Doug Varone and Dancers [STRIPPED]
Join Doug Varone and Dancers for [Stripped] see Somewhere, Varone’s critically acclaimed interpretation of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story score shown in its entirety. In an informal atmosphere with no lights and no costumes, the evening will have lots of dancing as well as an open dialogue on the process of creating.
“Our [Stripped] Events are perfect evenings for people who both love dance and are new to it. If you’ve ever wanted to know about the inner workings of how a dance is made from beginning to end this is a great accessible event, for young and old alike.” – Doug Varone
“Varone’s ability to convey depths of emotion through highly charged, physically exciting choreography has made him a rarity among his generation.” – THE NEW YORK TIMES
“If you have ever sat so close in a rehearsal with dancers whirling past and stopping within an inch of your nose, then you know what a gem of an opportunity this is.” – IDANZ.COM
The 2023/24 season marks the Doug Varone and Dancers 38th year. On the concert stage, in opera, theater and on the screen, Varone’s kinetically thrilling dances make essential connections and mine the complexity of the human spirit.
On tour, the company has performed in more than 125 cities in 45 states across the U.S. and in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. Stages include The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, San Francisco Performances, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Toronto’s Harbourfront, Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theater, Buenos Aires’ Teatro San Martin, the Venice Biennale, Marble Hall in Tokyo, and the Bates, Jacob’s Pillow and American Dance Festivals. In opera and theater, the company regularly collaborates on the many Varone-directed or choreographed productions that have been produced around the country.
Doug Varone and Dancers are among the most sought-after ambassadors and educators in the field. The company was selected to tour as part of the DanceMotionUSA(SM) program, a joint project between BAM and the US Department of State, touring, performing and teaching in Argentina, Paraguay and Peru for a month. This project culminated in the premiere of a new commissioned work for Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival, in collaboration with the Argentina-based Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance.
Other BAM produced seasons include Dense Terrain (2007) and the 30th Anniversary Season (2016) and In the Shelter of the Fold/Epilogue (2019). For the past 20 years, the company’s annual summer intensive workshops at leading universities attracts students and professionals from around the globe. The DEVICES Program, a mentoring initiative for emerging choreographers began its pilot year in 2014. This unique program mentors 10 artists over the course of several months in the creation and presentation of new works. Other educational initiatives include Virtual Varone, a program which creates virtual residencies around the globe and the Education/Performance Project which enfolds college dance students into the company’s repertory, directly sharing the stage with company dancers. The Project has been a cornerstone in the company’s teaching and mentorship programs, creating an important dialogue with young dancers about their artistry and the affect they can have in the world today.
Varone, his dancers and designers have been honored with 11 Bessie Awards. The Company’s creative output is as varied as Varone’s interests. Recent projects include: everything is fine, a full evening movement play based on the poems of Billy Collins, with a new score by David Van Tieghem; The Scrapbook, a digital journal of 10 films created and directed by Varone, set to iconic songs from the 1940s-50’s and Somewhere, Varone’s acclaimed non-narrative version of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, and To My Arms/Restore set to the music of G.F Handel remixed with club beats. To learn more about the Company, visit dovadance.org.