Collage Dance Collective presents “RISE”

All Ages

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Saturday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m.
$25/$20 students and seniors/$15 MCC district residents

“RISE”, choreographed by company Co-Founder and Artistic Director Kevin Thomas, is inspired by the words of civil rights leader and pioneer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” which was delivered at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tenn. on April 3, 1968.

As we commemorate more than 56 years since Dr. King’s passing, this thought-provoking ballet is both a reflection of what we have overcome and envisions where we go from here.  Students enrolled in MCC’s dance program, led by Art in Motion, will also perform in “RISE” alongside the professional touring company.

Rooted in the heartland of Memphis, Tenn., Collage Dance Collective embodies the greatness of American dance and is at the national forefront of inspiring the growth and diversity of ballet. Collage’s meteoric rise over the last decade is fueled by its dynamic programming, virtuosic company artists and its talent for presenting what the Albany Times Union called “ballet made utterly, gorgeously human.” Collage Dance Collective was recently named a Southern Cultural Treasure by South Arts and the Ford Foundation. It is one of the 50 largest ballet companies in the nation and one of the largest Black-led performing arts organizations in the South.

The professional company presents annual seasons in Memphis, plus national and international tours, performing a diverse range of classical and contemporary choreography from Amy Hall Garner, George Balanchine, Wayne McGregor, Nacho Duato, Ulysses Dove, Joshua Manculich, Kevin Iega Jeff and others.

The work of Collage Dance Collective has been featured in media outlets including Huffington Post, Allure, New York Magazine, Essence, Dance Magazine and Pointe Magazine.