FORGING AHEAD
PRESS RELEASE: GO! Contemporary Dance Works Forges Ahead with Livestream Performance at the Historic Tennessee Theatre
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KNOXVILLE, TN., November 4, 2020—GO! Contemporary Dance Works will present Forging Ahead, a livestream dance performance at the historic Tennessee Theatre on Sunday, November 15th at 5pm. This will be a milestone performance in partnership with the Tennessee Theatre, Stellar Visions production company and Veeps, a platform to ticket and livestream performances. Forging Ahead will present a mixed rep bill with eighteen shorter works created by nine choreographers. The performance will travel through the spectrum of dramatic, visually stunning works to uplifting, light hearted and even comedic works.
The roster will include new works such as ArtMatics, a smart contemporary pointe piece where the dancers are creating numbers, letters and equations to driving digital music, and Harper Addison’s How Are You? Gorilla, a contradictory contemporary work choreographed to baroque music. The dancers are in a vibrant storm of flowing, swirling prom dresses contrasting the grounding choreography. Daniel Chait, formerly of the American Ballet Theatre, created comm/Unity, a bright, colorful and energetic modern work with brilliant patterning and stylistic movement. GO! will also be presenting repertoire favorites to include the stunning Reversal of Beauty, choreographed by Lisa Hall McKee in 2005, The Shirt I Wear by Denise Njuguna, exploring bipolar disorder and Darby O’Connor’s emotionally charged Harlan County, USA performed to “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” by the Ruby Friedman Orchestra.
“We have moved forward with this show, and just kept forging ahead,” states Lisa Hall McKee, artistic director. “It has been an incredible experience to be back in the studio making work. We designed the show choreographically and technically to be presented virtually and are excited about our partnership with Stellar Visions as well as Veeps, which will ensure our audience is emotionally and visually connected to the performance.” GO! has been preparing for Forging Ahead since September. “There is no reason we cannot be in the studios safely. The dancers have adapted to wearing masks in rehearsals and we have created great work. It is a GO! show like no other!”
GO! Contemporary Dance Works is a 50 member non-profit organization located in Knoxville, TN. Since the company’s founding in 2004, it has provided Knoxville with over 70 performances throughout East Tennessee and continues to create new works annually. This performance is made possible through the generosity of the Tennessee Theatre and Stellar Visions.
“While it will be a bit strange performing to empty seats, the dancers all know that we will be reaching into the homes of our audience and that is very motivating,” McKee adds. “This is our chance to keep art alive in Knoxville, and present an uplifting show to our community. GO! Contemporary Dance Works is forging ahead!!!.”
Virtual tickets are $10 and available at https://gocontemporarydanceworks.veeps.com/services/4a3136f5d87c/packages
For more information please visit gocontemporarydance.com or tennesseetheatre.com. You may also call GO!’s office at 865-539-2475 with questions about ticketing.
Core Choreographers

DYLAN KENDRICK
Choreographer
FULL BIO

LAURA SHIELDS
Choreographer
FULL BIO

JILL FRERE
Principal Dancer
Choreographer
FULL BIO

LISA HALL MCKEE
Artistic Director
Principal Choreographer
FULL BIO

HARPER ADDISON
Principal Dancer
Choreographer
FULL BIO