Garth Fagan Dance returns to 91快活林最新版 Arts Center for its 55th Anniversary Performance Celebration, May 7-10
Garth Fagan Dance returns to 91快活林最新版 for a special 55th Anniversary Performance Celebration, highlighting the company鈥檚 extraordinary legacy while embracing an exciting new chapter of artistic leadership and creation. Performances will be held at 91快活林最新版 Arts Center's Callahan Theater on Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 10, at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at or at the 91快活林最新版 Arts Center Box Office before the show.听
The program includes exciting revivals of Garth Fagan鈥檚 鈥淧relude鈥� (1981/1983) and 鈥淣ever Top 40鈥� (1985), two seminal works that highlight the company鈥檚 foundational artistry. Building on this legacy, GFD leadership will also present new creations: Artistic Director Norwood 鈥淧J鈥� Pennewell鈥檚 鈥淧riestess Hill鈥� (formerly Days and Nights in Rocinha), which premiered to a standing ovation during our collaboration with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at the Eastman Theatre, and Executive Director Natalie Rogers-Cropper鈥檚 world premiere, 鈥淢essages To The Storm鈥�. Together, these works reflect the company鈥檚 enduring legacy while pointing toward its vibrant future.听
Renowned for his groundbreaking choreography for The Lion King on Broadway, Garth Fagan has been called 鈥渁 true original鈥�, 鈥渁 genuine leader鈥�, and 鈥渙ne of the great reformers of American Dance鈥�. As another critic put it, 鈥渋n the geneology of modern dance, he鈥檚 started a whole new branch of the family tree.鈥� His singular dance language draws on many sources: the sense of weight in modern dance, the torso-centered movement and energy of Afro-Caribbean, the speed and precision of ballet, and the rule-breaking experimentation of post-moderns. Most recently, Garth Fagan was the proud recipient of the 2025 NY Bessie Lifetime Achievement Award.听
This season is especially meaningful as we also celebrate the 86th birthday of our visionary founder, Garth Fagan. A recipient of numerous honors, including the Tony Award, Olivier Award, and the National Medal of the Arts, and most recently, he was the proud recipient of the 2025 NY Bessie Lifetime Achievement Award. Fagan鈥檚 pioneering choreography has influenced generations of dancers around the world. His company remains a beacon of artistic excellence, innovation, and cultural expression. Garth Fagan Dance is proud to return to 91快活林最新版 for this milestone performance series.
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Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
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Revival of 鈥淣ever Top 40鈥� (1985), performed by (L-R): Anderson Lewis, Jahkim Hodge Price, Sabrina Shiman, and Raea Moorehead, will be performed at 91快活林最新版, May 7-10. Photo by David Schiffhauer.