Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre (GHDT) will close its 26th Season with “Sagas and Superstitions” on June 7 and 8 at The Tarkington at The Center for Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana. Featured in the program will be the premiere of “Don’t Sit at the Corner of the Table,” Artistic Director Gregory Hancock’s latest creation inspired by superstitions of Eastern Europe that are believed to bring both good and bad luck, and set to colorful Ukrainian music.
Company dancer Chloe Holzman will premiere her first choreographic work set on GHDT, “Pelo Caminho” featuring a Brazilian story and music.
“Greek Mythology” is inspired by the ancient tales and superstitions of Achilles, Eros and Psyche, Hermes, “The Three Graces,” Echo and Narcissus, and Pandora, and is set to contemporary music of Greece. Rounding out the program will be “The Wedding,” inspired by Roma traditions and set to Polish music.
This concert will mark the farewell performances of three long-time dancers of GHDT. Hannah Brown, Chloe Holzman, and Camden Lancaster will retire from the concert stage with this performance. They will each present a solo performance of memorable roles from their careers with GHDT. Please join us as we celebrate their contributions to GHDT over the years.
Hannah Brown has been with GHDT for 11 seasons and has appeared in over 96 repertoire pieces. She has created memorable performances as Elizabeth Short in “The Black Dahlia,” Mary Magdalene in “SUPERHERO: The Story of a Man Called Jesus,” the Daughter of the Persecutor in “Exodus,” Charmian in “Antony and Cleopatra,” and many more.
“I will miss the feeling of being on stage,” Brown says. “I will miss wearing beautiful costumes, bringing characters to life, and losing myself in the music and movement in front of an audience. GHDT has been my home for a third of my life. I will miss being able to come to the studio every day and do what I love with such amazing people. The stories we tell on stage are so special and it’s something that makes GHDT unique. I feel lucky to have found this company and been able to spend by career here.”
“I have learned many life lessons during my time with GHDT,” Brown adds. “I have learned how to collaborate and work well within a group, stay calm and collected in a crisis, and how to trust my own instincts. I will continue to teach dance, and I am looking forward to being able to enjoy GHDT shows from the audience for the first time.”
Chloe Holzman has been with the company for six seasons and has appeared in over 70 repertoire pieces. Some of her favorite roles and pieces include Octavius in “Antony and Cleopatra,” a mother in “1941,” “Lagaan,” “Cuchi Cuchi” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
“I will never forget the first time we performed ‘Exodus,’” Holzman says. “During the Plagues section, when we had been rehearsing there was a fair amount of difficulty in the choreography, plus the music was stressful, so we already had some anxiety when dancing in the Plagues. But then in the modern plague of Desecration of the Earth, on stage there were plastic bottles everywhere, and we couldn’t see the Oppressors’ faces due to the costumes, and then the wings started being removed. It made for a completely new experience, and really put us in an entirely new world. One of the more unique aspects of GHDT is the type of works we present. I really love being able to tell a story as I dance, and not a lot of companies do that, especially modern dance companies. I will miss being able to play different characters and embodying different stories.”
“One of the biggest things I learned at GHDT was about the culture of India,” Holzman continues. “I had never danced to Indian music before. I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn not only about dance of India, but also about culture and traditions. I have performed in ‘There’s No Place Like Home,’ ‘Kalbeliya,’ ‘Hooray for Tollywood,’ ‘Lagaan’ and many other India-themed pieces. I am so grateful we have such support from the local Indian community.”
Camden Lancaster has danced with GHDT for six seasons and has appeared in over 80 repertoire pieces. She has originated the roles of the Mother of the Chosen in “Exodus,”the Mysterious Woman in “The Wild Wild West,” Iras in “Antony and Cleopatra,” and the Mischievous Djinn in “Angels and Djinn.” Some of her favorite pieces include “Once Upon a Time,” “Exodus,” “Under the Big Top” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
“Some of my most memorable moments with GHDT are getting to tell stories through dance,” Lancaster says. “‘Exodus’ is one of my favorite performances I have done with GHDT. I will remember the process of it being set on us and how that was. I will always remember how powerful ‘Exodus’ felt dancing. I also really enjoyed performing in ‘Under the Big Top,’ which was another show in which the costumes, choreography and story were so much fun to perform. I have enjoyed all the choreography, music and performances that I have been able to be a part of over the past six years. GHDT is a special company where you get to perform a variety of pieces that are both powerful and beautiful.”
“I will miss performing on stage in front of an audience,” Lancaster adds. “I love telling stories through dance and feeding off the audience’s energy during the performance. I will miss the rush I get from dancing. Dance will continue to be a part of my life in some form, so it will be a gift that I will always enjoy.”
While Brown, Holzman and Lancaster will be retiring from the concert stage, they will remain involved with GHDT and teaching at The Academy of GHDT. We will miss their powerful and beautiful performances on stage. The GHDT family wishes them all the best as they move on to new journeys in their lives.
For tickets to “Sagas and Superstitions,” please contact 317-843-3800 and visit thecenterpresents.org. For more information about Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, please visit gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.
