Nimbus Dance Works, the modern dance company based in Jersey City, will honor Councilwoman Candice Obsborne and Dr. Edgar Rivera Colon at its 2015 gala Oct. 17 at the Barrow Mansion. The event benefits the company’s dance scholarship fund.
The evening will include performances by Nimbus Dance Works, their pre-professional company the Nimbus Youth Ensemble, live and silent auctions, live music, drinks, hors-d’oeuvres and desserts.
Dr. Colon will receive their first annual Nimbus Award for Service to The Arts. Nimbus will also honor Councilwoman Candice Osborne for advocacy of the arts in downtown Jersey City. The Gala Committee, co-chaired by City Council President Rolando Lavarro and by Marlene O’Haire Sandkamp includes community leaders from all sectors of Jersey City.
Last year the School of Nimbus Dance Works gave over $30,000 in scholarship funds to Jersey City youth to insure access to high quality dance training, regardless of the student’s financial situation. Nimbus’ youth programs are designed to broaden young people’s horizons and enrich the community with world-class arts.
The Oct. 17 gala will benefit the company’s scholarship fund.
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Dr. Colón, a medical anthropologist and faculty member at St. Peter’s University and at Columbia, has volunteered his time to design and implement the Opportunity Knocks program, a course on communication, goal-setting, college preparation, and guided personal development that is woven into the Nimbus pre-professional dance program.
The dance program
Nimbus will present excerpts of Indo-British choreographer Darshan Singh Bhuller’s “Mapping,” Cuban choreographer Pedro Ruiz’s “Danzon,” and Nimbus Artistic Director Samuel Pott’s “Patch of Turf.”
The gala takes place at the Barrow Mansion, 83 Wayne St., Jersey City. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Black tie festive dress is requested. Performances begin at 7:30 followed by the party. Tickets are $75 in advance, $85 at the door, and advance tickets can be purchased at http://nimbusgala2015.bpt.me.
About Nimbus Dance Works
Nimbus Dance Works focuses its work on the intersection between high-level dance and innovative ways of involving communities and audiences. In addition to work by Artistic Director Samuel Pott, the company commissions dances by leading international dancemakers including Pedro Ruiz (Cuba/USA), Huang Yi (Taiwan), Korhan Basaran (Turkey), and Xiao-Xiong Zhang (Australia/Taiwan).
The company has received acclaim for its program “Dance Speaks Out,” and presents significant, historic, socio-political modern dance works, among them Pearl Primus’ “Strange Fruit” (1942) and Charles Weidman’s “Lynchtown” (1936).
The company leads community members in the creation of dance work that respond to socio-political subjects of significance in their community. Through company performances, programs for youth and seniors, partnerships with institutions such as the Jersey City Board of Education and Rutgers University, and collaborations with notable composers and visual artists, Nimbus weaves together artistic excellence and community impact.
Nimbus’ educational programs serve over 1,100 annually in the Jersey City public schools. The School of Nimbus Dance Works offers training in ballet and modern dance for over 130 youth ages 2-18, including a pre-professional program. Nimbus presents semi-annual seasons in Jersey City, annual New York City Seasons, and touring regionally including many of the most prestigious venues in the region including: Brooklyn Academy of Music, NJPAC, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater.