During this time of closure due to the Covid-19 health crisis, we have all paused our normal lives. At GHDT, our dancers are now holding class remotely, our rehearsal space is empty and the theatre is dark. We will get through this together and we send our thoughts and prayers to those who are sick and directly impacted by the virus.
We have started a GIVING CAMPAIGN to support our GHDT Operating Expense and Dancer Relief Fund during this pause.
A super fan and supporter will generously match dollar for dollar any donations to GHDT up to $10,000 before May 11. The monies raised will help our organization continue on the mission of bringing great art to the communities we serve.
Please consider a donation, if you can, as funding is needed to help us push through. You may donate on line at www.gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org and click on the donate button OR our preferred method by mailing a check to: Relief Fund, GHDT, 329 Gradle Drive, Carmel, IN 46032. Amounts from $25 to $1,000 will go a long way especially with the generous matching donation. Your $25 donation will instantly turn into $50 and your $1,000 donation will turn into $2,000! Your employer matching donations are also welcome!
Thank you to our loyal fans and donors for your support!
“GHDT and AGHDT have been in our family for close to 20 years. We don’t have words to describe what Gregory, his mom, the professional dancers, the instructors, the volunteers and the performances have done for us, but we do know all of it has enhanced our lives enormously. To that end, we would like to help GHDT close the gap that is widening every day. We are respectfully asking you to donate during this period to see if we can all help.”
–Scott and Joanie Zigmond
“It is so crucial to support the arts at this unprecedented time. A body can fully function only if all the components are alive. While food is necessary to physically function, ART feeds the soul and the spirit and must go on.”
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in our country, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre has made the decision to postpone our April 11th audition. Because the situation is always changing, we have not yet set a date for the audition. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update our website and social media accordingly. If you wish to receive email updates or have any questions, please send an email to auditions.ghdt@gmail.com.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Our priority during this time is to ensure the safety and health of our dancers and staff, as well as all dancers who audition.
Dear Patrons and Supporters of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre,
As part of The Center for the Performing Arts resident company community, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre will follow all guidelines issued by The Center, local, state and federal governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All performances and other events on The Center’s campus have been suspended through May 11, 2020 which includes GHDT’s EXODUS, April 3-5. We hope to reschedule this performance for this summer if feasible.
The health and safety of our dancers, staff and patrons are of
utmost importance and we understand the magnitude of this situation. We are saddened that the theatre has
temporarily gone dark, but look forward to a heightened appreciation for the
arts, and the part we play, when the lights come back on.
In times like these, many of us want to step up and make a
difference. You can convert your EXODUS ticket purchase to a tax-deductible
contribution to support Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. It is through your generosity that GHDT will
weather this crisis and continue its powerful service to the community through
the arts.
And if you find yourself in a position to make a charitable
contribution beyond converting your ticket to a donation, please
click here to make a one-time or recurring donation to support
GHDT.
If you elect not to convert your EXODUS ticket purchase into
a donation, your ticket order will be refunded. Refunds will be processed
starting March 30. Due to the volume of refunds, delays are possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please
contact The Center’s Patron Services office at (317) 843-3800.
A Message from GHDT Executive Artistic Director, Gregory Hancock:
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I share this news with the patrons of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre (GHDT). Due to the ongoing global health crisis, the Center for the Performing Arts has suspended all events for the next 30 days. This means the company’s production of EXODUS, scheduled for April 3-5 at The Tarkington will not take place. We will work with the Center to reschedule the performance if at all possible, but due to the ever-evolving nature of the crisis, we do not have a new date at this time. This is a devastating loss to the company. Patrons who have purchased tickets will be contacted by the Center to offer refunds, but we sincerely hope the patrons of GHDT may consider donating the ticket price to GHDT to help the company through this crisis. Please see the below press release from The Center.
March 13, 2020
Center suspends all events for 30 days
CARMEL, IN – Following the coronavirus recommendations issued this week by Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana State Department of Health, the Center for the Performing Arts is suspending all performances and other events on its campus through April 12.
The affected venues include the Palladium, the Tarkington and the Studio Theater. The cancellations include performances by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Civic Theatre, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre and Indiana Wind Symphony, as well as education events, rental events and eight Center Presents performances:
• Peking Acrobats, March 15
• Kurt Elling Quintet, March 21
• Doolin’, March 27
• Treasure Island, March 28 (two shows)
• Piaf! The Show, March 28
• Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, March 29
• 800 lb. Gorilla, April 4
All ticketholders will be contacted and provided refunds or the option to donate the purchase amount to the presenting organization to help defray costs associated with the cancellations. The Center will work to reschedule the canceled events as feasible.
The move is prompted by state recommendations to cancel or postpone for the next 30 days any nonessential gatherings of 250 or more people, as well as smaller gatherings in venues where people cannot maintain a distance sufficient to avoid the potential spread of the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness.
The Center will continue to follow the guidance of public safety officials and will reassess the policy in April to determine if the suspension needs to be extended.
The Center’s offices will remain in operation during standard business hours. The Box Office and the Great American Songbook Exhibit Gallery at the Palladium will be closed to the public through April 12, but ticket sales for events not affected by the suspension will continue online at TheCenterPresents.org or by phone at (317) 843-3800.
Patrons with questions or concerns may contact the Patron Services department at (317) 843-3800 or tickets@TheCenterPresents.org.
Back by popular demand, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, the resident, professional dance company at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, will present EXODUS, this April 3-5, 2020.
Inspired by the Book of Exodus, but adapted to our modern world, EXODUS is a cautionary tale of hatred and ignorance presenting ten modern plagues. Set to a score of epic symphonic and choral music and enhanced with complex visual artistry, EXODUS will transport the audience into an emotional story of love and sacrifice. The talented cast will lead the audience through thematic stories of oppression, emigration and freedom, and will speak to human rights and equality that resonates globally even today.
Join us for the newest of the GHDT masterpieces!
We are thrilled to have former GHDT company dancer, Taylar Green MacQueenette, returning to reprise her role as The Chosen.
Thanks to our patrons, we have SOLD OUT all 6 performances of Once Upon A Time! We had an amazing opening weekend!
We have added an extra performance on Friday, February 21st at 7pm. In case you missed your chance to buy tickets, this is for you! But don’t wait, tickets are going fast!
GHDT SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE TARKINGTON PERFORMANCES! SAVE 10% The Seven Deadly Sins and Other Tales – October 25 & 26, 2019 Exodus – April 3-5, 2020 There’s No Place Like Home – June 5 & 6, 2020 ORDER YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY BY PHONE OR IN PERSON! The Tarkington Box Office 317-843-3800
Single Tickets available on-line and by phone beginning September 3, 2019
A new immersive and intimate production of LA CASA AZUL, The Musical will debut at The Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, Indianapolis this July 11-28, 2019. LA CASA AZUL, an award winning musical, is inspired by the intense and turbulent life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. With original music, lyrics and choreography by Gregory Glade and lyrics by Kate Ayers, LA CASA AZUL is performed by a talented cast from national and local platforms. * * *
What audiences say about LA CASA AZUL, The Musical: “a masterpiece of musical theatre!”, “brilliant and visually stunning”, “the best show ever”, “an amazing and stunning work of art”, “heart wrenching”, “this show gave me chills”, “I would go again and again”, “phenomenal!”, “I hope this goes straight to Broadway, no stops between”, “remember La Casa Azul, as I have no doubt it is destined for national stage and fame”, “a powerful and dynamic masterpiece”, “pure genius”
New theatre, new actors, new artistry . . . a vibrant story of a famous female icon. A relatable musical, LA CASA AZUL is bold and beautiful, yet intimate and personal just like the layered life of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. “It is a universal story of the human spirit and how we are able to take misfortune and tragedy and turn them into immense truth and beauty,” says creator Gregory Glade. “At the core, there is a simple love story surrounded by complex challenges. Struggle is within us all, yet we are capable of transforming pain and strife into raw, creative beauty as Frida did,” he adds.
LA CASA AZUL is a completely sung-through musical and is presented with a unique fusion of musical theatre, opera, and dance. These diverse artistic components help bring drama and intensity to the story. “Everything is important to this production and they all have to work together – the story, the music, the characters, the costumes, the sets, the lighting,” says Gregory Glade. “So many elements have the potential to inspire the audience members,” he adds. The main character Frida Kahlo, played by a professional Latina New York City based actress/singer Val Nuccio, will have a prominent and powerful voice throughout the performance. Supporting characters include Diego Rivera, play by JL Rey of New York City, Cristina Kahlo, played by Alyssa Lopez of San Antonio, Texas, Guillermo Kahlo, played by Bill Book of Indianapolis, and Alejandro Gomez Arias, played by Jonathan Contreras of El Paso, Texas all of whom have intertwining and influential relationships with Frida throughout her life. The storyteller is the character of Death, played by Abigail Lessaris of Indianapolis. Uniquely, this character’s voice is only heard through dancing and movement. The set is creatively designed to reflect an artist’s rendition of Frida’s image in fragments. The costumes enhance the personalities of each character and create authenticity to the time period.
LA CASA AZUL, The Musical first premiered in 2015 as a large production with numerous cast members and vast visuals. “For this evolving production, however, I want to present LA CASA AZUL in a more intimate and immersive setting in a smaller venue where the audience can be more connected to the story, the characters and the music,” says Gregory Glade. “With all art, revisions are made in order to make the product more clear, more universal, more relevant. Art is constantly evolving as our lives evolve. My art reflects my journey, just as Frida’s did,” he adds.
Back by popular demand, LA CASA AZUL, The Musical will return to the stage this July 11-28, 2019. Tickets are on sale at The Phoenix Theatre box office. Seating is limited with 12 performances only. LA CASA AZUL, The Musical is produced by Gregory Glade and Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre.
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre will close their 21st Performance Season with THE VIOLIN UNDER THE BED
at The Tarkington at The Center for the Performing Arts, June 7-8, 2019.
This captivating piece, which first premiered in 2016 at The Tarkington, is eloquently choreographed by Executive Artistic Director Gregory Glade Hancock and is an audience favorite. Growing up in Kansas, Florence Marie Hancock yearned to play the violin. Knowing this was impossible as a poor, young girl of the depression era, she resorted to dreaming about holding the instrument, hearing music and dancing. THE VIOLIN UNDER THE BED is inspired by stories of Mr. Hancock’s mother and the experiences that brought her joy – art, music, nature, travel, and sports. The tiny vignettes represent segments of her life and all the gusto she brought to it. “I dedicate all of my work to my mother and her indomitable and enigmatic spirit,” says Mr. Hancock.
The concert will also include two other personal pieces created by Mr. Hancock. “Until There is No More,” which was first performed in 2014, is centered around Mr. Hancock’s personal journey with cancer. On the fifth anniversary of being cancer free, it seems appropriate to remember the emotion of this life changing experience and celebrate the milestone with this work. “The male dancer portrays me, but different aspects of my soul are portrayed by other dancers as well as emotions such as fear, strength and the disease itself,” Mr. Hancock says. “I have reoccurring themes in my work of the concept of being caught somewhere between Heaven and Earth, the challenges of this life, and the memories of where we came from and the constant search for where we are going.”
The final work in this concert, which first premiered in 2017, is “Every Moment . . . Every Day . . .” A captivating and beautiful piece, it depicts images of loss, grief and isolation which are never-ending. “At some
point in life, everyone will carry something. Sometimes it is easy to see, and other times it is invisible. There is a miracle of love and time being returned for a brief period, but then the cycle begins again,” say Mr. Hancock.
This touching full length repertoire production created by masterful storyteller Gregory Hancock is filled with emotion and enlightenment and will inspire each and every audience member.
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre is proud to present the talented performing artists of the pre-professional company, G2. See their amazing energy, passion and creative storytelling as they perform popular pieces from the GHDT repertoire including “Bolero,” and excerpts from “Under the Big Top,” “Greek Mythology,” and “Down on the Bayou.” Be entertained and inspired in an up-close, black box theatre atmosphere as these young dancers perform challenging works of art.
