UB Theatre & Dance Presents Zodiaque Dance Company 'Celebration 40'

The University at Buffalo Theatre & Dance Department will present Zodiaque Dance Company in "Celebration 40," Nov. 13-17. Performance times are Wednesday-Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday (gala concert) at 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. All performances will be held in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

The 2013-14 academic year marks the 40^th anniversary of Zodiaque Dance Company. It kicks-off this anniversary year by presenting "Celebration 40" Nov. 13-17 with an array of diversified choreography performed by current UB dancers and UB alumni. The company exhibits a range of styles and repertory and fosters tradition, while continuing to encourage the creation of new works by faculty, students, alumni and guest choreographers.

"Celebration 40" highlights include works choreographed by UB Dance faculty members: Tressa Gorman Crehan; Kerry Ring; a joint work by Shelley Hain and Joyce Miller-Lichtenberger; a joint work by Tracy Navarro and Zodiaque alumna Rebecca Guile-Wind; and LehrerDance repertory choreographed by alumnus Jon Lehrer; with featured guest alumni choreography by Anne Beck and Roberto Villanueva; and Zodiaque's signature bow staged by director Tom Ralabate. Guest alumni lighting designers are James Hergenroder and Carlie Todoro-Rickus.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, the gala performance begins at 7 p.m. for pre-show performance by Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble and the presentation of Zodiaque Distinguished Awards and Zodiaque Directors' Awards. Zodiaque honorees include: Gorman Crehan; Guile-Wind; Hain; Lynne Kurdziel Formato; Jenny LaRoche; Miller-Lichtenberger; Massimo; Tracy Navarro; Roberto Villanueva; and First Niagara Bank.

Featured in the "Celebration 40" gala event will be a one-night-only performance of alumni awardees Villanueva and LaRoche, and alumnus Matt Pardo. The celebration will conclude with a gathering of Zodiaque alumni, friends and guests in the Center for the Arts Atrium.

Honorary chairs for the event are Kamlesh Tripathi and Carol Greiner.

To donate to the Zodiaque Fund online, visit http://giving.buffalo.edu/zodiaque.

For information on "Celebration 40," visit www.theatredance.buffalo.edu/news_events.

Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts Box Office (weekdays) and tickets.com. To charge tickets, call 1-888-223-6000. For more information, call 716-645-2787 or visit www.ubcfa.org.