by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: AntiGravity Event
When: Friday, March 30 @ 7:30 pm
Where: Lazzara Performance Hall
Think of a sort of American Urban version of Cirque de Soliel and you might begin to understand the gravity defying AntiGravity show. The cast list of AntiGravity is diverse, consisting of ex-athletes who have champion medals on the national and international levels, urban dancers and other underground specialty artists.
Since 1990, the troupe has worked to keep on the cutting edge of acrobatic urban entertainment. The story of AntiGravity began with Christopher Harrison, a world-class competitive athlete who decided to try his hand at Broadway choreography. In late 1990, the New York City Marathon commissioned Harrison to create a high-energy dance to inspire the runners. He gathered together the then-small community of NYC acrobatic performers, and AntiGravity was conceived. The show was truly born in the following year, when Harrison showed a video of the performance to the Radio City Music Hall director. The troupe gained a three year contract as a featured act. Soon they were featured in fashion shows with Armani and doing after-school specials with M.C. Hammer (remember when the Hammer was cool?) They appeared on Saturday Night Live and made an appearance on Regis & Kathie Lee. By ’94 the demand for their involvement in productions was so high that Harrison formed a few divisions out of AntiGravity. First, he formed a consulting branch, so that they can give advice to companies that want to create an acrobatics stunt using their existing cast. Second, he formed a talent management company called PR Motion, which specializes in movement performers.
Known in New York by the late 90s, AntiGravity became known world-wide because they traveled to India and other countries around the world. They even developed an exchange program with Cirque de Soliel, wherein the two companies trade performers.
AntiGravity isn’t just about the show, it’s about UNF’s pre-show entertainment. Get to the theatre early to take in UNF’s Drum Line and Dance Team on the green and the patio of the Lazzara Performance Hall.
Says Drum Line instructor Nick Michaud, “We try to do at least one event a year [at the Lazzara]…It tends to be whenever they want to get people excited, really pumped up.” Although the team primarily plays at UNF Basketball games, you can find them around Jacksonville, representing UNF off campus at Jaguars games as well as various charity events such as the Asthma Walk.
Joining the Drum Line will be the UNF Dance Team. This past spring, the Dance Team placed first in the National Dance Alliance’s U.S. Championship. Dance Team instructor Missy Cole tells EU that the pre-AntiGravity show “is just a good merge. They play the drums and the girls dance.”
For tickets call (904) 620-2878 or go to www.unf.edu/fineartscenter/ to buy your tickets online.
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