Cirque Mechanics’ Pedal Punk to Launch Artistic Icons Series

The 2016/2017 Artistic Icons Series launches at The Vets on October 29 at 7:30pm with Cirque Mechanics’ “Pedal Punk,” a steampunk spectacle of stunning circus arts featuring a dazzling whirl of acrobats, cyclists and mind-blowing, one-of-a-kind machines.

Other featured entertainers include the renowned Rennie Harris Pure movement, igniting the stage with the art and legacy of hip-hop, and the inimitable Paul Taylor Dance Company, whose FirstWorks residency culminates in the world premiere of a new work.

FirstWorks lives up to their reputation for “firsts” in dance by bringing Paul Taylor, arguably America’s most important living choreographer, to Rhode Island for a multi-month residency and the world-premiere of a new work. The Paul Taylor Dance Company will rehearse and debut the new work in Providence on February 3, 2017, at 8pm, prior to its three-week run at New York’s Lincoln Center. Paul Taylor Dance Company offers an ambitious concert evening of dance, live music and art.

JumpStarts, FirstWorks’ signature free, pre-show programming highlighting Rhode Island’s own performing artists and youth ensembles, will also return for the 2016/17 Artistic Icons Series, with performers TBA.

Each world-class artist in the Artistic Icons Series contributes to the groundbreaking FirstWorks Arts Learning program by coming into classrooms and offering daytime educational performances for Rhode Island students. Last season, over 4,000 FirstWorks Arts Learning students were inspired by some of the world’s best creative forces.

Tickets for the FirstWorks 2016/17 Artistic Icons Series performances are on sale now. Patrons may contact first-works.org or call the box office at 401-421-ARTS (2787). A full series ticket package is available through October 29, offering up to 25% savings across all three shows.