Staff Writer

A night of culture, excitement, and lots of dancing is coming soon for Troy State students and Troy residents.

The Maximum Dance Company of South Florida will perform a program of "vigorous ballet" at Troy State University’s Claudia Crosby Theater, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 30.

This evening of entertainment is sponsored by the Troy Council of the Arts and Humanities with support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Maximum Dance Company was founded in 1997 by Artistic Directors Yanis Pikieris and David Palmer with the goal of bringing South Florida a fully professional, contemporary ballet company of international stature.

"We felt that there was a lot going on in the world of ballet that South Florida audiences never get to see," said Palmer.

"Besides bringing the best choreography from around the world we wanted to provide a place for artists to collaborate in the creation of new works," said Pikieris.

The company has built a repertoire from today’s most respected international choreographers, acquiring award-winning pieces and commissioning twenty-one world premieres in just three years.

In addition, Maximum’s community programs reach over 10,000 children annually and the Company provides neighborhood performances from Hollywood, Fla. to Homestead, Fla. each year.

Maximum’s 2000-2001 season features guest choreographers from Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Venezuela, New York and San Fransisco. The company’s season opened in September at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, continuing at November, April and June at Gusman Center, Downtown. In addition to their regular season performances the company will be performing at First Night Miami Beach with the Florida Grand Opera, Bailey Hall in Broward and at Miami Beach’s Colony Theater as well as touring in Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina and Ocean Reef, Fla.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available at Troy banks, WTBF, the Gazebo and Troy State University’s School of Music, 101 Smith Hall.

Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the performance.