr. Parsons "one of modern dance's great living dance-makers." Parsons continues to pursue its mission to deliver positive, affirming, life enriching experiences to audiences worldwide by maintaining a repertory of over 75 works by David Parsons and producing his new works. He states: "The arts are a powerful tool for self-expression and communication... my goal is to provide opportunities for more people to experience the wonders of dance." Parsons Dance aims to deliver positive, affirming and life-enriching experiences to audiences worldwide. This commitment to bring dance to all audiences propels them to not only produce innovative performances, but also to actively and meaningfully engage with communities. In addition to their ongoing education programs, which include open rehearsals, studio showcases, master classes, and open company classes, Parsons Dance is especially devoted to bringing dance to communities and populations that face barriers in accessing the arts. Autism-Friendly Performances, or 'Relaxed Performances', allow audiences to have the freedom to express themselves and react openly while watching the dancers and hearing the music. For these performances, sensory stimuli such as lights and sound are modified and the theater designates quiet spaces to take a break from the show.

– Select programming is made possible in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives
support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.