While you’ve been getting ahead of that bumper crop of zucchinis, local dance-makers have been busy building new pieces to perform this month. Check out Dance in Dialogue (D.i.D.), a “salon-style community performance series” initiated by choreographers Margo Van Ummersen, Shannon Mockli and Carolina Cabellero that invites the audience to provide precious feedback to artists on new and emerging works. A thoughtful approach to two problems facing any performing artist — securing a venue and finding an audience — D.i.D. provides a vital new link in the performance chain in our community.
This month’s installment offers a dynamic line-up of movers, including Robin Steihm of Ashland’s Dancing People Company, Sara Zolbrod of Joint Forces/ DanceAbility International, UO and LCC faculty, as well as independent choreographers Jana Meszaros and Taylor Theis. See D.i.D. 5:30 pm Friday, Sept. 19, at the Hult Center’s Studio One; $3 suggested donation.
Kudos to Ballet Fantastique for securing a spot as one of the Hult Center’s resident companies. The arrangement allows for priority scheduling of the performance halls, rental discounts and the ability to apply to the Hult and Silva endowments for operating and performance support. You can toast Ballet Fantastique’s mother-daughter dynamic duo, Donna Marisa Bontrager and Hannah Bontrager, for their artistic and managerial acumen at the company’s 5X5 Gala Oct. 10 at the Hult Center; $55-$155 ticket packages. For more information visit balletfantastique.org.
Also in early October, look for “Land,” an interdisciplinary new piece featuring dance, music and video. The collaborative brainchild of choreographer Sarah Nemecek, multi-media artist Ian Coronado, photographer/videographer John Watson, composer Mel Stark and composer/musician Matt Svoboda, “Land” explores the “parallels in the external environment and ourselves.” Plumbing thoughts and ideas about “home,” “community” and what it means to feel you’ve finally arrived, “Land” spins and weaves reflections on wild and beautiful Lane County. “Land” premieres 7:30 pm Friday, Oct. 3, at LCC’s Blue Door Theatre; $5-$10 sliding scale and proceeds will go towards LCC’s performing students scholarship fund.
Got a scoop on the local dance scene? Email Rachael Carnes at eugeneweeklydance@gmail.com