Author: Robert Creenan
In 2012, Buffalo’s Lehrer Dance was first invited to perform in Russia by the US Consulate in Vladivostok, in order to, as the consulate put it, “bring the best in American modern dance to the people of Russia.” According to Jon Lehrer, Founder/Artistic Director of Lehrer Dance, “Basically the Consulate wanted to bring ‘the best in American modern dance to the people in the far east of Russia’. So, they sent a dance instructor from Vladivostok to the biggest dance festival in America – American Dance Festival – in Durham NC to find a company. The director of the festival gave this person a list of 100 dance companies across the country who she thought were “the best”. We were on that list. Then, after a few months of researching all 100, the consulate chose us…(at the time) a 6 year dance company form Buffalo. Pretty cool!”
After the huge success of the first tour, the company was invited back in 2013, 2014, and now again in May (10 to 23). These cultural diplomacy tours have brought Lehrer Dance to Vladivostok twice, Kamchatka, and Anadyr, some of the most easterly cities in Russia.
While on tour in Anadyr in November 2014, the company was treated to a performance by Eygryon (Sunrise), the Russian State Chukchi-Eskimo Song and Dance Ensemble. The performance was awe-inspiring and full of life as they shared their culture and history. After the performance, Eygryon’s Artistic Director presented Jon Lehrer with the original music as a gift. Out of that once in a lifetime experience, Jon choreographed “Chukchi”, a heartfelt tribute and ‘thank you’ to Egryon, Anadyr, and the US Consulate.
For their upcoming Russian tour, Lehrer dance will travel to Perm, Izhevsk, and Yekaterinburg. The tours, which include performances, master classes, lectures, and community engagement, are sponsored by the US State Department under the auspices of the Bi-Lateral Presidential Committee in order to foster cultural exchange and a deeper understanding between our two nations. Lehrer Dance has been selected to tour to Russia as part of the State Department’s goal to “Seize the Initiative: Now Is the Time To Improve US-Russia Relations Via Public Diplomacy; Shaping the Positive Narrative of the USA; Promoting Tolerance.”
Along with a stunning dance presence in Russia, the company will also be touring Europe over the next few weeks – Germany and Austria from February 8 to March 13. This is the second time in three years that they have toured Europe, which collectively says something about this dance company’s drive, determination, and talents. Produced by Konzertdirektion Landgraf, the European tour has the Buffalo based professional dance company performing 25 shows in 24 cities in 35 days. Lehrer Dance first traveled to Europe in 2013 for a 3-week tour which brought the athletic group of dancers to Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. After the success of that initial tour, the company was immediately booked to return for a longer stay in 2016.
“My dream of having an internationally renowned dance company are coming true in, of all places, Buffalo, NY,” said Lehrer, from across the world. “I am not from here (I am from Queens) but went to college at UB from 90-94 – it is actually where I started dancing on a dare from Tammy, my now wife. I did not grow up a dancer. I never in million years thought I would live in Buffalo, let alone obtain my dream of having a thriving company here. The city has embraced us whole heartedly, and we proudly carry the Buffalo flag everywhere we go. I truly believe it would have taken Lehrer Dance longer to obtain a following and foothold if we were in NYC or Chicago (which were the other 2 choices to start LD). One of my dreams is to make Buffalo a destination city for professional dancers and choreographers and companies. A place where they feel they can come and thrive.”
Lehrer Dance is known locally, nationally, and worldwide for its combination of artistry, athleticism, and accessibility. The company will perform 10 of their signature works on this tour, keeping the European audiences on the edge of their seats with their signature “breathtaking physical excitement” (Dance Magazine). In addition, company member Rachael Humphrey will perform a world premiere solo entitled Rascal. Rachael is one of three Lehrer Dancers born and raised in Buffalo, NY. Rascal will have its Buffalo premiere at Lehrer Dance’s Home Season Performance on October 1 at UB Center for the Arts, sponsored by M&T Bank.
Visit Lehrer Dance on Facebook to follow their tours and learn more about the company.
Immediately following this world wind tour, Lehrer Dance returns home to begin rehearsal for The Yeats Project, a new collaboration between Lehrer Dance, Irish Classical Theatre, and Torn Space Theater. The Yeats Project is an original and boldly theatrical production of two fascinating but rarely produced plays by the Nobel-winning Irish poet William Butler Yeats – At the Hawk’s Well and The Land of Heart’s Desire. The show runs from April 22 – May 8 at Irish Classical Theatre, followed by the company leaving for their 4th consecutive tour of Russia form May 10 – 23. – Lehrer Dance
Lead image: Photo by Rhea Anna