Lied's NEA grant to support interdisciplinary dance exploration

            The Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for its upcoming project with the groundbreaking dance company, Streb.

            The Lied Center and its partners will present an interdisciplinary exploration with Streb in spring 2014. The project will involve UNL students from dance, theatre, gymnastics, architecture, and computer science and engineering, along with local K-12 students, teachers and community members. Streb company members will lead three days of residency activities in Lincoln, culminating in a public performance of "Forces" at the Lied Center. UNL dancers and gymnasts, under direction of Streb members, will maximize the legacy of the project by providing student matinees and workshops based on Streb teaching techniques to local schools in spring and fall 2014.

            Following the great success of the "Dancing with Robots" project in fall 2011 with dance company Pilobolus (in which UNL dance and engineering students came together to create new works for dancers and flying robots), the Lied and its partners are poised to expand the investigation of dance through multiple perspectives, and increase accessibility and appreciation of modern dance for Nebraska audiences.

            "We are thrilled that our exciting project with Streb is recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts," said Petra Wahlqvist, associate executive director of the Lied Center. "The project involves students and faculty from many different UNL departments, as well as a local high school, and we feel very fortunate to be able to carry out this unusual collaboration with a groundbreaking dance company right here on campus."

            Founded in 1985, Streb tours extensively throughout the United States and internationally. Recognized by numerous awards, including support from the NEA, Elizabeth Streb and her dancers "see the rehearsal as a laboratory for testing scientific principles on the body." Committed to education and outreach, the company leads residencies worldwide and offers year-round classes for children and adults at S.L.A.M. (the Streb Lab for Action Mechanics) in Brooklyn, N.Y. The company was featured at the 2012 London Olympics.

Writer: Matthew Boring