PRESS RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2024
Contact: Ranardo-Domeico Grays
Founder/Artistic Director
(917) 847-6918
visionscontemporary@hotmail.com
Backbone (2023)-Ranardo-Domeico Grays, Choreographer - Katarina Smith, Dancer - Andrew Williams, Photographer
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet returns to The Riverside Theater
with For Love’s Sake, four heartfelt works embracing the power of love.
(New York, NY) VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, a Harlem based ethnically diverse company that celebrates contemporary dance rooted in the Black experience, returns to The Riverside Theater on November 15 - 17, 2024 with For Love's Sake, four heartfelt works that share the theme of the power of love, choreographed by Founder/Artistic Director Ranardo-Domeico Grays. Featuring the premiere of Heart is Home, an inspirational piece that explores the idea of making way for joy and love despite loss and heartbreak. Dedicated to Grays' Mom and all the mothers who have instilled love and a sense of home in their children, even though they may have often been far apart in the world. Also being performed are Exile, an excerpt from Through the Valley, Graciousness, an excerpt from Roots, and Backbone.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance at visionscontemporary.com/performances.
For Love’s Sake is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement and UMEZ Arts Engagement regrant programs supported by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation (UMEZ) and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC).
For Love’s Sake is funded in part by West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC) 2024 CBG (Community Benefits Grants).
Past Press Releases
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2023
Contact: Ranardo-Domeico Grays
Founder/Artistic Director
(917) 847-6918
visionscontemporary@hotmail.com
Tainted Bla’k (2022) – Ranardo-Domeico Grays, Choreographer – Katarina Smith, Dancer – Andrew Williams, Photographer
In Humility and Faith presented by VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, Founder/Artistic Director
Ranardo-Domeico Grays, a commissioned choreographer and brain cancer survivor, inspires others.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (I Cor. 16:14)
(New York, NY) VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, based in Harlem NYC, performs three thought-provoking works choreographed by Founder/Artistic Director Ranardo-Domeico Grays in Humility and Faith, conveying messages greater than the artist, featuring the premiere of Backbone, on November 17 – 19, 2023, Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 3pm at The Riverside Theater, 91 Claremont Ave., New York, NY 10027. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at tickets/visionscontemporaryballet-humilityandfaith
Backbone is inspired by a Black artist’s heartfelt journey, integrity and loving deeply, with music by Vir-Amicus and Queen Esther. “There are no words to describe the journey, the sweat, the blood, the war that is being a black artist.” - Viola Davis. Also being performed are Tainted Bla’k, a celebration of the beauty of being Black, set to music that is inspirational, positive and has powerful messages of Blackness composed by artists of the African Diaspora, and Roots, rooted in prayer, about self-growth, a signature work that is spiritually uplifting and an audience favorite.
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet strives to continue to be an important contributor to the artistic landscape of Harlem, NYC and is committed to presenting artistically excellent contemporary ballets in concert dance performances to a wide range of communities. It seeks to uplift, celebrate diversity, promote healing, provoke thought, and educate.
Humility and Faith is made possible in part with funds from UMEZ Arts Engagement, supported by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ); and Creative Engagement, supported by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and the Howard Gilman Foundation. UMEZ Arts Engagement and Creative Engagement are administered by LMCC.
Humility and Faith is funded in part by NoMAA Small Grants for Individual Artists, made possible with the support of NewYork-Presbyterian and the Hispanic Federation.
Humility and Faith is funded in part by West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC) 2023 CBG (Community Benefits Grants), and The Riverside Church Sharing Fund Grant.
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2022
Contact: Connie Corwin
Marketing Director
646-755-8774
ccorwin@nyc.rr.com
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet: Shattered Lives (2021) Choreographed by Ranardo-Domeico Grays
Mahalia Brookes, Dancer Andrew Williams, Photographer
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet performs three thought-provoking works in Redemption
expressing hope of deliverance from prejudice, sufferance, and faithlessness
at The Riverside Theater November 18 – 19, 2022
(New York, NY) VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, an ethnically diverse contemporary ballet company rooted in African American heritage, performs three thought-provoking works by Founder/Artistic Director Ranardo-Domeico Grays in Redemption, expressing hope of deliverance from prejudice, sufferance, and faithlessness. Redemption, featuring the premiere of Tainted Bla’k, will be performed on November 18 – 19, 2022 at 7pm at The Riverside Theater, 91 Claremont Ave., New York, NY 10027. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at tickets/visionscontemporaryballet-redemption
Tainted Bla’k, a celebration of the beauty of being Black, is set to music that is inspirational, positive and has powerful messages of Blackness composed by artists of the African Diaspora. Shattered Lives, about vulnerability, devastation, and lack of control while fighting unfortunate events and negative situations, was commissioned by the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning for Grays to choreograph for the Making Moves Dance Festival 2021. Roots, rooted in prayer, about self-growth, is a signature work that is spiritually uplifting and an audience favorite.
Grays, an 8-year brain cancer survivor whose inspirational work centers around humanity and life, has been awarded LMCC Creative Engagement and UMEZ Arts Engagement grants for his choreography presented on the company. VISIONS Contemporary Ballet is committed to presenting artistically excellent contemporary ballets in concert dance performances to a wide range of communities. It seeks to uplift, celebrate diversity, promote healing, provoke thought, and educate.
Redemption is made possible in part with funding from UMEZ Arts Engagement, a regrant program supported by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation (UMEZ) and administered by LMCC.
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2021
Contact: Connie Corwin
Marketing Director
646-755-8774
ccorwin@nyc.rr.com
Dash - Between (2018)
Take Root at Green Space presents
Ranardo-Domeico Grays/VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
January 21 – 22, 2022
(New York, NY) Ranardo-Domeico Grays/VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, an ethnically diverse contemporary ballet company based in New York City, will be presented by Green Space in its Take Root series on Friday, January 21st and Saturday, January 22nd at 8pm at 37-24 24th St., Suite 211, Long Island City, NY 11101. The company will be performing Dash – Between, a ballet about living life in the dash between “born” and “died.” Sharing the evening’s program with VISIONS will be sarAika. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $17 at Take Root and at the door for $20 - $22.
Ranardo-Domeico Grays, Founder/Artistic director of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, is an African American choreographer and brain cancer survivor whose inspirational work centers around humanity and life. He is excited to bring his company back to Green Space to perform Dash – Between, dedicated to Tim Merrell, with music by Phillip Glass, Steve Reich, Vir-Amicus, Lorne Balfe, and William Byrd.
Grays, an alumnus of The Juilliard School and California Institute of the Arts, has performed with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, the La Toya Jackson Tour, Celebrity Cruises, and others. He was commissioned by the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning for the Making Moves Dance Festival 2021 and was awarded LMCC Creative Engagement and UMEZ Arts Engagement grants. VISIONS has performed in New York and Michigan and was presented by the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning in the Making Moves Dance Festival; Harlem Arts Festival; Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center; Dixon Place; Green Space in Fertile Ground; Wassaic Project Summer Festival; ACS/Making Strides Central Park, NY; Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance; and others.
visionscontemporary.com Facebook: VISIONSContemporaryBallet Instagram: @visionscontemporaryballet
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2021
Contact: Connie Corwin
Marketing Director
646-755-8774
ccorwin@nyc.rr.com
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet: Shattered Lives (2021) by Ranardo-Domeico Grays; Alexandria Amstutz, Dancer; Andrew Williams, Photographer
Choreographer’s mission to inspire continues with company’s return to live performances
(New York, NY) Ranardo-Domeico Grays/VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, an ethnically diverse company, will present In Truth and In Light, a thought-provoking, moving dance concert of heartfelt works.
The Flea Theater, 20 Thomas Street, New York, NY 10007 on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 7pm and Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 6pm. Tickets purchased on Eventbrite: vcbintruthandinlight.eventbrite.com $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students.
The evening’s performance features Shattered Lives, a new ballet choreographed by Ranardo-Domeico Grays, founder/artistic director, recently commissioned by the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning for the Making Moves Dance Festival 2021 ~ To Life. With music by Vir-Amicus, Patrick Avalon and Terence Trent D'Arby, Shattered Lives is about vulnerability, devastation and lack of control while facing unfortunate events and negative situations. The company will also perform two other heartfelt works: Still Healing, inspired by stories of people who experience pain and suffering through no fault of their own, yet they persevere, and Roots, rooted in prayer, about self-growth.
Grays, a Harlem-based African American choreographer and brain cancer survivor whose inspirational work centers around humanity and life, says it is exciting that the company is back on stage to uplift, celebrate diversity, and promote healing. Rooted in African American heritage with multicultural influences, the company can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages, abilities, communities and backgrounds.
In Truth and In Light is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by LMCC.
visionscontemporary.com Facebook: VISIONSContemporaryBallet Instagram: @visionscontemporaryballet
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2021
Contact: Connie Corwin
Marketing Director
646-755-8774
ccorwin@nyc.rr.com
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet in Dash - Between (2019) Andrew Williams, Photographer
JCAL presents Ranardo-Domeico Grays/VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
as Commissioned Artist in Making Moves Dance Festival 2021 ~ To Life
September 17-18, 2021
Festival’s theme aligns with choreographer’s mission
and premiere of new ballet, Shattered Lives
(New York, NY) Ranardo-Domeico Grays, artistic director of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, an ethnically diverse contemporary ballet company based in New York City, has been commissioned by the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning to create a new ballet for its 12th annual Making Moves Dance Festival 2021~To Life. VISIONS will be presented in the festival, making its return to the stage to uplift, celebrate diversity and promote healing. JCAL has commissioned Grays and Patrick Coker, whose work will be presented alongside seven other NYC-based dance companies in a lineup of styles that include Ballet, Afro-Latin, East Asian, Middle Eastern, Afro-Caribbean, East Indian and more. The festival is a free ticketed event to take place on the outdoor stage of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC), 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432 at 7pm on Friday, September 17th and Saturday, September 18th. Tickets are required and are available from Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-moves-dance-festival-2021-to-life-tickets-163883312399
For Grays, an African American choreographer and brain cancer survivor whose inspirational work centers around humanity and life, the festival’s theme could not be more appropriate. VISIONS Contemporary Ballet will premiere a ballet choreographed by Grays called Shattered Lives, about vulnerability, devastation and lack of control while facing unfortunate events and negative situations that occur in life. Shattered Lives will be performed to original music by Vir-Amicus.
Grays, an alumnus of The Juilliard School and California Institute of the Arts, has performed with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, the La Toya Jackson Tour, Celebrity Cruises, and others. VISIONS has performed in New York and Michigan; was presented by Harlem Arts Festival; Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center; Dixon Place; Wassaic Project Summer Festival, ACS/Making Strides Central Park, NY; Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, and others.
Participation in the Making Moves Dance Festival 2021 ~ To Life is made possible in part by the New York City Artists Corps and in part by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, and the Harkness Foundation for Dance.
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2019
Contact: Connie Corwin
Marketing Director
646-755-8774
visionscontemporary@hotmail.com
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet /Alexandria Amstutz
Photo by Mikhail Torich
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Marlene Boll Theatre hosts Ranardo-Domeico Grays’ VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
in Traces (of what makes us who we are) on December 18, 2019
Brain cancer survivor returns home to Detroit to inspire others through VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
[New York, NY] VISIONS Contemporary Ballet’s choreographer/artistic director, Ranardo-Domeico Grays, a five-year brain cancer survivor, will be presenting the company in Traces (of what makes us who we are) at The Marlene Boll Theatre, 1401 Broadway St., Detroit, MI 48226 on Wednesday December 18, 2019, at 7:00pm.
Grays, an alumnus of The Juilliard School and California Institute of the Arts and recipient of the 2019 UMEZ and Creative Engagement grants, continues to flourish creatively. He is proud to bring his company home to share his spiritually uplifting contemporary ballets with the community that first nurtured dance in his life. In Traces the company will be premiering his new piece, “Still Healing,” inspired by stories of people who experience pain and suffering through no fault of their own, yet they persevere. Also on the program will be “Dash – Between,” about living life in the dash between "born" and "died;" “Through the Valley,” which explores facing obstacles in one’s fight for health and life; and “Roots,” rooted in prayer, about self-growth. Company Dancers performing this evening will be Alexandria Amstutz, Asia Bonilla, Lilly Ann Comstock, Mathew Ortiz, and Nick Sartori. Tickets for Traces at The Marlene Boll Theatre, $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students, are available for purchase online: vcb19.brownpapertickets.com.
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet is an ethnically diverse company committed to presenting spiritually uplifting contemporary ballets which explore the human experience to a wide range of communities.
visionscontemporary.com Facebook: VISIONSContemporaryBallet Instagram: visionscontemporaryballet
Traces at The Marlene Boll Theatre is made possible in part with funding from Londi’s Catering.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
September 26, 2019
Contact: Connie Corwin
646-755-8774 ccorwin@nyc.rr.com
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, Alexandria Amstutz dancer/ Photo by Mikhail Torich
The Riverside Theatre hosts Ranardo-Domeico Grays’ VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
in Traces (of what makes us who we are) on November 9, 2019
Brain cancer survivor inspires others through his choreography
[New York, NY] VISIONS Contemporary Ballet’s choreographer/artistic director, Ranardo-Domeico Grays, a five-year brain cancer survivor, will be presenting the company in Traces (of what makes us who we are) at The Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Ave, New York, NY 10027 on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at 7:30pm.
Grays, an alumnus of The Juilliard School and California Institute of the Arts and recipient of the 2019 UMEZ and Creative Engagement grants, continues to flourish creatively. In Traces the company will be premiering his new piece, “Still Healing,” inspired by stories of people who experience pain and suffering through no fault of their own, yet they persevere. Also on the program will be “Dash – Between,” about living life in the dash between "born" and "died;" “Through the Valley,” which explores facing obstacles in one’s fight for health and life; and “Roots,” rooted in prayer, about self-growth. Company Dancers performing this evening will be Alexandria Amstutz, Asia Bonilla, Lilly Ann Comstock, Mathew Ortiz, and Nick Sartori. Tickets for Traces at The Riverside Theatre, $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students, will be available for purchase online beginning October 1st here: bit.ly/VCBtkts and day of performance at the box office.
VISIONS will also be performing at The Bandshell in Central Park in support of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 20th and at the Marlene Boll Theatre in Detroit, MI on December 18th.
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet is an ethnically diverse company committed to presenting spiritually uplifting contemporary ballets which explore the human experience to a wide range of communities.
visionscontemporary.com facebook.com/VISIONSContemporaryBallet
Traces is made possible in part with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and from Creative Engagement supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and administered by LMCC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
November 30, 2018
Contact:
Contact: Connie Corwin
646-755-8774 ccorwin@nyc.rr.com
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History/General Motors Theater
Hosts
Ranardo-Domeico Grays’ VISIONS Contemporary Ballet: Healing Works II
Wednesday, December 19, 2018, 7:30 PM
Tickets: $30 General Admission
Purchase online: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3743069
Brain cancer survivor returns home to Detroit; inspires others through his choreography
[New York, NY] Four-year brain cancer survivor and Detroit native, choreographer Ranardo-Domeico Grays, will be presenting Healing Works II, performed by his company, VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, in its Detroit premiere at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History/General Motors Theater, 315 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201 on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at 7:30pm.
Grays, Founder/Artistic Director of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, alumnus of The Juilliard School, and inaugural recipient of the 2018-2019 UMEZ Grant, is creatively flourishing. He is proud to bring his company home to share his spiritually uplifting contemporary ballets with the community that first nurtured dance in his life. Featured in the evening’s program is “Queen of Soul,” dedicated to Aretha Franklin. The company will also be performing the newly completed “Dash – Between,” “Through the Valley” and “Roots.” Tickets for Healing Works II are available for advance purchase online here: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3743069.
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet is an ethnically diverse company relaying universal messages of the human experience.
visionscontemporary.com facebook.com/VISIONSContemporaryBallet Instagram: @visionscontemporaryballet
Healing Works II featuring “Queen of Soul” dedicated to Aretha Franklin at The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History/General Motors Theater is made possible in part with funding from Londi’s Catering
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
October 19, 2018
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet:
Healing Works II
Saturday, November 10, 2018, 7:30 PM
The Theatre at The Riverside Church
91 Claremont Ave.
New York, NY 10027
Tickets: $20; $15 for students/seniors. Purchase online www.trcnyc.org/theatre
by phone: 212-870-6784 or at box office after 5:30pm day of show
Dancers: Alexandria Amstutz, Laura Dearman,
Alden Henderson, Allegra Kirksey-Curtis, Denzel Taylor
Special Guest Artist: Rebekah J. Kennedy
Choreographer Ranardo-Domeico Grays, founder/artistic director of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, will present his company in Healing Works II, Saturday, November 10th, 7:30 PM, at The Theatre at The Riverside Church, entrance 91 Claremont Avenue (bet. 120th – 122nd St and Broadway - Riverside Drive).
In VISIONS Contemporary Ballet: Healing Works II, this ethnically diverse company relays universal messages of the human experience. After spending two years in recovery, Ranardo, a four-year brain cancer survivor, makes a triumphant return to the dance world with even more of a story to share through his choreography. The Detroit native is now creatively flourishing, presenting spiritually uplifting contemporary ballets. His choreographic style seamlessly blends ballet, modern, and African.
VISIONS will perform Ranardo's newly completed work, Dash-Between, about living life in the dash between "born" and "died;" Through the Valley, which explores facing obstacles in one's fight for health and life; Roots, rooted in prayer, about self-growth; and Beautiful Madness, based on three poems written by Ranardo, revealing three sides of one person, performed by Special Guest Artist Rebekah J. Kennedy, a founding company member.
VISIONS recently appeared in the Fast Forward series at Dixon Place on September 18th and returned to The Bandshell in Central Park in support of the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 14th. In December VISIONS will travel to Grays' hometown of Detroit to present VISIONS Contemporary Ballet: Healing Works II, adding to the program "Queen of Soul," a piece dedicated to Aretha Franklin, at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on December 19th.
www.visionscontemporary.com
Healing Works II is made possible in part with funding from the
Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Corporation and administered by LMCC.
