Zodiaque to mark 45th anniversary with Celebration 45

UB’s Zodiaque Dance Company will kick off its 45th anniversary year with Celebration 45 Nov. 15-18 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, and can be purchased at the Center for the Arts box office or through Ticketfly.com

On Friday, a special gala performance of Celebration 45 will take place. A pre-show event will feature the presentation of the first Marilyn Bonfiglio Ciancio Zodiaque Award; a performance of the Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble choreographed by recent UB dance/Zodiaque graduates Rachel Latke and Jessica Levin; and the presentation of Zodiaque Distinguished Alumni Awards and Zodiaque Directors’ Awards. Honorees include Jeanne Fornarola, clinical associate professor and director of the dance program, and alumni Matt Pardo (2007), Jinah Parker (2004), Karen Schupp (1996) and, posthumously, Cathleen Wendel Lista (1997). 

The gala celebration will conclude with a reception and a gathering of Theatre & Dance and Zodiaque alumni, friends and guests in the Center for the Arts atrium.

Ticket for Friday’s gala performance are $45.

Celebration 45, directed by faculty members Kerry Ring and Jenna Del Monte, features an array of diversified choreography performed by current UB dancers. The company exhibits a tremendous range of styles and repertory, and fosters tradition while continuing to encourage the creation of new works by faculty, students, alumni and guest choreographers. 

Highlights include works choreographed by Ring and Del Monte; Danielle Sheather, UB Dance faculty member and 2003 UB alumna; alumnus Richard Ashworth (2007); Chanon Judson, past honoree (2008) and alumna (2002); Lynne Kurdziel Formato, past director of music theatre; and Nitya Seshadri, a candidate for an MFA in dance. 

Rounding out the evening will be featured guest choreography by Bryan Strimpel Baira and Shaina Branfman Baira, and Zodiaque’s signature bow staged by Tom Ralabate, Zodiaque’s immediate past artistic director.

Guest alumni lighting designers are Andrew DG Hunt and Tannis Kapell; illuminating the awards pre-show will be student lighting designer Joe Crumlish.

Celebration 45 is sponsored by the Office of the President; the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Advancement Office.  

Honorary co-chairs are Kamlesh Tripathi and Carol Greiner.