MOMIX to Perform at Plymouth State University

Plymouth State University presents a performance of MOMIX Dance Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 23. The event will be held in Silver Cultural Arts Center on Main Street.MOMIX transports audiences from their everyday lives to a fantasy world through its trademark use of athletic dance, magical lighting, outrageous costumes and spectacular feats of imagery.  Featured on the PBS special Dance in America, this versatile troupe of dancer/illusionists freely mixes classical ballet, modern dance, gymnastics and theatrical illusion, creating images that are stunning, stimulating and always entertaining.  The troupe will perform one of its most recent works, Opus Cactus, a celebration of the American Southwest set to an eclectic blend of music ranging from Native American to Bach. A discussion with the artists will be held following the performance.MOMIX’s work may strike some as a hybrid of Cirque du Soleil and a dance spectacle. “We do characters that are human forms mixing with plants, animals, and minerals,” says founder Moses Pendleton. Among Opus Cactus’ menagerie are a gila monster with an attitude problem and an “Ostrich of the Imagination.” Human puppetry by The Lion King’s Michael Curry, multimedia lighting effects and a score including American Indian, Aborigine, Arabic music and classical music help create “a world to visit.”The show is truly Pendleton’s magnum opus. Its 19 vignettes reflect all the elements of the aesthetic he’s been perfecting for more than 30 years. Pendleton co-founded the body bending contemporary dance company in 1971, then expanded to using props as extensions of the body with MOMIX in 1981. He has also staged Olympic ceremonies, operas, ballets, and music videos. MOMIX is sponsored by Foster’s Steak House and the Common Man Inn. Additional funding for the event was provided in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) as part of the NEA Regional Touring Program. NEFA receives major support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) with additional support from the states arts agencies of New England.Tickets for this event are $23-$26 for adults, $22-$25 for seniors, and $17-$20 for youth. For information, contact the Box Office at (603) 535-ARTS.