Laguna festival celebrates a decade of dance
The Laguna Dance Festival is kicking off its 10th season of showcasing world-class dance presentations in Laguna Beach with a nod to the past and a vision for the future.
“The focus is bringing out dancers who have performed in the past and are community favorites as well as featuring new dance students,” said artistic director Jodie Gates. “That’s the celebration.”
The season opener, with performances running through Sunday, includes a mix of popular and edgy dance companies. Dancers from Ballet Memphis, Bodytraffic and Complexions Contemporary Ballet and others will perform at the Laguna Playhouse.
“I believe in breeding high-bred artists,” Gates said. “You see dancers at the top of their game.”
Gates, who was named vice dean and director of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in 2013, boasts a 25-year professional performing career as a former principal ballerina with the Joffrey Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet. She has performed for presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. She recently held the position as professor of dance at UC Irvine.
After her retirement from professional dancing, Gates founded the Laguna Dance Festival in 2005 and has presented 35 companies, 55 performances and 30 master classes.
“There is a great value in dance,” Gates said. “Dance in our culture matters. I feel very strongly about audience awareness and the idea about making dance accessible.”
The festival was scheduled to open Thursday night featuring Ballet Memphis with performances of Julia Adam’s “Devil’s Fruit,” Trey McIntyre’s “In Dreams” and Matthew Neenan’s “Party of the Year.” For more than 25 years, Ballet Memphis has performed at venues nationwide, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles-based Bodytraffic will perform Friday night with three routines, including “o2joy” by Richard Siegal and “And at midnight, the green bride floated through the village square” by Barak Marshall.
The first fully produced, onstage performance of “Ekphrasis” on Saturday night is a collaboration of Laguna Dance Festival, Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Beach Live! creating an original music and dance piece inspired by a work of art from the museum’s collection. The organizations commissioned artists to interpret the art and create a work in another form.
For the Laguna Beach world premiere, choreographer Bernard Gaddis will present a new choreographed dance to a score by composer Alan Chan. The two share inspiration from the 1967 oil painting “Lotus Land” by Lee Mullican. The piece, part of Laguna Art Museum’s permanent collection, will be on display at the playhouse during Saturday’s performance.
Gaddis, who was selected through a Laguna Dance Festival choreographic competition, will bring dancers from his Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater. The musicians are from the USC Thornton School of Music.
Saturday night also will feature Complexions Contemporary Ballet presenting “Innerversions,” a dance choreographed to the music of Stevie Wonder. The company’s co-founder, Desmond Richardson, will perform a solo.
Stars of Dance also will return for the 10th-anniversary festival. San Francisco Ballet Cuban dancer Lorena Feijoo will perform with her husband, Vitor Luiz, and New York City Ballet’s Gonzalo Garcia will pair with Misty Copeland, an American Ballet Theatre soloist.
After the show, attendees are invited to meet the choreographer, composer, dancers and musicians at a reception.
Sunday’s matinee performance will showcase Complexions Contemporary Ballet and the same dance partner set-up from Saturday night. Copeland will sign copies of her book “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.” The New York Times best seller is about her rise to become American Ballet Theatre’s first African American soloist in two decades.
In addition to the performances, the festival includes pre-performance talks one hour before the Friday and Sunday shows. To continue its advancement of dance eduction, the festival will offer master classes Saturday and Sunday for intermediate to advanced dancers.
Gates said she wishes for spectators of a dance performance a feeling that will linger.
“You’ve been a witness to art that touches the spirit,” she said.
If You Go
Bodytraffic: 7:30 p.m. Friday; $60 adults; $35 students
Gala Performance with the Stars of Dance: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; $60 adults; $35 students; $75 for artist reception
Gala Matinee Performance with the Stars of Dance: 2 p.m. Sunday; $60 adults; $35 students
Where: Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Information: (949) 497-2787 or lagunadancefestival.org