The Spin

The cast of Eugene Ballet Company’s Tommy.
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.