Dance company to present new work co-commissioned by Lied Center at KU

LAWRENCE -- The Lied Center of Kansas New Directions Series at the University of Kansas and Aquila will present Diavolo Dance Theater at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 16.

Diavolo was founded in 1992 in Los Angeles by Jacques Heim to create interdisciplinary performances that examine the funny and frightening ways in which people interact with their environment. The company's performance will include the Midwest premiere of "DreamCatcher," a new work co-commissioned by the Lied Center and described by Diavolo as "a leap of faith through a web of dreams."

Inspired by the Native American dream catcher, a woven spider web that catches and holds one's bad dreams, "DreamCatcher" is performed on, around, through, above and against an 18-foot-high wheel that spins and rotates as it alternately attracts, repels, thrusts, dangles and enfolds the dancers, catching both the dreamers and their dreams. This production will be performed to original music composed by Banco de Gaia.

In addition to their performance, members of Diavolo will participate in residency activities at the Lied Center that will include workshops, lectures and demonstrations with KU and Lawrence school-district students.

The education residency will include:

Monday, April 12
 • Two workshops with Lawrence secondary students, university students and community groups.

Wednesday, April 14
 • 10-11 a.m.: School-only performance; for seventh- to 12th-grade students; Lied Center.

Thursday, April 15
 • 2:30-3:20 p.m.: Conversation with Diavolo Dance Theater directors; for KU students; Swarthout Recital Hall, Murphy Hall.  • Two workshops with Lawrence secondary students, university students and community groups.

Friday, April 16
 • "Coffee and Conversation with the Artists" following the performance. Seymour Gallery (upper lobby), Lied Center.

Tickets for reserved seats are on sale at the Lied Center, (785) 864-ARTS (2787) voice or (785) 864-2777 TDD; University Theatre, Murphy Hall, (785) 864-3982; SUA, Kansas Union, (785) 864-SHOW; Ticketmaster, (785) 234-4545 or (816) 931-3330; and online at Tickets.com and TicketMaster.com. Ticket prices are: public $28 and $23; KU, Haskell students or children (up to 18 years) $14 and $11.50; senior citizens (62 and over) $27 and $22; KU faculty/staff $24 and $20.