Year: 2014-2015
DanceForce Member: Gregory Cary
Artists: Thomas Ortiz Dance; Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company
Community Partner: Kaatsbaan International Dance Center
Audience: 440
Counties: Dutchess

UpStream residencies are designed to support creative time for dance choreographers and the professional studio space needed to fulfill creative goals. In the selection process all dance styles were considered with no specific requirements for artistic content. However, artists are expected to utilize the facilities and their time by working full days at their craft during the residency.

This year’s selection began in July 2014 with an application process. Kaatsbaan’s Co-founder/Artistic Director Gregory Cary made the final selection in October from 48 applications received. Two companies were selected to participate: Thomas Ortiz Dance and Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company. Thomas Ortiz Dance will be in residence from April 12 to April 19, 2015 with a performance on April 18 at 7:30 pm. Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company will be in residence from April 19 to April 26 with a performance on April 25 at 7:30 pm. Each company will receive use of the Studio Complex, one large studio, and housing at the Dancers’ Inn for one week. All advertising and theater production expenses for the performance in Kaatsbaan’s 160-seat black box theatre are included. A $1,000 grant will be given to each company to assist with transportation and company expenses. In return, each company or artist will hold one open rehearsal and one master class for area dance students in addition to the full company performance.

Promotion for the performances included a seasonal post card mailed to 5,000 households and e-mails sent to over 3,000. Magazine and newspaper ads were placed in regional publications that reached a four-county region. Ticket prices are reduced for these performances – subsidized to serve an economically diverse audience. Twenty seats for each performance are reserved for Day Top Services, subsidized in partnership with Kaatsbaan and the Dutchess County Community Foundation. Thomas Ortiz Dance, based in New York, melds the urban athleticism of Ted Thomas with Frances Ortiz’s Latin sensuality and their combined choreographic and musical sensibilities. Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz founded Thomas/Ortiz Dance in 2001. Shiera Coleman, Communications Producer for City of Rochester said, “Intense, colorful, romantic, sensual, emotional, fantastic, graceful….loved it!”

The Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company is a splendid mix of dance styles that balances the tradition of modern dance with the popular and the unusual. They are just starting to come into their own as an ensemble and creating a distinct dance style. They are highly experimental in their own right as dance companies go, but they add a freshness to the tapestry of dance styles moving forward and affirming life, making even the most demanding choreography look and feel fun. “The Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company painted portraits in movement; the action gained emotional intensity.” – New York Times