100,000 Lights Flood Winter Garden For Festival Of Light And Sound
November 17, 2009
Winter Season

For Immediate Release Please

100,000 LIGHTS FLOOD WINTER GARDEN FOR FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND SOUND

December 1 through December 28
A Lighting Ceremony with New York Theatre Ballet's The Nutcracker (12/01);
Beyond the Pale (12/14)
ETHEL & Annie-B Parson: Wait for Green (12/18)
&
Ase Dance Theatre Collective (12/28)
plus
Santa & Caroling


NEW YORK - They’re back, all 100,000 of them, and they’ll be turned on during a event featuring New York Theatre Ballet's production of everyone's holiday favorite holiday ballet, The Nutcracker, to inaugurate the Winter Garden’s 2009 holiday Festival of Light and Sound in the World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street, December 1, at 6:00pm.

Arts World Financial Center's Festival of Light and Sound is a free, month-long annual celebration of the holiday season running December 1 through December 28.

Events later in the festival include the dynamic acoustic Klezmer music of Beyond the Pale December 14; ETHEL & Annie-B Parson re-creating their acclaimed performance piece, Wait for Green, December 18; and Ase Dance Theatre Collective celebrating Kwanza December 28.

Santa's Winter Garden is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 11, 12 and 13 (see times below).

Voices of Gotham, the NYC-based a cappella group, will perform favorite holiday carols in the Winter Garden, December 3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21 and 23 at midday.


The complete schedule follows.


Arts World Financial Center
2009 Festival of Light and Sound


Winter Garden Holiday Lighting Ceremony with
New York Theatre Ballet's production of The Nutcracker
Tuesday, December 1, at 6:00pm,(also preview performance of The Nutcracker at 12:30pm)
World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street

The switch is pulled for the illumination of 100,000 lights among the 45-foot palm trees. Following the ceremony, the Sugar Plum Fairy, toy soldiers, the Mouse King and Clara come to life in the timeless tale, The Nutcracker, danced by New York Theatre Ballet. This one hour version is the perfect starter ballet, where even the littlest tykes feel the magic of the enchanted holiday production. Sponsored by State Street Corporation.

Beyond the Pale

Monday, December 14, at 12:30pm,
World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street

Beyond the Pale's explosive acoustic sound is inspired by a wide range of cross-cultural influences, from Klezmer, Balkan and Romanian music, to bluegrass, jazz, reggae and funk. Performed with high energy and infectious joy by consummate musicians, Beyond the Pale's dynamic live performances have delighted audiences across Canada and the United States.

ETHEL & Annie-B Parson: Wait for Green
Friday, December 18, at 12:30pm and 7:00pm, World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street

Wait for Green is the acclaimed site-specific work commissioned by Arts World Financial Center last year for its 20th Birthday. This was the first collaboration between string quartet ETHEL and post-modern choreographer Annie-B Parson.

ETHEL, a group that redefines the nature of the string quartet, engaged in an intensive study of dance with Parson before writing the music for Wait for Green. The performance's compositions spring directly from the dance structures they learned, and the staging folds back on the score, creating physical responses to the music's sonic structures. This work uses the architecture of the Winter Garden to transform the space into an immersive sound and visual installation.


Ase Dance Theatre Collective
Monday, December 28, at 12:30pm, World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street

In celebration of Kwanzaa, this Brooklyn-based, neo-folkloric performance ensemble presents a show of dance, music and recitation. This hour-long performance explores the multiculturalism of the African Diaspora to illuminate the meaning of Kwanzaa.


SANTA CLAUS

Santa's Winter Garden December 11, 12 and 13
Friday, December 11, 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday, December 12, 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm and
Sunday, December 13, 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm
World Financial Center Winter Garden, mezzanine level, 220 Vesey Street

Ol' Saint Nick is returning to the Winter Garden to spread holiday cheer! Bring your family, co-workers, partners, friends or a stranger to have your photo taken with Santa. Photo packages start at $20 and proceeds benefit Project Sunshine. . HOLIDAY CAROLING ~ Lunchtime a capella caroling in World Financial Center~ Voices of Gotham December 3, 7, 15, 16, 21 and 23; at 1:00pm -2:00pm; December 11, 12 & 13 at noon-2:00pm, World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street This NYC-based a cappella troupe make several appearances during the month of December, performing holiday favorites with the sole instrumentation of vocals. For 20 years, Arts World Financial Center has presented hundreds of free cultural events in one of the world's grandest public spaces, the World Financial Center Winter Garden, and its nearby Courtyard Gallery. Admission is free for all events. (There is a charge for Santa and photos). For information, call (212) 945-0505 or click www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com. 11/17/09 -30-