Laura Pawel at Chen Dance Center

The ensemble in "How are you is a greeting, not a question." Photo: Will Chafkin 

Laura Pawel and her ensemble of dancers and musicians return to the Chen Dance Center with the premiere of "Sunset Beach," named after a section of Vancouver's waterside park where locals and tourists gather at senset to enjoy the scenery of mountains, sea and sculpture.  All dances are performed to live music by the company's longtime composer/musicians collaborations: Barebones (harmonica and guitar) for the premiere, and Phil Stone on keyboard and The Cecilia Coleman Quartet for repertory works on the program.   

The Company will repeat last year's premiere "Plain and Fancy" and the 2016 "Comfortable Silence," a duet for Stacey and Laura. Both are set to the jazz sounds of The Cecilia Coleman Quartet - piano, bass, trumpet, and saxophone.

The witty group work "How are you is a greeting, not a question" was created in 2016 to music by keyboard artist/composer Phil Stone.

The program will be end with "Tete-a-Tete," a conversation in motion for Stacey and Laura, danced to music composed by Gene Caprioglio and performed by the duo Barebones (Caprioglio on guitar and Dr. 88 on harmonica).

Tickets: $20; $10 for students & seniors

When: March 16 & 17, 7 pm

Where: Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry St., www.laurapaweldance.org

Dancers: Stacey Berkheimer, Jim Finney, Pamela Finney, Emily Kistler, Maki Kurokawa, Elaine Myrianthopoulos, Laura Pawel