(2005)  Thresholds Crossed – Part I, Moscow, Russia – work in progress
MWDCCo were guest artists-in-residence for three weeks in Moscow, Russia with the highly regarded TsEKh International Summer School (July 4-21,2005)*.   In a national audition, four Russians and one Ukraine dancer were selected by choreographer Maida Withers and DCCo to join with six Dance Construction Company dancers to create and present Part I of a new work, Thresholds Crossed. TsEKh, rehearsals and the public performance, was held in the former AZLK (Moskvich) Factory (car factory – see information below).
Elena Tupseyva, Director of TsEKh, was instrumental in our holding national auditions, housing rehearsals, and presenting the work-in-progress in a public performance. This cast of American and Russian dancers would continue with the project in a residency in Washington, DC to complete and present the full-evenings work in Lisner Auditorium.  The project would continue and tour in two cities in Russia (Moscow and Krasnoyarsk, the following year (2007).

TsEKh: “The Moscow car factory that became a center for the TsEKh dance organization is the former AZLK (Moskvich) Factory. After the Moskvich auto plant closed in 2002, its buildings were redeveloped to become the home of the TsEKh (meaning “Workshop” in Russian) dance center, which is dedicated to contemporary dance and providing a space for experimentation and innovation in the field.”

In 2005-2007, the relationship of America and Russia was at a high point of cordiality.  Thresholds Crossed was a highly successful project, respected both in the USA and Russia.

See information about TsEKh following the photographs.

TsEKh:  (remove underlining of the following paragraph)
https://www.developmentaid.org/organizations/view/11283
The Moscow Dance Agency TsEKh started in 2000 when Moscow independent dancers and choreographers created an artistic association “TsEKh” thus opening the space for experiment and innovation. The association launched the project “Saturdays in TsEKh” which for the first time was regularly presenting dance theatres’ works to Moscow audiences. In 2001 with the support of the Ford Foundation the association developed into the non commercial partnership Dance Agency TsEKh. The agency is dedicated to establishing fertile artistic environments and an efficient infrastructure for contemporary dance in Russia. In the first 5 years TsEKh has managed to develop high standards of professionalism, established national and international cultural links, and become an expert, and highly regarded consultant in the Russian contemporary dance field. The agency is the member of a number of national and international networks. In 2002 TsEKh was an initiator of Russian Dance Theatres Network, listing cities such as Arkhangelsk, Ekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Kaliningrad, Novosibirsk, Saransk, S.-Petersburg, Yarolsavl and Moscow. The agency TsEKh represents the interests of Russian dancers, choreographers and performers at local, regional and international levels. The activities run by TsEKh emphasis the independent and innovative character of Russian dance theatre today, an art form which is an important and integral part of Russian culture.