danceviewwest
writers on dancing

 

 

covering the dance scene in the San Francisco Bay Area

 

July 21, 2003

Quintessential Bluethenthal
Anne Bluethenthal
July 18-20, 2003
Dance Mission Theater

reviewed by Rachel Howard

Whatever doubts political cynics might have about Anne Bluethenthal's optimistic worldview, you have to be glad it's out there. Bay Area residents were especially grateful for her healing message nearly two years ago, when she brought together Israeli and Palestinian musicians for the hopeful Tears of Rock, which by one of those strange strokes of history just happened to premiere right after 9/11.

In the tempestuous time since, Bluethenthal has turned away from specific conflicts and back to that great Goddess of artistic themes, the human condition. The result was the grandly positioned "fourth chamber" of her series The Heart Is a Live Thing. Global Heart ran two July weekends at Dance Mission Theater. It was, for better and for worse, quintessential Bluethenthal.

full article

 

One Night Stands
Summerfest
July 15-16, 2003
ODC Theater

reviewed by Rita Felciano

Summerfest’s two one-night stands (July 15 and 16) were designed to give less experienced choreographers an opportunity to showcase work. A new wrinkle this year, the idea was that these artists would attract a limited audience, but one made up of the truly curious. Also, since there never seems to be a shortage of fresh voices clamoring to be heard, the organizers could present twice as many as would otherwise have been possible. Each evening was to feature six choreographers, primarily in premieres, but since one of them—fortunately one of the better ones, Erica Rebollar—brought two works, and one choreographer dropped out, the field was left to ten relatively untried dance makers.

While it was gratifying to see promising work by unknown choreographers, and some accomplished pieces by artists who are getting a handle on the task of shaping material, a few works were so poor that one wondered how they could possibly have been sponsored by Summerfest. Artists are chosen on the basis of videotapes; how could there have been such a discrepancy between what must at least have looked promising on tape and what was seen on stage?

full article

 
 
 In case you were wondering, yes, the site does look different this week, and no, we're not planning a weekly redesign!  It will stay this way for awhile.  Our first two issues, in their original design, can be seen in the archives. If you'd bookmarked pages, the links may be outdated; we apologize for the inconvenience. These pages have been tested in the latest versions of both Internet Explorer and Netscape. Both are available for download, free: Internet Explorer, Netscape.

copyright 2003 by danceviewwest
page last updated on July 20, 2003

 
what's on this week
July 21-27

JUL 21-22: HARUKO NISHIMURA
Nishimura teams with Joshua Kohl and Jherek Bischoff, of the musical group Degenerate Art Ensemble, to present his Butoh solo Thirteen.
July 21-22, 8pm, Theatre of Yugen at Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa St., San Francisco, (415) 621-7978, www.theatreofyugen.org.

JUL 22: WOMEN’S WORK: KATE CORBY AND DANCERS
Young choreographer Kate Corby and her company perform two works: The Wavering, a solo; and War Brides, a trio looking at the American military.
July 22, 8pm, Venue 9, 252 9th St., San Francisco, (415) 289-2000, www.venue9.com.

JUL 24-25: WEST WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL PROGRAM SIX
Shifting to the larger Cowell Theater, the festival presents a curious mix of emerging talents and well-known names. Works by veteran choreographer Lizz Fain, dancemaker-on-the-rise Mary Carbonara, the ever-ambitious ballet dancer Michael Kruzich, ubiquitous modern dancer-turned-choreographer Heidi Schweiker, and an appearance from the East Bay’s new troupe led by Charles Anderson, Company C. Contemporary Ballet.
July 24-25, 8pm, Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, (415) 345-7575, www.summerfestdance.org.

JUL 25-26: WANDERLUST IN FABLECITY
A new work by Kristin Lemberg. Note late start time.
July 25-26, 9pm, The Lab, 2948 16th St., San Francisco, (415) 864-8855.

JUL 26: CENTRAL COAST SUMMER FEST: SAVAGE JAZZ
Reginald Ray Savage’s youthful company is always hot, sultry, and utterly committed.
July 26, 8pm, Spector Dance Studio, 3343 Paul Davis Dr., Marina, (831) 384-1050.

JUL 26-27: WEST WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL PROGRAM SEVEN
The big finale: works by Amy Seiwert, ODC/SF’s KT Nelson, Mark Foehringer Dance Project/SF, Annie Rosenthal Parr/Patricia Jiron, Laura Elaine Ellis, and the ever-delightful Janice Garrett and Dancers.
July 26-27, 8pm, Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, (415) 345-7575, www.summerfestdance.org

JUL 27: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET AT THE STERN GROVE FESTIVAL
A free yearly treat: SFB in the great outdoors. Just get there early (or you’ll end up trying to balance on the side of a grassy cliff) and prepare for the unpredictability of SF weather (i.e., bring your sunscreen and a wool sweater). This year’s program: Allegro Brillante, Makarova’s staging of Paquita, Peter Martins’ The Waltz Project, and a pas de deux to be announced.
July 27, 2pm, 19th Ave. at Sloat Blvd., San Francisco, (415) 252-6252, www.sterngrove.org.

—Rachel Howard

Calendar Listings source courtesy of IN DANCE, a FREE monthly publication of Dancers' Group at http://www.dancersgroup.org

what did you think?
Share views about performances, post announcements of upcoming events and news, on our forum.
keep in touch

Email us:

To make sure your events are listed on our Calendar.

To send us Photos to use in articles (true JPGs, please!).

To give us Feedback about the site.

To receive our emailed Updates when articles have been added to the site.