NEW EXHIBIT: See Puppets of American Dance at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) for FREE on 7/13 after 4pm

Spanish Dancers

 Puppets of American Dance on view at Detroit Institute of Arts starting July 11

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) will display some of the best examples of American dance marionettes from its Paul McPharlin Puppetry Collection from July 11, 2012 to Jan. 16, 2013.

The elaborate, large-scale marionettes were designed to gracefully execute ballet, folk and modern dance movements by clever use of counter-weighted limbs and finely carved joints. The “cast of characters” that will be on view include Sonja Henie, Greta Garbo, Josephine Baker, 19th-century Cakewalkers and a dancing Skeleton.

Ada Forman

Artists and puppeteers Frank Paris, Lillian Thompson, the Lauer Sisters and others followed a tradition of marionette theater introduced to American nightclubs and cabarets in the 1940s. The performances often incorporated intricate dancing marionettes, such as Paris’ Josephine Baker and the Lauer Sisters’ Spanish Dancers that appeared in-the-round, with live orchestras for primarily adult audiences.

Hours and Admission
Museum hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for ages 6-17, and free for DIA members. For membership information call 313-833-7971.

Josephine Baker

See the Puppets of American Dance for FREE on July 13th after 4pm...
For the third year in a row, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is participating in the Concert of Colors, metro Detroit’s annual FREE diversity music festival on July 13th. And in honor of the event, museum admission to the DIA is FREE on July 13th after 4 p.m.

So stop by the DIA on July 13th to see both the Concert of Colors AND the Puppets of American Dance for FREE!!

Enjoy!


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