KEY WEST MODERN DANCE RETURNS WITH WORLD CLASS TALENT!
When: Tuesday July 7 to Sunday July 12
Where: The CoffeeMill Dance Studio, Old Town Key West
FEATURE FACULTY:
Maurizio Nardi, Former principal dancer / Martha Graham Dance Company, President, MIDA (Merging Ideas Developing Arts Corp) / Program Coordinator, Key West Modern Dance
Catherine Cabeen, Former dancer / Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
Ricardo A. Zayas, Dancer / Shen Wai Dance Art
Skipper Kripits, Key West percussion master
Maurizio Nardi, resident of Big Pine Key assembles a stellar group of world class dancers for the fifth installment of Key West Modern Dance, produced every year by Merging Ideas Developing Arts Corp (MIDA), a charitable non profit organization developed to bring acclaimed dance luminaries from the most celebrated dance companies in the world and their expertise to Key West and the greater Keys.  The goal of this program is to inspire young local dancers and cultivate dance in the local art community. Key West Modern Dance is supported by The Key West Rotary Club and generous private donations.  For more information about Key West Modern Dance and how to support MIDA, please visit keywestmoderndance.com.  For discounted rates, local students can sign up by calling The CoffeMill Dance Studio at
“Having grown up in a small town in the hills of Tuscany, I can relate to the artistic youth in Key West.  When I was a kid, I was lucky to have access to similar programs and to study with prominent and brilliant teachers. These rare opportunities opened the door for me to pursue and achieve a successful career in dance! Key West Modern Dance is my give back to the community that I now proudly call home!” -Maurizio Nardi
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Classes will begin on Tuesday July 7 and terminate on Sunday July 12. Nardi, Cabeen and Zayas will teach daily 90 minute classes based on the technique and style of Martha Graham, Bill T. Jones and Shen Wei accompanied by live music. Morning classes will focus on contemporary techniques while afternoon classes explore the repertory of these three companies. Classes are open to students 14 and older of intermediate and advance levels.
SPECIAL EVENTS
  • As part of the outreach effort to enrich the local arts community, MIDA, in collaboration with The Studios of Key West present two documentary screenings on the life, journey and creative process of two of the masters of American Modern Dance.
July 9, 6:30 PM – Martha Graham’s “A Dancers World”
July 10, 6:30 PM – Bill T. Jones’ “A good Man”.
Screenings will take place at The Studios Of Key West, 533 Eaton Street and followed by refreshments and Q&A with the faculty of Key West Modern Dance.
  • All Key West Modern Dance classes taking place at The CoffeeMill are open to local visual artists interested in observing and taking inspiration from the human form in motion with the goal of creating new work.
FACULTY BIOS:
Maurizio Nardi is a former Principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company.
In his home country of Italy, Maurizio begin his professional career dancing with Carla Fracci and with mentor, friend and choreographer Deanna Losi. He has danced in productions by Beppe Menegatti, Micha Van Hoecke, Roberto Guicciardini and Anne Bogart. Original roles were created for Mr. Nardi by Deanna Losi, Dug Varone, Mary Anthony, Kun Yung Lin, Larry Keigwin, Martha Clark, Nacho Duato, Pearl Lang, Boulareyang Pagarlava and many others.  Mr. Nardi has being teaching and leading lecture-demonstrations in the Graham technique throughout the US, Europe and Asia. In 2007 Mr. Nardi received the prestigious award, “Les Etoiles De Ballet2000” in Cannes, France and is currently the founder and Artistic Director of Key West Modern Dance summer study program.
Catherine Cabeen was a principal dancer with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company for many years before joining the Martha Graham Dance Company, where she briefly danced with Mr. Nardi. Currently she is a talented choreographer and artistic director of her own multidisciplinary company “Hyphen”. Ms. Cabeen has received choreographic commissions from On the Boards, Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater, the Visa2Dance Festival in Dar Es Salaam, Alsarab Dance Troupe and the Lebanese American University in Byblos Lebanon, Moving People Dance Theater in Santa Fe, and Pig Iron Theater Company in Philadelphia among others. The New York Times has called the work of Ms. Cabeen “highly kinetic, complex… visually exquisite,” and “beautifully performed.” She was a finalist in The A.W.A.R.D. Show! Seattle: 2009, and Emerging Choreographer at Bates Dance Festival during the summer of 2011. Ms.Cabeen is also an Assistant Professor at Marymount Manhattan College (NYC) and repetiteur for the Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.
Ricardo Zayas has been a dancer with Shen Wai Dance Art (choreographer for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China) since 2006. He is a graduate of Fordham University and scholarship student at Dance Theater of Harlem and San Francisco Ballet.  Mr. Zayas has also danced with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Alonzo King/LINES Ballet, among others. Mr. Zayas has been named by Dance Magazine as one of the “25 to Watch.”
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