It's Show Week!!!

It's already here! This week starts Tech Week (getting all of the technical stuff ready) for our season opener show which will run this Thursday-Friday (September 22-24), 7:30pm at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City. This is fantastic show that I'm excited to be performing in! Here is press release about the pieces in the concert:

Brook Notary’s visually mesmerizing and physically charged premiere of “Grid”, brilliantly juxtaposes complex dance structures and a strikingly simple stage setting.  The New York Times has raved about Notary’s “choreographic magic” and proclaimed her “adept at theatrical conjuration.”

Ririe-Woodbury’s own Artistic Director Charlotte Boye-Christensen, explores the mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy in her intriguing premier of “Push.”   
Larry Keigwin’s “80’s Night” (2007), is an entertaining look back at popular culture in the 1980s.  In this piece the dancers lead us on a journey back in time that revisits everything from music and movement to questionable fashion choices.

In contrast, “Spurts of Activity before the Emptiness of Late Afternoon” (2010) by John Jasperse, is a reflective exploration of time and accidental behavior and is marked by the interplay between Jasperse’ tightly conceived structures and his elusive movement style."

Each of the pieces in this show are so completley different from each other which is great because that showcases the huge range of possibilities that exist in contemporary dance. Many people are afraid that they didn't "get that piece", "thought it was weird", "I fell asleep!", etc. There is such a huge misunderstanding about what contemporary dance is among most people. Like any other art, there are many different choices, styles, and opinions that go in to creating choreography. As dancers, all we ask is that the audience members approach a dance concert like you should approach your everyday lives: With an open mind. You may not like every piece you see (there's a lot of bad dance out there!), you may not understand the concept of each piece but the bottom line is: that's okay! That's part of the beauty of art in my opinion!

Sorry for the little rant but in this day of age where people are bombarded with reality TV, social media, and busy schedules, it's a good idea to take the time out of your week for something different. Go support the arts by seeing a play, a musical, dance concert, or visiting an art gallery. Your mind will thank you!

If you are in the area come see our latest show! We will also be performing at the Salt Lake Farmer's Market this Saturday, September 23 at 9:30am.

Below is an excerpt of Brook Notary's Grid that will be in the show. She first set the piece at NYU and these are some of the talented students performing. She revised the original piece from 13 dancers to just 6 for our full comapny. Just a little sneak peek:

Hope to see you at the show!!!

Question:

Have you ever seen a Contemporay Dance Concert? If so, what did you think of it?