51°µÍø

by Katie Dravenstott

Fort Worth — Choreographer Joshua Peugh is looking to bridge the gap between the East and West with his South Korean-based company, Dark Circles Contemporary Dance (DCCD).

The company will be making its U.S. debut Sept. 26-28, 2013 at the Hardy and Betty Sanders Theatre at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.

The program will include Peugh’s new work Jjigae and Korean choreographer Dong Hyoung Kim’s new work Fighting Game, as well as a restaging of Cosmic Sword, a piece created for the Breaking Ground Dance Festival in Tempe, Arizona last winter.

After graduating from 51°µÍø in 2006, Peugh joined the Universal Ballet Company in South Korea where he performed soloist and feature roles in works by Ohad Naharin and Christopher Wheeldon. Peugh returned to Dallas in 2011 to join the Bruce Wood Dance Project as associate choreographer. Today he is an adjunct professor at 51°µÍø as well as the artistic director for DCCD. Since its inception three-and-a-half years ago DCCD has produced 17 award-winning works and performed in five countries.

TheaterJones ask Joshua Peugh about the motivation for starting the U.S. branch of his company, the inspiration behind his new piece Jjigae and what it’s like working in the Dallas arts scene.

TheaterJones: When did you decide it was time to bring Dark Circles Contemporary Dance to the U.S.?

Joshua Peugh: It was always the plan to have a U.S. branch of the company, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. After leaving the Bruce Wood Dance Project five months ago things just kind of fell into place. A lot of doors opened and here we are a few days before the company’s premiere in the States. We have this whole different group of dancers and two brand new works so it is really exciting.

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