The fall 2020 season at the Autorino Center for Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford has been announced.

Submitted

The Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities at the University of Saint Joseph has a fall season full of virtually accessible engagements for the entire community’s enjoyment including, performances, lectures, master classes, and more. All information about upcoming events can be found on our website at autorino.usj.edu.

“This fall season of performances will inspire all of us to get up and move,” says Director Steve Raider Ginsburg. “We’re focused on presenting and sharing a wide variety of dance from local to international artists. Join us in moving as part of our Let’s Dance 2020-2021 Season.”

Artists in Residence

As COVID has disrupted the entire arts field, the Autorino Center forged a way forward to continue delivering inspiring and entertaining performances. A central feature is our Artist in Residence series where we partner with Connecticut based artists to provide a home for rehearsals and to broadcast performances. Through measured safety requirements the USJ campus will be able to remain a creative safe-haven for multiple performance groups. Students will be able to access these performances live on campus or join the larger community and tune in virtually.

Artists in Residence include:

Pilobolus, Connecticut’s rebellious dance company based in Washington Depot, tests the limits of human physicality to explore the beauty and power of connected bodies. Pilobolus’ Co-Artistic Directors Renée Jaworski and Matt Kent will choreograph three, 5-minute pieces for 15 USJ students throughout the USJ campus. These performances are created and performed outdoors with COVID protocols in place. Some performances will be filmed and produced for future video release.

860 MVMNT is a Hartford/Bloomfield based professional hip-hop dance company that grew out of high caliber talent from the training Studio 860 and directed by founder Jolet Creary. After a successful residency in 2018 where 860 MVMNT developed the full-length performance, FREQUENCY, they return to create a new full-length work that explores recent cataclysmic events of COVID and Black Lives Matters.

Cuatro Puntos, Hartford based chamber orchestra is a full year artist resident, performing and broadcasting from the Connor Chapel of Our Lady on the USJ campus. Cuatro Puntos is dedicated to intercultural dialogue and universal access through the teaching, writing, and performance of music that activates stimulus for social change, cultural awareness, and empowerment of the underserved. Cuatro Puntos will share a number of talks and music performances throughout the year.

Special Events

Noche Latina, USJ’s most popular annual event, celebrating Latinx culture and music will be a live virtual event. This year’s Noche Latina will feature past performers such as Lorena Garay & Sucari, Carlos Hernandez-Chavez, Mariachi Mexico Antiguo, and Congabop. As a lead up to theevent these musicians will perform daytime, outdoor, socially distanced concerts for students in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. These performances will be available on Facebook Livestream.

Arts Across America, join a 20-week nationwide program of the Kennedy Center partners with the Autorino Center and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas for a live virtual event to feature Connecticut-based artists 860 MVMNT and the Fatherhood Manologues.

Connecticut Dance Alliance has partnered with universities and colleges across Connecticut to present a virtual dance series titled, Dance Now! USJ will present the work of 860 MVMNT and follow-up the performance with a conversation with Artistic Director, Jolet Creary.

Schedule at a Glance

September 

24, 7-8 p.m. Virtual Event: The Era Footwork Crew with 860 MVMNT Workshop/Lab and Conversation 

28, 4-5 p.m. Virtual Event: Kennedy Center, Arts Across America Live Broadcast featuring Autorino Center and artists 860 MVMNT and Fatherhood Manologue Project 

29, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: Connecticut Dance Alliance, Dance Now! Virtual Presentation with the Autorino Center & Quick Center with 860 MVMNT  

October 

5, Pilobolus Performance with USJ Dance Students, outdoors on campus

13, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: CT Dance Alliance / University Presenters of Connecticut Collaboration Yale University  

15, 6-8 p.m. Virtual Event: Noche Latina 

17, noon-1 p.m. Virtual and Live from the Chapel: Cuatro Puntos, Sounds of Persia Concert 

22, 6 -7 p.m. Virtual Event:  Live Stream Conversation with Pilobolus and Rob Pranzatelli 

20, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: CT Dance Alliance / University Presenters of Connecticut Collaboration Academy of Performing Arts   

19, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: 860 MVMNT Popping – Master Class and Talk   

26, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: 860 MVMNT Light Feet – Master Class and Talk    

November 

2, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: 860 MVMNT Intro to Hip-Hop – Master Class and Talk   

3, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: CT Dance Alliance / University Presenters of Connecticut Collaboration

15, 2-3 p.m., Virtual and Live from the Chapel: Music on the Front Lines, Concert 

24, 5-6 p.m. Virtual Event: CT Dance Alliance / University Presenters of Connecticut Collaboration Wesleyan University  

Dance performances at the Autorino Center have been made possible by the Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation. All information about upcoming events can be found on our website at autorino.usj.edu.

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