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Kate Mehan co-founded SYREN Modern Dance in 2002 alongside Lynn Peterson. The two young women begin teaching, rehearsing, creating and producing concerts in New York immediately after graduation from SUNY Purchase in 2002. SYREN has since produced five New York Seasons, performed throughout New York, New Jersey and CT as well as at Jacob’s Pillow (Inside/Out Series). Ms. Mehan and Ms. Peterson have also served as guest faculty at Anderson University, Yale University, Performing Arts Center of Connecticut, and The Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts, among others.

Kate received her early dance training at the Nutmeg Ballet in Connecticut, and also attended summer programs throughout the country including The Kirov Academy in Washington DC. At about the same time that she started shopping at thrift stores and dying stripes in her hair, she was introduced to the the wild and wonderful world of modern dance. Her first modern teacher, Brian Simerson, unlocked the door (via the Erick Hawkins technique) to this fascinating new world and she wiggled right through. After sneaking into empty dance studios every evening at Nutmeg and making up dances to Ani Difranco songs, Kate realized she wanted to choreograph.

SYREN’s mission is to produce high caliber, accessible work to spark a continued interest of the public in modern dance. The directors believe all who choose to witness it can understand modern dance. SYREN dares to create compellingly, commits to teaching thoughtfully, perseveres to perform dynamically, and unites to generously share dance with the next generation.

Kate currently lives in New York with the love of her life and a curious four year old who is constantly showing her new moves.

Visit syrendance.org to find out what’s new with the company.

Kate is thrilled to be part of The Winger community. She truly looks forward to the continued dialogue between all of us that is essential in keeping the art of dance fresh and alive in all its forms.

SYREN Performances

MARCH 2008

SYREN Modern Dance and the Purchase Chamber Orchestra:
An Alumni Collaboration

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 ~ 8PM
Dance Theater Lab
Purchase College
Purchase, NY 10577

SYREN was commissioned to create a new piece to Jean Sibelius’s Pelleas et Melisande Suite, and will perform the piece to live accompaniment by the Purchase Chamber Orchestra.

SYREN, New Haven Ballet, and Educational Center for the Arts

Friday, March 28 and
Saturday, March 29, 2008 ~ 8PM
Educational Center for the Arts
55 Audobon Street
New Haven, CT 06510

SYREN performs excerpts of “Abravanel” in a concert with New Haven Ballet and the Educational Center for the Arts.

APRIL 2008

Dance Sampler: Women of the World

Saturday, April 26, 2008 ~ 7PM
Symphony Space
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre
2537 Broadway at 95th Street
New York, NY 10025

Contact

info [at] syrendance.org

thewinger.com » Kate Mehan of Syren Modern Dance said,

February 26, 2008 @ 4:21 am

[…] I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Kate Mehan of SYREN Modern Dance. Kate co-founded SYREN with Lynn Peterson after graduating from SUNY Purchase. She also happens to be a friend of Sean’s from NYCB (who has great taste and is an incredible artist himself) so I’m really excited to learn more about what Kate and Lynn and SYREN are up to. They just finished successful performances of a work called DIG at the Ailey Citicorp Theater and can be seen at the Dance Theater Lab at SUNY Purchase in March. […]