Elisa Monte Dance

The internationally acclaimed Elisa Monte Dance performs a variety of different dance sequences, including the world premiere of “Hardwood,” as well as major revivals of “Days Residue,” “Volkmann Suite,” and “Shattered” when the company returns to New York City’s Joyce Theater. With 25 years of rich history, Elisa Monte continues to illustrate her intimate connection with many of the century’s greatest masters such as Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, and Agnes deMille, as well as transform and pass on their distinctive techniques to the next generation of dancers.

Male and female quartets travel and coalesce to the music of John King during the often anarchic and intricate partnering of “Hardwood.” This 25-minute piece incorporates the music’s imagery and transforms it into a work that is physical and playful while contrasting the differing energies of the male and female groups.

“Days Residue” focuses on the familiar daily occurrences that are used in working through our personal dreams. Freud called the myriad sounds, thoughts, images and experience — “the day’s residue” — the elements from which our nightly dreams are made. Eight dancers pattern through complex and intricate staging with swirling long full skirts of color and cascading light backed by the music of Slovakian composer Vladimir Godar.

“Volkmann Suite,” developed out of a photo-shoot and composed by blending together a series of photographic moments, features three dancers moving organically as an entwined whole to the music of Michael Nyman.

“Shattered” is a fast and furious piece set to the powerhouse music of Michael Gordon. Choreographed for the entire company, the work captures the essence and energy of the music while highlighting the company’s agility and lighting speed with tour-de-force intensity.