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Laguna Dance Festival: four exciting performances on an intimate stage October 4–7
Festival’s 14th annual fall program comprises a free backstage peek with Complexions, a one-night-only Bowie tribute, international dance stars in their prime, master classes, and bonus show in late October by Afro-Colombian troupe Sankofa Danzafro
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Sept. 17, 2018 – Laguna Dance Festival will bring to the local stage a variety of stunning dance performances October 4–7 and a show by an athletic Afro-Colombian contemporary troupe on Oct. 25 at Neighborhood Congregational Church’s Bridge Hall.
Introducing the onstage festival on Thursday, October 4 at 7 p.m. is a free dance experience dubbed Backstage with Complexions, offering a unique opportunity for audiences to observe the rehearsal process, speak directly with performers, and gain a deeper understanding of the dances being performed during the Festival. In an onstage demonstration, the Director will work with star dancers from Complexions Contemporary Ballet, leading them through a live rehearsal.
On Friday, October 5 – one night only – Laguna Beach audiences will experience the brilliance of David Bowie with Stardust, Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s dance tribute to the late rock icon. This production will feature the rhythms, personas and musical drama of nine Bowie songs including “Changes,” “Rock and Roll Suicide,” “Heroes” and “Space Oddity.” Stardust takes the genre-crossing, gender-bending, boundary-breaking music of Bowie and translates it into powerful, poignant movement to create a tribute to his restless artistic invention.
StarDust made its West Coast premiere at the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on April 20. Included in the evening program are excerpts from Complexions’ contemporary repertory. Complexions Contemporary Ballet, founded in 1994 by master choreographers Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, mixes methods, styles and cultures to create groundbreaking movement.
Audiences will have the unique opportunity to see current and future stars share the stage in one spectacular program at the Stars of Dance shows on Saturday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 7 at 2 p.m. Onstage in dazzling duets and solos will be principal ballerina and Breaking Pointe TV reality series star Beckanne Sisk and soloist Chase O’Connell of Ballet West, Laguna Beach native Skylar Campbell and Jordana Daumec of National Ballet of Canada, and Dores André and Joseph Walsh of San Francisco Ballet. Complexions Contemporary Ballet will perform excerpts by choreographer Dwight Rhoden, including selected pieces from Friday night’s Stardust. America’s Got Talent finalist DIAVOLO/Architecture in Motion will present Knockturne by director/choreographer Jacques Heim. In addition, dancers from USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance’s inaugural BFA class will perform a variety of works choreographed by Barak Marshall, Aszure Barton and Laguna Dance Festival founder and artistic director Jodie Gates.
The festival’s four onstage performances will be held at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Tickets are on sale now at lagunadancefestival.org and at the Laguna Playhouse box office.
Laguna Dance Festival, now in its 14th year, is regarded as one of Orange County’s major annual cultural events and continues to be an important showcase for new and established dance companies and artists. Its mission is to present world-class dance performance, increase public appreciation for the art, and provide quality dance education. lagunadancefestival.org
Laguna Dance Festival 2018 Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.
Backstage with Complexions – One-hour onstage demonstration with director and dancers from Complexions Contemporary Ballet; watch and participate in a live rehearsal
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
Admission is free
Friday, Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Dance performance with pre-performance talk at 6:30 p.m.
Stardust – one night only David Bowie tribute by Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
General admission $75; Students with ID $35
Saturday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.
Master Class for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12+ with principal dancers from Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Dance Studio at Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach
$30 dancer / $15 observer
Saturday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Dance performance
Stars of Dance
Duets and solos by principal dancers from Ballet West, National Ballet of Canada, San Francisco Ballet; repertory excerpts by Complexions Contemporary Ballet including Stardust; DIAVOLO/Architecture in Motion; various pieces by dancers of USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
General admission $65; Students with ID $35
Sunday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m.
Master Class for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 12+ with Beckanne Sisk, Ballet West principal dancer and Breaking Pointe TV reality series star
Dance Studio at Laguna Beach High School, 625 Park Ave., Laguna Beach
625 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach
$30 dancer / $15 observer
Sunday, Oct. 7, 2 p.m.
Dance performance with pre-performance talk at 1 p.m.
Stars of Dance
Duets and solos by principal dancers from Ballet West, National Ballet of Canada, San Francisco Ballet; repertory excerpts by Complexions Contemporary Ballet including Stardust; DIAVOLO/Architecture in Motion; various pieces by dancers of USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
General admission $65; Students with ID $35.
Sunday, Oct. 7 Student Package
Includes master class 10 a.m.– noon, pre-show talk at Laguna Playhouse 1 p.m. and ticket for 2 p.m. performance
$50 per person
Thursday, Oct. 25 Special Bonus Dance Event
6:30 p.m. – Reception
7:30 p.m. – Internationally acclaimed Colombian dance company Sankofa Danzafro will perform director Rafael Palacios’ “La Ciudad de los Otros” (“The City of Others”), showcasing powerful Afro-Colombian contemporary dance with live drumming and singing.
Neighborhood Congregational Church, Bridge Hall, 340 St. Ann’s Dr., Laguna Beach
$50 reception and performance
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