Terpsicorps Fuses Art and Dance in New Performance - TribPapers
Arts

Terpsicorps Fuses Art and Dance in New Performance

Dancers rehearse ahead of Terpsicorps' next performance. Photo: Irwin Fayne

Asheville – Terpsicorps Theater of Dance plans to delight lovers of art and movement with the premier of “Before the Scream” at the Diana Wortham Theater from July 25 through 27. The immersive experience will blend interactive projects with choreography by Heather Maloy and an international cast of dancers from critically acclaimed companies across the US and beyond.

In ‘Before the Scream,’ audiences witness the haunting imagery of Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, “The Scream,” brought to life through a series of diverse vignettes. Choreographer and artistic director Heather Maloy explores a range of possible moments leading up to the iconic scream, taking viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. At times, the production playfully mocks frivolous first-world problems, while at others, it delves into the profound depths of the human experience.

Rehearsals are ongoing for the premier of “Before the Scream” at Diana Wortham Theater. Photo: Irwin Fayne

“We are thrilled to unveil this innovative and exhilarating production,” says Artistic Director Heather Maloy. “With ‘Before the Scream,’ we aim to take our audiences on a completely unpredictable journey through the transformative power of dance.”

The program also features Maloy’s beloved crowd-pleaser, ‘Second Line,’ a tribute to the resilience and spirit of New Orleans post-Katrina. Set to the lively rhythms of New Orleans jazz, this work celebrates the enduring power of music and community, showcasing the strength and unity that can arise from adversity.

The performance also includes the masterpiece ”Satto,’ (Wind Dance), created by the late master choreographer Salvatore Aiello. Maloy danced for the North Carolina Dance Theatre under Aiello’s direction and was greatly influenced by him, both as a choreographer and as a director. His flair for creating dance that is not only noteworthy for its movement quality and musicality but also for its theatricality is the inspiration behind everything Terpsicorps produces.

A duet showcasing strength, grace, and profound beauty, “Satto uses the dancers’ intense movements to symbolize the encounter between wind and leaf, creating a delicate and precise partnering that propels the pas de deux forward. Originally crafted in Winston-Salem for NC Dance Theatre in 1983, Terpsicorps is thrilled to bring this incredible work back to life, allowing audiences to be swept away once more by its timeless artistry.

Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance is renowned for pushing artistic boundaries and creating captivating performances that resonate with audiences. Led by Artistic Director Heather Maloy, the 21-year-old summer-only company features professional dancers handpicked from critically acclaimed companies across the US and abroad during their summer hiatus. The number of applicants has grown steadily year by year, affording Terpsicorps the ability to consistently present an ethnically diverse cast of dancers who are hired for a unique combination of athletic virtuosity and theatrical artistry. This summer-only model affords Asheville the ability to lay claim to an artistic product worthy of any large metropolitan city.