HOUSTON, TX: Karen Stokes Dance presents “DEEP: Seaspace” October 20-22, 2016 at 8:00pm at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall. “DEEP: Seaspace” is the culminating performance of a multi-year initiative inspired by the history and landmarks of the City of Houston. With an original score by composer Bill Ryan played live by nationally recognized musicians, the evening length live performance will explore Houston for two if its defining industries: sea and space.

“DEEP: Seaspace” fuses history, landscape, dance, and music through the lens of two iconic
Houston enterprises: The Houston Ship Channel and NASA. While Sea speaks to the pioneering spirit of the founding of Houston along the banks of Buffalo Bayou and the formation of the Houston Ship Channel, Space is inspired by Houston’s stronghold in space exploration and human achievement. Celebrating Houston's unique heritage and Texas’ pioneering spirit, “DEEP: Seaspace” investigates the core of human progress, the fundamental spirit of Houston, and the desire to understand the unknown to forge a better tomorrow.

In “DEEP: Seaspace,” Stokes explores “launching” and “landing” through a unique blend of quirky and innovative choreographic styles that has become the trademark of her 20 years of work in contemporary dance. Stokes has received regional and national acclaim for her choreography including being name “Best Choreographer in Houston” in both 2014 and 2015 by the Houston Press. Nancy Wozny, of Texas Arts & Culture, wrote: “In Houston, it’s Karen Stokes who comes to mind as an artist tightly tied to Texas. I named Stokes a choreographer of “place” over a decade ago when she created Hometown, her choral/kinetic poem to the Bayou City. Now heading up Karen Stokes Dance, she’s exploring the ground truth with Backstage at Allen’s Landing, nine art and performance installations that reflect on the landscape, history, architecture, and habitat of a historic Houston site…she is not only the choreographer of Houston but on Houston."

KSD has commissioned a music/soundscape by nationally known composer, Bill Ryan, who
collaborated with Stokes in 2011 for “The Secondary Colors.” Ryan’s music and repertoire has
continued to garner national attention: “Rarely has music this earthy been so elegant, and not
since the works of Elliott Carter (whose music Ryan's in no way resembles) has a composer
fashioned so many facets of his own personality into what is obviously a conversation between
musical characters”(Gramophone Magazine). Ryan has selected an all-star cast of musicians to
bring his music to life: Michael Lowenstern, Todd Meehan, Doug Perkins, and Todd Reynolds.
“DEEP: Seaspace” also includes lighting design by nationally renown designer Kevin Rigdon who has been honored with two Tony Award nominations and four Drama Desk Awards, among others.

Karen Stokes Dance premieres DEEP: Seaspace on Thursday-Saturday, October 20-22, 2016, at 8:00 pm at The Hobby Center for Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002. Ticket prices: TBA. Student Tickets will be available. For tickets (on sale beginning August 1), visit www.thehobbycenter.org. For more information on Karen Stokes Dance, visit www.karenstokesdance.org or contact Company Manger, Toni Valle at
713/409-2838 or toni@karenstokesdance.org.

Karen Stokes Dance is funded in part by grants from Houston Endowment, the Hamman
Foundation, and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Karen Stokes Dance is a
participant in the Resident Incubator Program supported by the City of Houston through the
Houston Art Alliance.

High-resolution photos available upon request
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