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Victory Dance Project Third Anniversary Season, June 15 - 18

by Helene Davis
June 9, 2017
Manhattan Movement and Arts Center
248 West 60th Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 787 1178
Victory Dance Project, under the Artistic Direction of Amy Jordan, celebrates its third anniversary with three performances, running June 15 – 18 at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center (no performance on June 16). The season opens with a celebration honoring Broadway legend Chita Rivera, who will be presented with the company’s “Woman of Valor Award.” The program also includes a world premiere as well pieces from the company’s repertory. On June 17 and 18, the program will include special performances by students from Early Mosley’s Diversity of Dance company.

Victory Dance Project was founded in 2014 by dancer/choreographer Amy Jordan, five years after a horrific bus accident almost took her life. That day, she resolved that if she survived, she would do a “victory dance” to celebrate, and launched VDP Project with the mission to “Make the Impossible Possible with the Power of Movement. She is an embodiment of that motto: at the Opening Night Celebration, Amy will return to the stage for the first time since her accident, dancing in a new work choreographed by Christopher Jackson. In appreciation, she is dedicating the performance to the incredible doctors at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Burn Unit, who she credits with saving her life.

Chita Rivera will be presented with the company’s “Woman of Valor” Award at the Opening Night Celebration on June 15. The Award honors a woman whose artistic excellence, advocacy and legacy represents the highest level of integrity and artistic vision. Ms. Rivera said, “Amy Jordan is an inspiration to us all and I’m honored to accept this award.”

Victory Dance Project embodies the ideals of transforming adversity into victory,
living a healthy lifestyle through dance fitness, and using dance performance as a tool to inspire and encourage people’s hearts and minds. Amy Jordan encourages everyone to ‘Dance Because You Can.’

Victory Dance Project company members include Christopher Jackson (Associate Director), Gary Lewis, William Briscoe, Karen Nicely, Martell Ruffin, and Aika Takeshima. For a full company roster and bios, visit victorydance.org. Company members have performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey 11, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, School of American Ballet, Philadanco, Ballet Hispánico, Shen Wei Arts, The Juilliard School, Cirque du Soleil, 'So You Think You Can Dance', and many Broadway musicals.

Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received eight additional nominations for an exceptional 10 Tony nominations.She starred in the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a new musical celebrating her spectacular career; and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. Chita was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2009, and received a coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the first Hispanic woman chosen to receive this award.

Amy Jordan’s training and career spans three decades of study and performances in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. A diabetic since age 4, she overcame serious health issues and complications from juvenile diabetes and started the nonprofit Sweet Enuff, to help obese kids deal with their diabetes through dance and exercise. It was a national top finalist for First Lady Michelle Obama’s “End Childhood Obesity Challenge.” Following an almost fatal bus accident in 2009, which crushed her leg and ended her career as a dancer, Amy founded The Victory Dance Project to prove that “The impossible is possible through the power of movement.” amyjordaninc.com

Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, Inc. seeks to create nurturing communities where student artists from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds grow and achieve excellence through positive collaboration. EMIAdance.org

Victory Dance Project’s 2017 season will play three performances: June 15 and June 17 at 7:30 pm; and June 18 at 3 pm (no performance on June 16) at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center (MMAC), 248 W. 60th Street. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday performances are $40 if purchased in advance, or $50 at the door. The opening night tickets are $65 for performance only or $150, which includes a post-show Anniversary Celebration. Tickets can be purchased at ticketfly.com or by calling 877-987-6487. For further information, visit victorydance.org.
Chita Rivera.

Chita Rivera.

Photo © & courtesy of Laura Marie Duncan

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