FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

POLARIS DANCE THEATRE presents
Too{blue}:
a soul shaking, heart breaking, groovy combination!

October 18-21 2006

"Guitron knows how to stretch a moment, and he lets the grace notes linger"
Catherine Thomas, Oregonian

TooBlue, an original production, conceived and created by Artistic Director Robert Guitron, is an exuberant exploration of two art forms born and raised in the USA: Modern dance and Blues music.  These two art forms rooted deeply within American culture are a historical expression of emotional and economic upheaval, of hard times and broken hearts, and of the joy and sorrow that is the essence of the American experience. Polaris’ company of twelve dancers will captivate audiences with fresh new movement featuring 6 brand new works while the sound of all time music greats like John Lee Hooker, Linda Hopkins, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal, Kelly Joe Phelps, Nina Simone will fill the theatre "....cutting a wide swath from raw Mississippi swamp to sweaty juke-joint to citified big-band to electric, using the rolling rumble of a train as a narrative thread through time and place." TooBLUE explores the richness of old time Blues as well as the whimsy of more contemporary works. Modern Dance and the Blues... a soulshaking, heartbreaking, groovy combination!!

Artistic Director, Robert Guitron renowned for his work with Polaris in bringing the art community together through performance, is not new to the Portland dance scene by any means. A Jefferson Dancer alum, founding member of BodyVox, and regular guest choreographer for the Portland Opera, Mr. Guitron has possibly one longest and most sustaining male dance careers in Portland. He has taught and presented work throughout the United States, Canada, Italy and Japan. Besides his four previous Polaris concerts, Robert Guitron has performed and choreographed for BodyVox, Pacific Dance Ensemble, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Opera Omaha, Portland Opera, Utah Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Pacific, Pacific Ballet Theatre, Pacific Artists Ballet Theatre, Jefferson Dancers, and the Northwest Academy of the Arts. Aside from his repertory work his credits also include numerous musicals, music videos, and television commercials.

In addition to the choreography of Artistic Director Robert Guitron, TooBlue will also celebrate the talents of Portland guest choreographers Mary Oslund and Gregg Bielemeier. Mary Oslund, is both Artistic Director Oslund + Company/Dance and Co-Director of Conduit Dance, which provides adult dance education to the Greater Portland area. She has been commissioned and presented works for Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Institute for Contemporary Arts, Portland Art Museum, On The Boards, Bumbershoot, and Jefferson Dancers. Gregg Bielemeier, a faculty member at Conduit Dance, has been a featured dancer, choreographer, and teacher throughout Europe in the West Coast for over thirty years. He has presented works for Dance Kaleidoscope, On The Boards, Portland Art Museum, Imago, White Bird, and BodyVox. TooBlue will also premiere sculptures and painting by Dylan Anderson and photography by Brian McDonald.

Polaris Dance Theatre dancers include Sara Anderson, Edgar Badua, Jennifer Camp, Tracy Carboneau, Elena Foley, Keeley Love, M’Liss Stephenson, and Margo Yohner; apprentices Amber Davis and Rachael Nielsen; and guest dancers Mike Dawson and Jim McGinn. Polaris’ group of talented dancers come from eclectic backgrounds, bringing training and experience from Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Ballet Monterey of Mexico, North Carolina School of the Arts, Alvin Ailey Dance School, Moscow Circus, Kansas City Ballet, American Dance Theatre, Ballet West, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Siberian Military District Ballet Ensemble, the Tremaine Dance Center and Ballet International, among others.

Polaris Dance Theatre's 06-07 Season is in part supported by the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Summer Lea Hillman Foundation, Juliet Ashby Hillman Foundation, The Collins Foundation, Jackson Foundation individual donors, as well as in kind contributions.

Show Times:
Wednesday October 18 7:30pm
Thursday October 19 7:30pm
Friday October 20 7:30pm
Saturday October 21 7:30pm