While the rest of Pittsburgh’s vibrant dance community might not be celebrating an anniversary, it is nonetheless celebrating the dance itself. Here’s the list of their upcoming events this season:
THE PRESENTERS.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center. AWAACC brings the Denver-based Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble Oct. 4-5, with a master class on Oct. 3. Seen by more than 2 million people in more than 20 countries on 5 continents, this will be the company’s first appearance Downtown. www.trustarts.org.
Kelly Strayhorn Theater. The centerpiece of KST’s fall season will focus on the world premiere of Olivier Tarpaga’s When Birds Refuse to Fly, The East Liberty-based organization will also showcase the annual presentation of My People: A Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) Festival of the Arts Nov. 14-16. It will feature Mariana Valencia, a Brooklyn-based performer and choreographer in her signature work, ALBUM, on Fri. and Sat. We get another glimpse of the inimitable Ralph Lemon in a film, How Can You Stay in the House All Day and Not Go Anywhere?, hosted by our own Staycee Pearl at the Alloy Studios Nov. 20. Then Freshworks Residency will feature the dynamic pairing of visual artist Jameelah Platt and Lost Culture Dance Crew for dance, film, photography and painting Nov. 1; Corinne Jasmin and Ru Emmons will use movement, sound and spoken language and visual art ttlo explore the corners of identity Dec. 6. Both at the Alloy Studios. KST
New Hazlett Theater. The Community Supported Art (CSA) Series doesn’t have any dance at the forefront, but movement will play a part in several productions that nurture Pittsburgh’s rising artists. Artist and musician Brittany Chantele’s A Fire on Venus will include visual art, live back-up musicians and dancers (Oct. 17-18). Of course there’s Anna Azizzy’s solo performance in The Secret Life of Gym Girls (Dec. 5-6), but Carnegie Mellon University’s Philip Wesley Gates will use movement, found text and (?) programming code in Terminer (Feb. 6-7). New Hazlett.
PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh. For those with a Broadway bent, there is a hefty line-up on tap at the Benedum Center, beginning with Disney’s THE LION KING, which is winding down its latest run (thru Sept. 29). Following are intriguing choreographic morsels like MEAN GIRLS (Oct. 29-Nov. 3); A BRONX TALE (Nov. 19-24); JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Dec. 31-Jan.5); MISS SAIGON Feb. 4-9); CATS (Feb. 25-Mar. 1); SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL (APR. 7-12). Trust
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The Trust is like the gift that keeps on giving. Not only does Pittsburgh have a full-fledged dance series in the Pittsburgh Dance Council, but there are additional programs to attract a more diverse audience to the beauty of this art form via the Cohen & Grigsby series. If you like Pilobolus and Mix, you’ll like Catapult: The Amazing Magic of Shadow and Dance (Byham, Oct. 10) and Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue needs no introduction (Byham, Nov. 6). Trust.
The Andy Warhol Museum. Co-presented with Carnegie Mellon University School of Art and School of Drama, the Warhol presents Michiyaya Dance in Gurih, a multi-media work on the queering of our senses through a multi-cultural lens. This is the duo that has collaborated with Pittsburgh’s Slowdanger in the past. (Warhol Museum, Sept. 27). http://www.warhol.org.
THE INDEPENDENTS.
Bodiography. There is plenty to take in at Bodiography. Maria Caruso’s group begins at Butler Community College’s Succop Theater with a newly-formed second company, BCB2 adding to the festivities (Sept. 28). It returns to the city for the annual Multiplicity (Byham, Nov. 15-16), with works from company members. But Caruso will expand by creating a work for UK-based Matrafiscdance, first for Multiplicity. Next comes Unveiled at the Byham Feb. 7-8, bolstered by guest choreographers Ze-eva Cohen and Virginie Mecene. In addition New York City’s Buglisi Dance Theatre will share the program. The company brings the relatively new UK-based group, BDblaq Dance to LaRoche College Apr. 23 and concludes with Caruso’s solo performance, Metamorphosis (Byham, TBA). In between, there is considerable touring — New York (DUMBO Dance Festival), Europe and United States. For more info, click on Bodiography.
Nick Daniels/DANA Movement Ensemble. Fresh from performing at Small Plates Choreography festival in Honolulu, Hawaii, Daniels and company will present the local premiere of It Too and more at City Theatre’s Lester Hamburg Theater Oct. 4-5. www.citytheatre
The Pillow Project. Mark it on your calendar, folks, as Pearlann Porter and parter John Lambert present the company’s first full-length theater work in its 15-year history in an actual theater, the Kelly Strayhorn, Dec. 7-8. Called NOW: PLAYING, they promise an original approach to theatrical lighting and a complementary original score by long-time collaborator PJ Roduta. http://www.pillowproject.org
Slowdanger. This dynamic multidisciplinary duo, Anna Thompson and Taylor Knight, will be at The Space Upstairs Dec. 6-8. It will also be seen in some impressive location outside the city, including the Baryshnikov Arts Center, Baruch Arts Center, Peridance and more in New York City and Cleveland Dance Festival Nov. 8. For more info: Slowdanger.
Texture Contemporary Ballet. Pittsburgh’s contemporary ballet company is full of excitement with the news that it will have its own studio associated with the professional company. That should give it plenty of inspiration (and a rehearsal home) for Beatles & Bach (New Hazlett, Sept. 27-29); WIP Choreography Project (Carnegie Stage, Nov. 2); Personal and Powerful (New Hazlett, Mar. 20-22). Will this be another breakthrough year? For more info: Texture.
THE ACADEMICS.
La Roche College. Associated with Maria Caruso’s Bodiography, the college arm will participate in Multiplicity (Byham, Nov. 22-23), then produce its own Nutcracker (Motherhouse Theater 6-8) and The LaRoche Spring Gala (Byham, May 1-2). For more info: La Roche.
Point Park University. Like a pair of powerhouse bookends, the Conservatory Dance Company offers a delectable line-up of choreographers at the beginning and end of the season. Contemporary Choreographers features Chinese artist Yin Yue and two commercial dancers/choreographers with all the best connections Martha Nichols and Amy Hall Garner, with PPU’s own The Pillow Project (Pearlann Porter) to start (George Rowland White Performance Studio, Oct. 10-13). It all ends with a Spring Dance Concert (PNC Theater at Pittsburgh Playhouse, Apr. 15-19) with some big dance names, including the inimitable Martha Graham, breakout choreographer Camille Brown, Bessie Award-winning Jessica Lang and relative newbie ballet choreographer Penny Saunders (with PPU one of 11 collaborations this season). The gem in the middle, though is a world premiere, Bound in Before, by PPU professor Kiesha Lalama, who has choreographed for numerous companies, including Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (PNC Theater, Dec. 6-15). She is a leading example of how the dance department staff has flourished, some of whom will be featured in the Faculty Dance Concert (GRWPS, Feb. 20-23). As a bonus, see the future of dance in two editions of Student Choreography (GRWPS, Nov. 15-17 and Apr. 3-5). Click on PPU.
Slippery Rock University. The annual SRU 60 x 60 Experimental Dance, Music and Digital Video Concert starts things at the Morrow Field House Dance Studio Sept. 26. Next is the Faculty and Guest Artist Concert at Butler County Community College’s Succop Theatre Oct. 20. Click on SRU.
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