Artists' Residency - PASIÓN - Press Release
PASIÓN
Award-winning Creative team Maria Torres, Jenni Ogden and Jeff Klein announce Artists’ Residency with the c3: Center for Conscious Creativity and Vortex Immersion Media in collaboration on “Pasión”, an innovative Theater project set for 2015
Latino Culture presented through a new language in theatre using 360-degree immersive fulldome theater
Los Angeles, July 9, 2014 – Powerhouse creative team consisting of theater and film Artistic Director/Choreographer Maria Torres (Swing, Dance With Me, Enchanted), Creative Producer/Visual Designer Jenni Ogden (Disney, Universal, Paramount) and Creative Director/ Visual Designer Jeffrey Klein (Universal, Disney, Warner Bros.) announce their collective residency with The c3: Center for Conscious Creativity and Vortex Immersion Media in Los Angeles, where they will be developing their latest collaboration—Pasión, a new and original theatrical show set to premiere in 2015
Pasión is an innovative celebration of Latin culture told through music, dance and 360-degrees of immersive visuals designed to be presented in a fulldome theater
The production integrates Caribbean cultural elements, including original music and show-stopping choreography, a moving stage with visuals, 360 3D animation and special effects.
Presented in two acts, Pasión takes the audience on a journey of discovery starting with Afro-Latino style drumming and culture from the islands, to a closing celebration complete with dancing, scents, traditional food and specialty drinks. “Pasión is more than a show. It is a theatrical celebration of the fusion of two worlds—Spain and Africa—in creating the music, dance and life of the Caribbean. It;s a visceral experience stimulating our audience’s senses as they are taken on a journey back in time to the roots of our Latin culture,” said director Maria Torres.
ABOUT THE CREATORS:
Maria Torres is an acclaimed director, choreographer and performer who’s starred in
And was specialty choreographer for the six times Tony nominated Broadway musical Swing”; the film ‘‘Dance With Me,” director/choreographer of the off Broadway hit musical; “Celia,” based on the life of the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, and the off B’way show Latin Heat. Choreography credits include Disney’s Golden Mickey, “Four Guys Named Jose” (nominated for Lucille Lortel and Carbonell Awards for Best Choreography); “The Donkey Show,“ produced by president of the Jujamcyn theaters Jordan Roth. Associate choreographer credits: Mambo Kings, In the Heights. Film Credits: choreographer and appeared in “El Cantante,” starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony; associate choreographer of the blockbuster movie “Enchanted”. Director/Choreographer of “Don Omar’s King of Kings” Tour, Latin Billboard Awards and Guest Choreographer on Fox’s hit series “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Jenni Ogden is an award-winning creative producer of visual design; theatre, spectaculars and events for shows such as the award-winning visual design and animation for Disney’s “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular,” winner of Live Design’s 2013 Excellence Award for Theater, and the top rated architectural projection mapping for Universal’s, “Uni 360 Spectacular.” She is currently producing, writing and developing new theatrical shows for 360 immersive theatre and producing video and animation for various shows and events. Jenni is known for her positive management style and spot on creative direction, producing shows, events and spectaculars for clients such as; Disney, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, Nokia Theater, Interscope Records, Sub Pop Records and Warner Music Group.
Jeff Klein is a veteran director of award-winning visual design interactive theatre and live events. Jeff has six top-rated shows currently running on Disney Cruise Lines, and garnered a recent award for visual design for Disney’s “Aladdin –A Musical Spectacular” and “The Golden Mickey’s” on both Disney Cruise Lines and Disneyland Hong Kong. Other Productions include those for Warner Brothers, Paramount, Thinkwell Design, and Hasbas; and he has a long history with Universal Studios. Jeff is known as a creative visionary, Integrating the latest technologies and live talent with video, animation and effects.
ABOUT VORTEX IMMERSION MEDIA
Vortex Immersion Media, Inc. (VIM) specializes in the design and development of experiential immersive and interactive media attractions and productions for theme parks, touring shows and Fortune 500 clients including EMC2, Microsoft, MTV, Cartoon Network, NBC Universal, Nike, Nokia and Siemens. The company also operates the Vortex Dome, the first commercial fulldome production studio and events venue located in downtown Los Angeles. VIM’s co-founder Ed Lantz was instrumental in developing the digital dome (fulldome) format, is a co-founder of IMERSA and a frequent keynote speaker at conferences on the emerging medium of immersive media. www.vorteximmersion.com
ABOUT c3: CENTER FOR CONSCIOUS CREATIVITY:
The c3: Center for Conscious Creativity is a 501(c)(3) arts and education organization
whose mission is to “create a better future through arts and media.” The c3 supports artists creating projects in traditional and emerging media formats with themes related to their mission. www.consciouscreativity.org . c3 Founder and Producer, Kate McCallum created the Artist In Residency fulldome program with artist, Audri Phillips, and has been instrumental in supporting the development and presentation of several fulldome projects.
Media Contact:
Elka Samuels Smith
Divine Rhythm Productions
212 262 1394