15 Signs thatContemporaryDance isAlive andWell inTexas
Pictured:Revolve on Camera, a newdance filmwithRevolveDance Company, directed byBenjamin andHeatherEpps, premieres atHouston CinemaArts Festival onNov. 16. Photo:Gothic South Films
byNancyWozny
and the closing ofHope Stone’s studio and company andDominic WalshDance Theater. Somuch so, it’s time for an update.
M
Contemporary dance in Texas is
inmotion.Although issues of sus- tainably, training, visibility and funding remain constant, there are somemajor signs of hope on the horizon. It’s also important for the State as awhole to develop its own identity,which iswhy I skip between cities, hoping that youwill read about a group outside of your own dance town.
There are several outstanding upcoming performances this Fall, but we need to start looking at dance as something larger than the dates of the next
show.Newspaces, dancers, programs, festivals and various recognitions are also important.We can also boast two strong dance service organizations in theDanceCouncil ofNorth Texas andDance SourceHouston. Texas is a big place, so know there’swaymore news that Iwas able to cover in one story. So, pack a snack, this is a lengthy report!
AState of Festivals We have a bevy of folks back fromsummer festivals:Austin choreographersEllenBartel,EricaGionfriddo and her company, ARCOSDance andKaysieBrown of Shay IshiiDanceCompany, performed at theEdinburgh Fringe Festival,METDance performed at Jacob’s Pillow’s Inside/Out Stage, andCourtney Jones taught at theBatesDance Festival. Festivals are in comebackmode. Since the loss of theBigRange inHouston andAustin, there have been few places to shownewwork. This is finally changing. TheAustin Dance Festival, run byKathyDunnHamrick, had a successful run, andwill be back filling in amuch needed niche in the community for young choreographers to try out
newwork.Vault inHouston brought in several international teachers during this summer’s
DANCE!NORTHTEXAS a publication of the dance council of north texas
uch has changed on the Texas contemporary dancescape since IwroteDown butNotOut,which covered the recent hit to the State due to the sudden death ofBruceWood,
AerialArts Festival. TheDallasDanceFest triumphantly returned after a decade-long hiatus, and enjoyed sold out crowds.
Upcoming festivals include the {254}DANCE-FEST, Sept. 27-28, presented by theWacoCulturalArts Fest andOutOn a LimbDance Company, The ThirdCoastDance FilmFestival inHouston,Oct. 1 at DiverseWorks, TheBailandoDance Festival inCorpusChristi,Oct. 2-4, theBrazosContemporaryDance Festival presented byBrazos DanceCollective,Oct. 11-12, inCollege Station, TheDanceGallery inHuntsville,Oct. 17-18, andNewYorkCity,Oct. 24-26, The Texas Improvisation Festival inHuntsville,Oct. 2-4,HoustonCinemaArts Festival’s showing of four dance films,Nov. 12-16 andDance SourceHouston’sBarnstormDance Fest in June 2015.
Pictured:DallasBlackDance Theatre. Photo: SharenBradford/TheDancing Image
DallasBlackDanceTheatreAppoints aNewLeader AprilBerry has taken over the helmofDallasBlackDance Theatre. It can’t be easy to fill the shoes of the legendaryDallasBlack founder,AnnWilliams, butBerry is poised to do just that. “It is a privilege to followin the footsteps ofAnnWilliams, a great leader, whose vision has elevatedDallasBlackDance Theatre to prominent national status,” saysBerry. “Iwill honor the company’s rich history
vol 17 • no 4
www.thedancecouncil.org Nov-Jan 2015
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