Redd Legg Dance in An Irritating Cerebral Itch (excerpt) Photo by Joseph Lambert, Jazzy Photo from the BOOST dance festival 2013. |
SPLIT BILL
April 20–21, 8:00 PM, Broadway Performance Hall
SPLIT BILL features Redd Legg Dance and badmarmarDANCE in a dynamic evening of contemporary ballet and modern dance. Redd Legg Dance presents Artistic Director Kristen Legg’s, latest work, An Irritating Cerebral Itch. Based on the concepts of love, lust, and attraction, it delves into the darker sides of commitment, or lack thereof, while also bringing moments of humor to the topic. The company commissioned local composer Alexander Bishop to create the dynamic score. badmarmarDANCE, under the direction of Marlo Martin, premiers a new work, without context or provocation. Martin pushes her band of passionate performers into an exploration of the stories that we all hold deep in our hearts, who is allowed in, and who falls or pushes their way into our lives. Through a thoughtfully strung together stream of words, movement, and staging badmarmar shows a softer side and allows the audience to contemplate and exhale as they perform their truths. Excerpts of both works were seen at this year’s BOOST dance festival. With a planned artistic hiatus on the horizon for both Marlo Martin and Kristen Legg, Seattle dance fans will want to grab a ticket for SPLIT BILL. Tickets are available here.
Lingo Productions: Collision Theory: The Finale
April 18–21, 8:00 PM, On the Boards
Over the past several years, KT Niehoff created several projects that radically reconceptualize how artists and audiences interact. The ultimate realization of this is Collision Theory, in which she and music collaborator Ivory Smith invite the Seattle community to take part in the creation of a city-wide piece that began at the 2012 NW New Works Festival and culminates in a performance at OtB, The Finale. Following months filled with multiple “immersions” including music releases, dinner parties, films, fashion shows and quiet pen pal exchanges, The Finale distills a year’s worth of activity into an intimate yet ambitiously scaled evening of dance and music. Read SeattleDances’ interview with Niehoff here. Tickets for The Finale are available here.
Battle for the Dance Belt
April 21, 7:00 PM, Westlake Dance Center
3rd Shift Dance presents their third annual Battle for the Dance Belt for one-night only at Westlake Dance Center. (This is a change in venue as it was originally scheduled to be held at Velocity Dance Center). Featuring performances by Shoky, Dance Contemporary, South Side Sunday Company (SSSCo), Marae, DeadPan Monkeys, Voltage, Brianna Penrose, SerenDIP, Relay Dance Collective, … Ballet, Expose the Eastside Dance Collective, and 3rd Shift Dance; this fast-paced 60 minute show puts the audience in charge of the performers destiny. Who will win the prize money, case of beer, bragging rights, and the “platinum” dance belt? Viewers will have to be there to find out. Though the show is currently sold out, there will be a line at 6:45 PM for cancellations. Tickets for any available seating will be $10, cash only.
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Pacific Northwest Ballet company dancers in Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake. Photo © Angela Sterling. |
PNB: Swan Lake
April 12–21, 7:30 PM, McCaw Hall
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Swan Lake, choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell, returns to the McCaw Hall stage as the fifth offering of PNB’s 40th Anniversary season. This beloved story ballet, revered by audiences and dancers alike, is classical ballet at its very best. Sumptuous scenic, costume, and lighting design, and an achingly beautiful Tchaikovsky score, set the stage for the ethereal corps de ballet and the ultimate challenge for ballerinas all over the world—the dual role of Odette, trapped in the body of a white swan until the oath of her true love sets her free; and Odile, the “Black Swan” temptress. The company presents eleven performances of this most classic of ballets. Read the SeattleDances review here. More information and tickets are available here.
Events/ Discussions/Lectures
Relay Dance Collective Fundraiser
April 19, 6:00 PM, Lisa Harris Gallery in Pike Place Market
Join Relay Dance Collective for an evening of food, wine, live music, and dance in the historic loft, Lisa Harris Gallery, located in Pike Place Market. Meet the dancers, get a sneak peek of what they’ve been working on, and learn more about their mission to expand and redefine who gets to realize the benefits of dance. The event will feature a performance by RDC dancers Amanda Oie and Jasmine Morgan, and guest musical artists, Cosmic Skies. The event will include a silent auction and raffle in addition to the performance. Proceeds will benefit RDC’s upcoming performance August 24-25, as well as contribute to their fund which provides scholarships for students at Dance Fremont! To learn more about RDC’s commitment to giving back to the community here. Tickets for this event can be purchased here.
Coming Up Next
SCUBA
April 26–28, 8:00 PM, Velocity Dance Center
Velocity’s SCUBA 2013 features performances by three nationally emerging talents in contemporary dance: Seattle’s own Shannon Stewart is joined by Philadelphia’s “laugh-out-loud funny and completely engaging” Green Chair Dance Group. New in 2013, SCUBA is also commissioning a world premiere by Seattle favorite the “riveting, mysterious and startling” Maureen Whiting Dance Company, with a 20-foot tree, a cast of fourteen and original music by Seattle composers Bukake, Dave Abramson, and Eyvind Kang. Velocity initiated SCUBA in 2002 to create a national platform providing precious touring opportunities to contemporary dance artists. SCUBA gives audiences a view of the breadth of choreographic invention across the country, while every year sending a Seattle artist on their first national tour. Tickets are available here.