The Spin

The cast of Eugene Ballet Company’s Tommy. Photo by Jon Christopher Meyers.

Spring blasts off with Quixotic Fusion’s Gravity of Center tour, whose performance culminates the city of Eugene’s two-day (sub)Urban Projections digital art and media festival. Hailing from Kansas City, the brainchild of percussionist and artist Anthony Magliano and theatrical designer Mica Thomas (who studied at Southern Oregon University in Ashland), Quixotic combines movement, music, digital art and aerial athleticism to create cutting-edge new work. Local audiences will have two opportunities to see Quixotic, beginning with an extravaganza in the Hult Center lobby that promises to transform the space “into a kinetic multimedia experience” 8 pm Thursday, April 2; free. Want more? Catch Quixotic’s boundary-breaking show 8 pm Friday, April 3; $20-$45.

Next up it’s Tommy The Ballet, Eugene Ballet Company’s take on The Who’s iconic rock opera 7:30 pm Saturday, April 11, 2 pm Sunday, April 12; $28-$53. Featuring live music by Tim McLaughlin, Siri Vik, Zak Johnson, Lance Seiders, Ben Scharf and Merlin Showalter, Tommy pulses with energy and, of course, pinball. Artistic Director Toni Pimble offers a ballet insider talk 45 minutes prior to each show. Opening the performances is Septime Webre’s athletic and spirited Fluctuating Hemlines, a treasure from the Washington Ballet in D.C.

Switching gears, The Middle Eastern Dance Guild of Eugene (MEDGE) celebrates International Dance Day by hosting belly dance superstar Bozenka as a featured performer and workshop instructor. Check out their Spring Gala Show 8:30 pm Friday, April 17, at Cozmic; $10, all ages. Then take advantage of Bozenka’s workshops April 18, including a four-hour advanced professional level workshop on Sunday April 19. For more information or to register, visit medge.org.

Dance in Dialogue presents “experimental work in unique spaces to invigorate the culture of contemporary dance in Eugene.” This time, Dakota Bouher, Shannon Knight, Patsy Morris, Katie Scherman and Jessica Zoller will share their new work with audiences at the Friends Meeting House (2274 Onyx St.) 5 pm Friday, April 10; $5 suggested donation.

Also on tap is the UO Repertory Dance Company, featuring Rita Honka’s Requisite Resolve, 8 pm Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, in the Dougherty Dance Theatre; $5-$10.

For the young and young-at-heart, Pacific Classical Ballet and Ballet North West Academy present their story ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, choreographed by Michele Major and Claire Maederer, at 4 pm, April 11, at the Wildish Theater; $7-$12.

And the Eugene Youth Ballet hosts its fourth annual master dance series this month, bringing together more than 150 dancers, choreographers, teachers and artistic directors from around the Northwest. Check out their culminating performance 7 pm Saturday, April 18, at the Wildish Theater; $13-$15.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!