One of the highlights of the Emelin's Spring Season is sure to be the February 18 performances, now just over a week ago, by Galumpha. Combining stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy and inventive choreography, the performers create a sensory feast of images ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, drawn together into a seamless whole, consistently bringing audiences to their feet.

One such audience is all the way across the country in Tacoma, Washington. The News Tribune, a paper covering the whole Seattle & Tacoma area, writes:

Each year the Broadway Center for Performing Arts in Tacoma brings in a circus-based troupe, and they always pick a good one. This year it’s Galumpha, an East Coast trio of dancers who combine acrobatics, physical comedy and truly beautiful visuals.

…Formed ten years ago, Galumpha’s success…springs from a combination of inventive choreography and a light-hearted take on the world. Pieces like “Velcro” take an everyday item and explore the hilarious fall-out from over-applying it; others like “Human Fly” balance the dancers impressively on each other’s backs and feet while using perfectly-timed choreography (angled arms, fussing hands) to imitate another creature.

“It’s collaborative, but driven by my ideas,” explains founder and dancer Andy Horowitz. “I keep a stash of ideas – costume, music, theater – and in rehearsal we’ll experiment making dances out of them. Some live on – the magic ones.”

…One thing stays constant – the number of performers. “I love the number three,” says Horowitz. “Two is a pas de deux, four is often just two pas de deux. But three – it’s a challenge. It’s exciting.”

Those three performers will be back on the East Coast on Saturday the 18th for two appearances, at 11 am & 1 pm, here at the Emelin.

And there's one more thing: among the artists in this award-winning group (Edinburgh Festival Critics' Choice Award; Moers International Comedy Arts Prize) is a Westchester native! Kate Parlato (pictured at right, courtesy of galumpha.com), who, like the Emelin, hails from Mamaroneck, is coming back to her home town—and bringing a troupe that has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Jerry Lewis's Legendary MDA Telethon, A&E, Showtime, and MTV to our very own stage. We couldn't feel more privileged by the opportunity.

Join us, and come see more in the Emelin's family, dance, and music series in 2012!

Buy tickets online here, call the Emelin box office at 914.698.0098 or get them in person: 153 Library Lane, Mamaroneck, NY 10543.