June 22, 2004

UCSD-TV's Soul Of Saturday Night Wins Two Emmys
Winning streak continues for the dance-for-camera project

By Juanita LaHaye

The University of California, San Diego Television’s (UCSD-TV) production of The Soul of Saturday Night returns to the spotlight. On Saturday, June 19, the Emmys were announced during the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Pacific Southwest Chapter awards ceremony at the U.S. Grant Hotel. The Soul of Saturday Night took home two of television’s most coveted awards, the Emmy for outstanding Visual & Performing Arts Program, and the award for Best Direction/Other than News. The Emmys for The Soul of Saturday Night will take a place of honor next to its Telly award, Platinum Remi, and NATOA Star Award.

John Malashock of Malashock Dance and UCSD-TV arts and humanities producer John Menier share the award for Visual and Performing Arts Program as co-producers of The Soul of Saturday Night. Malashock is the Artistic Director of Malashock Dance & Company, where he has created nearly 50 original works for the Company, which will begin its 16th season in July. John Menier received the award for Best Direction/Other than News. Menier has worked with UCSD-TV for the past eight years.

"The Emmys for The Soul of Saturday Night are the pieces de resistance," said John Menier, director of The Soul of Saturday Night and arts producer at UCSD-TV. “The awards reflect upon the cumulative efforts of a host of collaborators, both on- and off-screen and present a significant achievement for The Soul of Saturday Night.”

John Malashock commented “I am both thrilled and honored to receive this important recognition for our work. The relationship between Malashock Dance and UCSD-TV has been an extraordinary experience, and I look forward to new projects together.”

The Soul of Saturday Night, a witty and imaginative dance narrative, is set to the music of Tom Waits and was shot at various locations around San Diego. The Soul of Saturday Night is a co-production of UCSD-TV and Malashock Dance. Though UCSD-TV and director John Menier have taped several previous Malashock stage productions for television, The Soul of Saturday Night marks an evolution in the partnership of the two companies as their first ever dance-for-camera project.

The purpose of the Emmy Awards is to recognize outstanding achievements in television by conferring annual awards of merit in the Pacific Southwest region. The Pacific Southwest region includes San Diego County and the television markets of Bakersfield, Oxnard, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual presentation of these awards is intended to be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence for those working in television and to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements in television. This year’s awards were presented in 64 categories - from news reporting and sports coverage to animation and art direction.

Malashock Dance is supported, in part, by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Fund and the California Arts Council. For more information about Malashock Dance, please contact (619) 260-1622 or visit the website at www.malashockdance.org.

UCSD-TV is a non-profit, non-commercial broadcast station licensed to the Regents of the University of California. Launched in 1993, UCSD-TV provides viewers with locally produced, regionally focused programs that enrich the public’s awareness of new ideas, key issues and local events. UCSD-TV airs on Cox Cable Ch.66; North County Cox Cable Ch.69; Time Warner Cable Ch.18; or UHF (no cable) Ch. 35. For more information, call (858) 534-3535 or visit www.ucsd.tv.

Media Contact: Juanita LaHaye (858) 822-2026