Malashock Dance Company Hosts 25th Anniversary Concert
A Celebration of Imagination and Human Spirit
John Malashock is the founder and artistic director of Malashock Dance Company.
After reviewing his work for several years, I finally got to meet John Malashock, the founder and artistic director of Malashock Dance Company, which is considered one of California’s premiere dance organizations. John’s career is an inspiration.
John shared with me that he never intended to start a dance studio. However, he needed the organization in order to support his work, which is physical expression, storytelling through dance. Though John now resides in San Diego, his dance career really blossomed in New York, when he joined Twyla Tharp’s company. During his time in New York, he appeared in the Academy Award-winning film “Amadeus,” was featured in numerous television specials, and performed in numerous concerts with Mikhail Baryshnikov. After a prestigious career with Twyla Tharp’s organization he decided to return to San Diego and start his own dance company.
Like a proud father, John is excited when he talks about his dance company and the dancers. He said he likes the “balance” of the group, referring to their talent, skills, appearance and ability to create. He has the vision. They execute. It’s a collaborative process.John says he gets inspiration from the personality, chemistry and group dynamics of the members of his dance company. And, he is grateful to everyone who is a part of the team, dancers and administration who have helped to take his company from the stage to the classroom.
The company and dance school, under John’s direction, has created impressive dance outreach programs for underserved youth and people with disabilities. Academics In Motion program is in place at Freese Elementary where students spend one hour each week with a Malashock teaching artist who supports current academic curricula with each dance lesson. Dance with thisABILITY! integrates young adults from St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center into a professional dance environment. Classes incorporate fine and gross motor skills, spatial awareness, self expression through movement and pattern sequencing.
So, now, after 25 years as a dance company Malashock gets to celebrate its accomplishments and John is reminded of his successes, which includes producing 70 choreographic works, dance/theater collaborations, theater and opera productions, and award-winning dance films. Some of the notable collaborative credits include creating choreography for productions at La Jolla Playhouse and Old Globe Theatre. It has commissioned work by the San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Music Society and San Diego Opera.
Adding to his success, John has earned five Emmy Awards for his dance films, which have aired on more than 30 affiliate PBS stations nationwide. John’s most recent Emmy win was in 2012 for outstanding choreography in “The Floating World,” a collaborative project with the San Diego Museum of Art, UCSD-TV, and other local artists.
“The Floating World” will be re-staged at the upcoming March 2013 anniversary concert, which will take place at 8 p.m., Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9. The concert will features the work of John Malashock who teams with renowned pianist Gustavo Romero for an intimate music and dance collaboration to piano suites by Czech composer Leos Janacek. The beautiful and emotional selections are a perfect pairing for Malashock’s choreographic short stories. Also on the program is a re-staging of “Fathom: The Body as Universe,” Malashock’s hugely successful 2006 collaboration with Japanese artist Junko Chodos.
The performance takes place at The Birch North Park Theatre, located at 2891 University Avenue to recognize the dance company and its outreach efforts that foster the arts and academics in San Diego. Proceeds from the benefit concert will support education outreach programs. Concert proceeds also will provide scholarships for dance classes, workshops, and the Summer Intensive program for aspiring professional dancers. Tickets are now available for purchase through the Birch North Park Theatre Box office: 619-239-8836 or http://birchnorthparktheatre.net/purchase-tickets.
To learn more about the Malashock Dance Company, visit www.malashockdance.org or call (619) 260-1622.
Category: Entertainment, Life Style
