Dancing Around Town Has Jazzy, Animal Themes
DAZZLING
In 2007, choreographer Corey Wright began touring with the revival version of Chicago The Musical and recently finished as a swing. He also works with the Verdon-Fosse Estate and is a part of a reconstruction series that features many of Fosse’s original works taught by Fosse’s original dancers. His choreography and love for the show is thrilling audiences in Vista.
Chicago The Musical closes the 38th Summer Season at Moonlight Amphitheatre. Sept. 12-29. Www.moonlightstage.com
Keone and Mari Madrid debut “Beyond Babel” in San Diego. Courtesy image.
INTRODUCING
If Babbel is the language app, and Babel is a film starring Brad Pitt, then Beyond Babel is the hip hop imagining of a classic “Romeo and Juliet.” Creators Keone and Mari Madrid of the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” and a nimble company of dancers team with Brooklyn-based Hideaway Circus. Check out their YouTube pieces, including the auditions.
The Madrid duo are YouTube famous. They plan to take their immersive show on tour, but it debuts in San Diego first. Sept. 21-Nov. 18. Beyond Babel Theater. 2625 Imperial Ave. San Diego. (866-811-4111). Www.beyondbabelshow.com
PARTNERING
California Rhythm Project recreates favorite numbers from the Golden Age of film by tap legends such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. “Hollywood & Vine” is an encore performance and features dancers students from CPMA Middle School, Performing Arts Center. Proceeds also benefit CPMA Dance. Sept. 29 at 7 pm, Sept. 30 at 3 pm. http://californiarhythmproject.org/
CELEBRATING
World Ballet Day LIVE 2018 returns Tuesday, Oct. 2. The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and The Royal Ballet invite guest companies from all over the world to go LIVE on Facebook. “Share a video and be a part of the longest pirouette around the world…” Upload your video to Instagram or Twitter and use #worldballetday to be featured. https://worldballetday.com/about/
DISCOVERING
To celebrate its 20th Anniversary “Trolley Dances,” San Diego Dance Theater brings back six favorite dances voted by Trolley fans and alums.
The site-specific dance event is in partnership with the MTS, and begins at Hazard Center Parking Garage. Follow the Sycuan Green Line.
In past years the urban discovery ran over two weekends. This year, there’s only one 3-day. It’s the best of Trolley, with choreography by: Jean Isaacs, SDDT Artistic Director and Trolley Dances founder; Monica Bill Barnes, NY and UCSD alum; Kim Epifano, Epiphany Productions and San Francisco Trolley Dances; Bradley Lundberg; Debi Toth-Ward; Terry Wilson; and live music by Southwestern College Concert Choir.
Oct. 5 / 12 pm 1pm 2pm; Oct. 6 & 7 / 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm. Www.sandiegodancetheater.org. Purchase online: https://sddt.ticketleap.com/td2018
JAZZY-TAPPING
Wynton Marsalis’ Spaces combines modern dance and big band jazz in a wild exploration of the the animal kingdom. He describes it as “animal ballet.” The Pulitzer-Prize-winning trumpeter and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra create jazzy-tapping magic as the show features dancers Lil Buck and Jared Grimes. Expect to hear buzzing, clucking, and harrumphs. The dancing is physically charged. Oct. 3 at 8 pm. Balboa Theatre. Www.ljms.org
Memphis “jookin” star Lil Buck and tap dancer Jared Grimes perform with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Video courtesy of LJMS.org.
WALKING
Installation Dances combines walking through new public art works and site-specific dance choreographed by San Diego Dance Theater Artistic Director Jean Isaacs, with Anne Gehman, Liv Isaacs-Nollet, Zaquia Mahler Salinas, and Jessica de Cancel. Audiences join one of three guided tours at Dance Place, Arts District Liberty Station. Oct. 14. at 12, 1, 2 pm. http://www.sandiegodancetheater.org/
KIPLING
San Diego Ballet presents a whirl of ballet, jazz, hip hop and puppetry to tell Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.” Family friendly. Oct. 19-20 8 pm; Oct. 21 at 2:30 pm. Www.sandiegoballet.org.
SWAN-ING
City Ballet of San Diego presents Tchaikovsky Spectacular with three dances accompanied by live orchestra. The Company performs “Swan Lake Act II,” “Black Swan Pas de Deux” and “Tchaikovsky’s Celebration” set to “The Seasons.” Nov. 2-3 at 8pm and Nov. 4 at 2 pm. Spreckels Theatre. Www.cityballet.org.
Pilobolus’ “Shadowland” is about a young girl in a dream. She transforms into a hybrid creature. Image LJMS.org
MERGING
Shadowland by Pilobolus combines legendary modern dance with multi-media, merging front-of-screen choreography with projected images and moving screens to create a narrative with the fluid logic of a dream, powered by the grace of acrobatic dance. Presented by La Jolla Music Society, Dance Series. Nov. 10 at 2 and 8 pm. Prelude Interview hosted by Molly Puryear at 1 and 7 pm. Spreckels Theatre. Www.ljms.org.
Ana da Costa dances as Carmen in California Ballet’s “Noche Latina.” Image California Ballet
PREMIERING
Noche Latina, an evening of dance accompanied by a live Cuban band, is Jared Nelson’s interpretation of a fiery “Bolero,” “Carmen,” and the West Coast premiere of Septime Webre’s “Juanita y Alicia.” Nelson is California Ballet’s new artistic director and continues to guide The Company into new territory. Nov. 9 at 7:30 pm; Nov. 10 at 2 and 7:30 pm. Www.californiaballet.org.
SHARED EVENING
PGK Dance Project performs new choreography by director Peter G. Kalivas, and shares the evening with a guest performance by Wheelchair Dancers. Nov. 10 at 7:30 pm. Balboa Park Club. Www.thepgkdanceproject.org.
TOURING
“So You Think You Can Dance,” the touring version of the TV show, showcases the top 10 contestants from Season 15. Dec. 4 at 7:30 pm. Civic Theatre. Www.sandiegotheatres.org.
REMEMBERING
He showed the way for black dancers and was one of the most popular dancers with the New York City Ballet. Arthur Mitchell died at age 84. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/obituaries/arthur-mitchell-dead.html
Kris Eitland covers dance and theater for Sandiegostory.com and freelances for other publications, including the Union Tribune and Dance Teacher Magazine. She grew up performing many dance styles and continued intensive modern dance and choreography at the Univ. of Minnesota, Duluth, and San Diego State Univ. She also holds a journalism degree from SDSU. Her career includes stints in commercial and public radio news production.
Eitland has won numerous Excellence in Journalism awards for criticism and reporting from the San Diego Press Club. She has served on the Press Club board since 2011 and is a past president. She is a co-founder of Sandiegostory.com. She has a passion for the arts, throwing parties with dancing and singing, and cruising the Pacific in her family’s vintage trawler. She trains dogs, skis, and loves seasonal trips to her home state of Minnesota.