Shut Up & Dance Returns For 24th Time This Saturday

While studying acting in New York some 25 years ago, Dito van Reigersberg was also at the Martha Graham Dance School, being a self-professed devotee of dance goddess in her final years. Flash-forward to today where van Reigersberg is not only is a versatile actor and one of the artistic directors of venerable Pig Iron Theater Company, but also cabaret rock chanteuse Martha Graham Cracker, with a legion of fans in clubs in Philly and New York.

Martha Graham Cracker will be channeling her iconic dance mother at the Forrest Theater as host of the 24th Shut Up & Dance concert benefit for MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutritional Alliance), performed by the dancers of the Pennsylvania Ballet and directed by the company's Principal Dancer Ian Hussey. The one-night-only performance takes place at the Forrest Theater April 9.

A tighter schedule

With just days before the event, Hussey was At Pennsylvania Ballet's studios calmly dashing between rehearsals and took five to talk about the show. "I feel like I say this every year. This spring has been so busy. But putting on 'Shut Up and Dance' an incredible challenge but something that we take very seriously and love creating it."

With premieres and a New York City tour on the company's agenda the past couple of months, Hussey explains they were in an even tighter time crunch than previous years.

"Getting it together is always challenging; but in the end, as always, with this team it'll be a great show," Hussey says. He also acknowledges that large part of the credit should go to his production assistant and frequent onstage partner, Alexandra Hughes, as well as "all the production teams who volunteer their time and talents behind the scenes."

The event is both a showcase for dancers to mix ballet with other dance genres, and an opportunity to bring the artistic community together for a good cause, which continues the year round. Hussey and the cast members join the volunteer staff at MANNA headquarters throughout the winter to volunteer and bring awareness to the community about the comprehensive services they provide. "They continue to inspire us," Hussey says.

Expect a boffo opening

MANNA is a non-profit organization started in 1990 to deliver meals to people with AIDS and now delivers 36,000 meals to over 800 clients battling HIV /AIDS, cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening disease. Last year, the benefit took in over $130,000 for MANNA and Hussey hopes to top that this year.

Over the years audiences have come to expect a boffo opening number featuring the full cast. Hussey doesn't want to give this year's concept away, but said, "You will be seeing a lot of Miss Martha Graham Cracker." Hussey, Hughes and fellow dancers Daniel Copper are also devising dance 'interludes' for Martha Graham Cracker in her musical numbers. "Once Dito puts on those heels, she becomes a nimble modern dancer, he learned from the master after all," Hussey assures.

Over the years, many dancers from the company had their first chances to spread their wings as choreographs for "Shut Up & Dance" and have gone on to become successful choreographers. The list includes Matthew Neenan, Christine Cox, Jodie Gates, Meredith Rainey, among others.

Among the dancers and dance makers this year are some of the youngest members of the company including company apprentices Aaron Anker and Durante Verzola. Guest choreographers include recently retired BalletX dancer Colby Damon, whom Hussey calls "insanely talented."

An electrifying solo

Damon is known for his fantastical dance characters. He just scored a huge hit creating a ballet version of "The Jungle Book" for Pennsylvania Ballet's junior company PBII in collaboration with the Curtis Institute of Music.

Richard Villaverde will be dancing his electrifying solo from Nicolo Fonte's ballet "Beasts." Also former BXer Jesse Sani is creating a work for Hughes to dance; unfortunately due to a foot injury last week, another dancer will be stepping in.

Other guest choreographers are Kristin Drauker a NY choreographer, who Hussey notes "has danced with many companies in NY and transitioning from a dancer to getting a lot of work as a choreographer."

Two favorite troupes are returning this year. Brian Sanders JUNK, known for their inventive and sometimes explicit dance-acrobatics will be previewing an excerpt from Sanders upcoming premiere at the LiveArts festival later this year.

Michael Sheridan, a co-founder of SU&D in 1991 who now teaches at the University of the Arts, picks one of his students to choreograph a group piece. Chosen this year is Thomas White whose ensemble work Hussey describes as "West African-hip-hop ballet."

And for the 24th time a PB ballet soloist will dance Mikhail Fokine's "The Dying Swan" with the famous score by Camille Saint-Sa�ns, first danced by prima ballerina Anna Pavlova. It has been danced every year at Shut Up & Dance in memoriam to those dance artists lost to AIDS.

Shut Up & Dance Benefit Concert for MANNA | 8:00 p.m. at the Forrest Theater, Philadelphia. A VIP party at the Forrest Theater at 6:00 and the after-party at Voyeur Nightclub is open to all ticket holders and begins immediately following the performance. Visit www.mannapa.org/dance for tickets and complete event information.

Watch the trailer for the 24th Shut Up & Dance benefit: