Mélange: concoction, mixture, combination. In this new series of performances, audiences will experience art coming to life in front of their eyes in an intimate theatrical setting. Each series will feature a musician (a vocalist or instrumentalist), a dancer (from Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre), and a visual artist. Together they will create art at The Florence (Carmel’s newest black-box theatre space), in a collaborative and organic manner. The musician will present a set of music, while the dancer creates choreography inspired by the music, as the visual artist creates art inspired by the movement of the dancer and the music of the musician. Audiences will experience live art in a new manner, bringing groundbreaking and creative art to Central Indiana.
After the overwhelming success of the first installment, we are excited to welcome three new artists to this second performance of The Mélange Series.
The second offering of The Mélange Series will feature the talented and versatile actress/vocalist, CYNTHIA COLLINS. A proud member of Actors Equity Association since 1991, credits include: Off-Broadway, National & International Tours, Regional, Summer Stock, Cabaret, Dinner Theatre, Cruise Lines, Film & TV…. She has had the pleasure of working with such artists as: Ben Vereen, Sandy Duncan, Claude Aikins, Comden & Green, Cy Coleman, Avery Schrieber, Joel Grey, Cyndi Lauper, Fred Waring & his famous Pennsylvanians, Chita Rivera, Sutton Foster, Jerry Michell, Diane Rehm, Billy Stritch, Patricia Wilson …. A Native of N.J. and long- time resident of NYC, Cindy now resides in Carmel with her partner Judy Fitzgerald and their daughter Lizzie.
Dancer, Olivia Payton started training at The Academy of GHDT in 2011. In 2014 she joined the pre-professional company, G2, and will forever cherish her 6 seasons spent dancing alongside the other student dancers. Throughout her time in G2 she has been privileged to dance with the company in productions such as The Casket Girls, Exodus, SUPERHERO, and The Violin Under the Bed, and Once Upon A Time. In the summer of 2018 Olivia attended Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s Summer Intensive on a full scholarship. Olivia was the first recipient of the Florence Marie Hancock Memorial Scholarship in 2014 and is grateful to have received the scholarship again in 2019. In 2020 Olivia joined GHDT as a company dancer. During her time as a company dancer, she has been honored to be in performances such as ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and EXODUS as The Chosen. Visual Artist, Madhuchhanda Mandal was born in the city of Kolkata, India. She started her formal coaching in arts as early as 4 years old and finished her Diploma in Fine Arts in 1998, the same year she graduated High School as the class valedictorian. During her training as an art student, she mastered methods of watercolors, acrylic, and oil painting. She started participating in exhibitions, won awards and trained students but what truly gave wings to her passion for art were constructive criticisms from her teachers and fortunate patronage from art lovers. While practicing all genres of paintings, her favorite style became figurative abstracts. Alongside working towards my Diploma in Fine Arts, she finished her Bachelors and Masters’ program in Biological and Chemical Sciences. In 2005, Madhuchhanda left her place of birth to pursue a Ph.D. in Neurosciences, at the State University of New York. The artist in her found a home in Indiana, in 2013. Currently, she works as a full-time scientist, alongside being an independent fine artist, fulfilling private commissions and funding private projects. Amber Grains Art LLC. became a formal entity in year 2017. Her studio is a one woman’s dream to keep creativity alive. As her favorite painter Van Gogh said “I dream my painting and I paint my dream”. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/AmberGrainsArt/ to get a peek into her world of colors. The Mélange Series at The Florence has been created by GHDT, Executive Artistic Director, Gregory Glade Hancock and is presented by Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre.
Location: The Florence; 329 Gradle Drive, Carmel.
Time: 5 PM and 7:30 PM Saturday. 3 PM Sunday
