WILLIAM MCNEILL
BIOGRAPHY A speaker for the North Carolina Humanities Council, William McNeill gives talks across the state on art, music, and social history. He is a musician who enjoys performing piano recitals of his favorite film and musical theatre composers. McNeill is also a tango aficionado, and when he plays tangos, he performs them with passion and brio. In addition to attending tango events in Washington, New York City, and London, he has attended the two-week World Tango Competition, El Campeonato del Mundo de Baile de Tango, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he had the pleasure of performing in a tango studio with a bandoneonist. McNeill has this to say about Argentine tango dance and music: "Tango dance is an art form of indescribable beauty, and the music is nostalgic, haunting, melancholic, playful and joyful, dark and brooding. Whenever I hear it, it nearly always casts a magical spell." About the performances William mcNeill is collaborating with ALBAN ELVED DANCE COMPANY on several pieces to be premiered at Cameron Art Museum and the Annual Fundraiser. Mr McNeill plays all time favorites such as "Summertime", "Tango De Roxanne", "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Pennies from heaven" accompanied by dancers from the ALBAN ELVED DANCE COMPANY through dance and voice. About the lecture "Tango! The Song! The Dance! The Obsession!" This multimedia presentation helps spread the joy of Argentine tango. The program features stunning dance segments from video films of international tango shows. While giving a brief history of tango music and dance, William McNeill explores its growing popularity in NC. In addition to demonstrating the musical elements—pulse, rhythm, and melody—he illustrates a few dance steps. He explains how tango involves not only the body but also the soul. McNeill aims to intrigue and delight all those who are fascinated by tango’s beauty and mystery. The program concludes with the six-minute documentary Tango Octogenario, a poignant film about an elderly couple who connect through tango. While encapsulating McNeill’s conviction that art has the power to transform individual lives, the documentary celebrates the curative powers of art through music and dance. Schedule/Details: William McNeill will perform: Sunday, August 10th, at Cameron Art Museum Sunday, August 17th at the Annual GALA Fundraiser e-mail for more information |
|
alban elved dance company/KAROLA LUTTRINGHAUS Berlin - New York City - North Carolina info@sarusfestival.com copyright: alban elved dance company/Karola Luttringhaus - all rights reserved [mad duck productions] Photo: Bill Ray III, Dancer: Andrea Lieske/alban elved dance company |