Producing an event is really hard work and is something that is often overlooked by most. On April 15, Dance in the Annex (DITA) -- an award-winning contemporary dance troupe from our region -- and ArtPeers will produce their
latest theatrical work at Wealthy Theatre, “#shift.”.
While seeking to follow their successful works of the past, “#shift” makes a few big changes that will only increase the benefit of this production and those attending this one-night-only event.
This work will follow in the footsteps of their past wildly popular theatrical performances of “Trip The Light” and “Salmagundi,” where local and visiting choreographers and dancers perform to a live musical score supplied by area musical acts.
But for “#shift,” a conceptual show that was originally slated for the fall of last year, the move to this spring has enabled choreographer Amy Wilson extra time to fine-tune what is certain to be one of their greatest performances for a host of reasons.
One key reason is Wilson’s and DITA’s ability to not just create compelling choreography that is visually rich and engaging, but, through this company’s networking within the dance community, they are able to curate a night’s worth of thrilling performances with locals and visiting dancers sharing the stage.
Unlike the past events, when audience members were treated to a constant turnover in the music pit at the front of the stage, by working just with one band,
Paucity, and guests James Cornish and Alex Koi, they are able to create a seamless production that flows from music to dance to even the short films from
ArtPeers that make up this program.
One standout this year is how the event came to be. When planning this production, Wilson shares that she had a poem that her husband, Erin Wilson, created that provided the thread from which all of these works drew inspiration.
While visiting a rehearsal last week, Wilson shared that the selection of this poem would go on to become the line that all the choreographers, from herself to Hannah Sullivan, Darrell Haggard, Molly Ross, Amy Cova, and Lisa LaMarre and Dancers, would seek their inspiration.
Over the last few days I have allowed myself time to read Erin Wilson’s poem,
“Block Of Now,” in preparation for Saturday’s performance and encourage all who are looking to attend to do the same, as it will help provide the mindset that these dancers, musicians, and filmmakers are all referencing for this night of contemporary dance.
“I am still standing on concrete.
Even with my eyes closed, I know I am surrounded on all sides
by steel and marble and glass.
I can feel myself encircled in
the constancy of movement,
all around me, in every direction. Enveloped by sound:
the collective tongue
of anonymous voices,
the harsh screams
of mechanical noise.”
— A Block of Now
Tickets for “#shift” can be secured from the Community Media Center’s
website.