Nonprofit News

Palm Springs Dance Project’s Dance Film The Anniversary Premiered to Great Reviews – And It Is Just The Beginning

The Anniversary dance film, written and directed by Artistic Director Stephen Agisilaou, and produced by the Palm Springs Dance Project as part of a recent local community project, had its world premiere on March 2nd at Palm Springs Art Museum’s Annenberg Theater to a near capacity crowd. The film featured upwards of 50 local dancers, most attending the sold-out premiere.  In a collaboration with the Palm Springs Cultural Center a free community screening was offered little more than a week following the premiere; it, too, was met with enthusiasm, with all but 10 reservations spoken for.  The audiences were awed by the stunning combination of plot, dance, and excitement and the beautiful, cinematic backdrops of Palm Springs. Among viewer comments were:

“We all were blown away, experimental film lives!’ Todd Hughes

“Brilliantly conveyed with music, dance and witty imagination!” Robin Somes

“Made me fall in love with Palm Springs all over again. “ Tom Dolle

 Darcy Carozza, Executive Director of the Dance Project and producer of the film said “This film project has been amazing, fresh and authentic; it seemed to deeply touch just about everyone who saw it.  It has been a great vehicle for connecting local dancers, artists, collaborators, and supporters of all kinds.  The film was made from the heart and you feel it in every aspect of dance and movement, carefully curated music, and the  dramatic cinematic scenes.  It’s a love letter to Palm Springs, made in and of it.  We believe so totally in the film that we are seeking supporters to help with world-wide distribution that we feel the film deserves”.

Future plans for local screenings are in in the works, including special free educational screenings and submitting to film to film festivals starting in 2023.

Coming up next…

Saturday, November 19, 2022, 5:30pm & 8:00pm

The MAIN EVENT – The Connoisseur Club

Indian Canyon Golf & Country Club

1100 Murray Canyon Dr., Palm Springs

 Each year the MAIN EVENT is a unique production of live, professional dance.  This year, expect an original Palm Springs cabaret, a combination of art and culture – The Connoisseur Club – with a club-like environment featuring multiple performance points, and only live for one night.  No matter where you are seated you will have an immersive, unique, and individual experience. It all begins with awe and wonder while socializing during the open bar reception. It continues, as guests are seated at intimate tables of 8, and accoutrements, like a champagne toast and a personal gourmet nosh plate arouse your senses. The expertly curated show exudes originality with a unique script and a stunning cast of professional dancers from across the United States.  The evening will take place in the stylish mid-century Indian Canyons Golf Resort, a jewel of Palm Springs since 1961 and once a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. ​A special matinee performance, a show only experience, offers a more economical way to immerse yourself in this dance event.

Tickets on Sale Now @ psdanceproject.org/2022-season/main-event.  Buy early for best prices.

Stephen Agisilaou, the Dance Project’s Artistic Director, is currently in New York, having finalized all preliminary plans for November’s The MAIN EVENT – The Connoisseur Club. He will return to Palm Springs in May then off again to the east coast where he is preparing original choreography for a dramatically compelling summer presentation for the Berkshire Opera Festival.  Stephen was delighted at having been commissioned for a second, consecutive year, claiming the unique nature of that artistic experience adds more fuel to his imaginative engine, and “a creative compliment to what I do with the Dance Project”.

In its 6th year of promoting dance education and producing professional dance programs, the organization has gone through a number of changes, ultimately becoming known as the Palm Springs Dance Project in 2020, and achieving its status as a local 501(c)(3) non-profit.  In working to build an expanded and stronger dance community the Dance Project with their education partner, Western Wind Foundation, launched a youth dance grant program for local underserved students. Since its launch eight months ago, they have funded more than 18 local grants for dance clothing and costuming, and for full tuition at local, long-standing dance studios.  The program provides much needed access to avenues of creativity and self-expression for those dancers who could not otherwise afford it.  Additionally, the Dance Project has produced a number of free dance training and performance projects that have enriched the lives of hundreds of local children, as well as the residents and visitors of the Greater Palm Springs community.

As a community oriented non-profit organization, creating free community programs is a key component in  the Dance Project’s mission.  You can support the Palm Springs Dance Project, and the creation of more free community programs, at no cost to you, when you shop on Amazon.  Go to smile.amazon.com to learn more and register to donate to Palm Springs Dance Project. Takes less than a minute!

Learn more at PSDanceProject.Org     All donations and ticket sales support local dance programming.

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