PRESS RELEASE:
Journal to Journey presents
PLAY PEN

Dance Theater Workshop and Urban Word NYC’s
Journal to Journey Program
presents

PLAY PEN

Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30pm

New York, NY, November 24 - For one night only, four young talented poets from Urban Word NYC leave the mic behind as they perform their first fully-staged solo shows. Witness the compelling story-making which melds dance and theatre to move the poet’s voice across the stage. In PLAY PEN, young poets navigate a path through hurt and hope towards self.  Equipped with pen as compass, they discover that life is full of moments that will carry you as far and as deep as you are willing to go.

PLAY PEN features

Ma Heals by Ceez

Hide and Seek by Amanda “Amjay” Jimenez

Stride Right by Sean B

Daddy Dress Up by Thiahera Nurse

Directed & Choreographed by Nicco Annan

Writing Mentor: Darian Dauchan

Director Apprentice: Carvens Lissaint

This performance was developed and premieres through the Dance Theater Workshop / Urban Word NYC Journal to Journey Program, an on-going partnership between Urban Word NYC and Dance Theater Workshop since 2004. In addition, Urban Word NYC guest curates an artist for Dance Theater Workshop’s Studio Series Program. This years Urban Word NYC Studio Series artist is Journal to Journey writing mentor, Darian Dauchan.

The performance will take place at Dance Theater Workshop in the Bessie Schönberg Theater, December 15 (Tuesday) at 7:30pm. Fee-free tickets are $5 and are available online at dancetheaterworkshop.org, over the phone at 212.924.0077, and in person at the box office. Box office hours are Monday - Friday from 5pm - 9pm and Saturday - Sunday from 12pm - 8pm.  Dance Theater Workshop is located at 219 West 19th Street between 7^th and 8^th Avenues.

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Urban Word NYC

Founded on the belief that teenagers can and must speak for themselves, Urban Word NYC^TM (UW) has been at the forefront of the youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements in New York City since 1999. Urban Word NYC presents literary arts education and youth development programs in the areas of creative writing, journalism, college prep, literature and hip-hop. UW provides FREE, safe and uncensored writing workshops to teens year round, and hosts the Annual NYC Teen Poetry Slam, NY Knicks Poetry Slam, local and national youth slams, festivals, reading series, open mics, and more. UW works directly with 15,000 teens per year in New York City alone, and as a steering committee member of the National Youth Spoken Word Coalition, has partner programs in 45 cities. UW also has a vigorous community educator and teacher training series which links inquiry-based classroom practices with the most progressive academic trends in student-centered pedagogy.

Urban Word NYC believes that free self-expression - matured in an enhanced critical literacy environment - improves self-confidence and strengthens educational achievement for NYC’s inner city youth. We promote active literacy, critical thought, and positive social dialogue across boundaries of age, race, class, gender, culture, and sexuality. Our many workshops are designed to enhance critical thinking skills, leadership, and to ignite a personal commitment to growth and learning which leads to heightened in-school performance, and greater interest in pursuing higher education.

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Dance Theater Workshop is the preeminent U.S. based center for dance and performance that maintains an uncompromising mission to identify, present, and support independent contemporary artists and companies to advance dance and live performance in New York and worldwide. Dance Theater Workshop supports innovative artists through all facets of their creative process and offers audiences the opportunity to experience and engage with artistic expression in bold and evocative ways.

Dance Theater Workshop’s 2009-2010 Season Supporters   (as of July 1, 2009)

Private support provided by: American Masterpieces: Dance Initiative of the New England Foundation for the Arts; The Carnegie Corporation of New York; Chervenak-Nunnalle Foundation; The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; The Ford Foundation; French United States Exchange in Dance of the New England Foundation for the Arts; The Howard Gilman Foundation; The Mertz Gilmore Foundation; The Greenwall Foundation; The William Randolph Hearst Foundations; The Jerome Foundation; The Lambent Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts; National Performance Network; The New York Community Trust; New York State DanceForce; The Jerome Robbins Foundation; Rockefeller Brothers Fund; The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; The Scherman Foundation; The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; The Trust for Mutual Understanding; and The Lila Acheson Wallace Theater Fund.

Corporate support provided by: Bloomberg L.P. and Consolidated Edison Company of New York.

Public support provided by the following government agencies and elected representatives: National Endowment for the Arts; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; Kate D. Levin, Commissioner; Speaker Christine C. Quinn; New York City Council; New York State Council on the Arts; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Senator Thomas K. Duane, New York State Senate.

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