The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College presents Soul Steps on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC.  Tickets are $20 ($10 students) available at www.ticketcentral.com or by phone at 212-279-4200.

Soul Steps brings the African American art form of stepping to the stage in a high-energy performance where Afro-urban rhythms and personal narratives relay individual stories and explore a cultural legacy.  Based in New York City, the ensemble hails from around the globe. Influences such as Savion Glover and Debbie Allen and the gumboot dancers in the mines of South Africa inspire every slap of the thigh, twist of the hip, turn of the foot, and jump in the air.  The performance will be followed by a JUST-US Dialogue.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Soul Steps is a reflection of the multi-dimensionality of dance. We use our entire bodies to speak, and our steps combine visual art, music and theater. We also embrace step as an educational tool to inspire youth and as a medium to celebrate traditions of our African history. The power in each step we take forward is reminiscent of the beats that lie within all of us.  For more information, visit www.soulsteps.com.

Beginning in 2008, the Theater created the unique series, ART OF JUSTICE, which focuses on how the artistic imagination can shed light on the many perceptions of justice in society. ART OF JUSTICE focuses on advocacy for marginalized communities through music, drama, dance and fine art. JUST-US Dialogues, a supplemental series, will be formally introduced this fall. Through intimate discussions, lectures and post-show dialogues with artists and experts, audiences will gain legible context and have the opportunity to exchange critical thinking and share perspectives.  Provocative and engaging performances that explore topics ranging from the post-9/11 environment politically and culturally in the United States and abroad, immigration and race, religious freedoms and separation of church and state are included in this season’s ART OF JUSTICE series.

Since opening its doors in 1988, the Gerald W. Lynch Theater has been an invaluable cultural resource for John Jay College and the larger New York City community.  Its signature series, The Art of Justice, is the only performance series in New York that presents a diverse exploration of the role performing arts have played in the pursuit of social, transitional and criminal justice.  The Theater has collaborated with such noted companies as Epic Theatre Ensemble, Gotham Chamber Opera, and has also hosted prestigious events for Lincoln Center Festival, Great Performances, Juilliard, Alvin Ailey and numerous television specials for HBO and Comedy Central.

About John Jay College of Criminal Justice: An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations.  In teaching, scholarship and research, the College approaches justice as an applied art and science in service to society and as an ongoing conversation about fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law.  For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.

For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu/theater.php.