Dance Truck News

Extended Dates: Dances Made to Order
Now through May 31st, watch the ATLANTA Edition of the popular online dance series, Dances Made to Order. Log In and enter code: TRUCK for a 20% discount on monthly or annual subscriptions. Watch the films online anytime. This inventive platform for presenting contemporary collaborations puts 75% of all proceeds into the hands of Atlanta artists.
www.dancesmadetoorder.com


Our Sister Organization: The Lucky Penny
Dance Truck is officially a project of Atlanta's new presenting organization, The Lucky Penny. Dance Truck's Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Malina Rodriguez and Choreographer Blake Beckham founded The Lucky Penny in 2011 to support the creation and presentation of cutting-edge contemporary art, aiming to advance artistry and cultivate community in Atlanta, GA.


This summer, The Lucky Penny presents Blake Beckham's new work: Threshold at DramaTech Theater August 16-19. Creative Loafing broke the news on 5/21 about our exciting collaboration with Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects in this article. www.theluckypenny.org


Next Stop...Dance Truck: Double Wide
Our next production is BIG. Double Wide is a public performance with two trucks side by side and a band stand in between. 2 choreographers will perform simultaneous new works to an original piece of music by a local music act. We will curate 6 choreographers, 3 composers, 2 lighting designers, and 1 technical director for this ambitious truck adventure.


We are currently seeking a SPONSOR to step up and commission this classic Atlanta performance phenomenon. Contact Malina Rodriguez, Artistic Director, at atldancetruck@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Barefoot in the Park - May 4th

Dance Truck goes OTP Friday, May 4th
We'll be in Duluth for their Barefoot in the Park Festival GALA


Performances by
Onur Topal-Sümer with Zephyr Instrumental : "Barefoot Dance"
Ursula Kendall Johnson : "BREATHE" 
  with music composed by Quentin "EQ" Johnson


Lighting Design by
Danny Davis

Ursula Kendall Johnson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating with Magnet honors at Tri-Cities High School, Ursula had the privilage to audition for the Alvin Ailey School. She was awarded a partial scholarship from Denise Jefferson to attend the Ailey School, and today Ursula teaches as a Jazz Instructor for Ailey Camp Atlanta sponsored by the Fox Theater Atlanta. As Ursula furthered her education at Dillard University, she participated in the Dillard Diamonds as a member and choreographer. Ursula has trained under Roscoe Sales, Diane Sales, Patdro Harris, Jimmy Lucas, Nina Gilbreath, Waverly Lucas and Dawn Axam and collaboratively worked with choreographers such as Juel D. Lane, Nakia Henry and Duane Cyrus. Her creative works and collaborations graced many collegiate stages in “Soweto, Soweto, Soweto A Township is Calling”, directed by: David Kote; “For Colored Girls” directed by Barry Franklin; and 106th and Park with the Dillard Diamonds. Ursula returned to Atlanta from hurricane Katrina, where she began to captivate her unique blend of West African, Hip Hop, and Contemporary movements along with her present dynamic energy. She recently completed a residency at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master Class at Wake Forest University. Her next adventure, is to produce a project called "SHE, Created IT" as her first solo production premiere in 2013.

Onur Topal-Sümer is originally from Istanbul, Türkiye. Onur has trained in ballet in Vaganova Technique for 12 years and get started working on modern and contemporary dance technique in 1997. She has a B.F.A. in Dance from Istanbul and in 2006 she completed her M.F.A. in Dance with an emphasis in choreography and digital technology from UC, Irvine. Onur has trained, performed and staged her original works across Europe, USA & Asia and had the privilege to work with legendary dance artist Donald McKayle and Pina Bausch Wupertal Dance Company members among many other acclaimed artists around the world. She has been commissioned to create site specific choreography and video installation for FLUX 2010 & 2011 in collaboration with Zoetic Dance Ensemble in Atlanta. Onur is the “Dance Camera Istanbul” Festival director & curator and teaches dance, Pilates, dance for camera and more. She has worked with international dance companies CRR Istanbul Dance Theater, Istanbul State Theater, Loretta Livingston & Dancers (USA), Architexture Dance Company (USA), No Dancers Company (Germany)... and she has been also working with local dance companies; Full Radius Dance, Beacon Dance and with independent choreographers as a dancer/choreographer/filmmaker as well. Onur loves collaborating, creating, sharing and experimenting life through ideas, arts, open mind & heart.  

Founded in 2008, Gwinnett-based Zephyr Instrumental is one member of the family of performing/recording groups and individuals within Zephyr Music, Inc. Zephyr Instrumental is a 16-20 member “21st Century Orchestra”. Together with the compositions of Richard C. Bragg, the ingenuity of producer P. Kerry Fetter, and the abilities of its many members, Zephyr Instrumental offers a unique perspective to the modern classical style of music. With acoustic and electronic instrumentation, along with the use of multimedia visuals and effects; Zephyr Instrumental stands as a leader amongst a new wave of music. Zephyr believes that there is beauty in every form of art and it is the duty of every artist to recognize this beauty and display it for the world to see. Zephyr Instrumental is releasing two new CDs this summer . . . “Elements” and “America”. In the fall they will be recording “Meditations”. All releases will have a DVD and Blu-Ray version with original art, photography and videography. The concert schedule is available on-line at zephyrplanet.com. Listen to Zephyr Instrumental and experience Zephyr Instrumental!