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With theaters and performance studios closed in the midst of a pandemic, where does dance go? If the Laguna Dance Festival has anything to say about it, "away" is one place dance will not venture to. In fact, the coronavirus era may have just proved that dance performance can be anywhere as long as you have a screen and connectivity.
Tonight, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., the Laguna Dance Festival will stream its virtual program, "Dance Like No One's Watching," as a way to raise spirits and funds for the organization, and to continue with its mission to present world-class dance in an intimate setting.
"We are watching the arts go through an unparalleled time of suffering because teachers, choreographers, directors, companies, designers, backstage crew, everyone, has had to press pause," said festival founder and artistic director Jodie Gates. "With so many jobs lost, I asked, 'How can we employ artists and give them a sense of integrity and artistic excellence?'"
Practicing "the art of the pivot," as Gates calls it, to focus more intently on commissioning new works, is what inspired the programming for the festival's 16th annual winter season. During the streamed concert, audience members will be treated to a world-premiere viewing of a new piece performed by acclaimed international flamenco dancer Irene Rodriguez.
The Laguna Dance Festival, in its effort to keep dancers dancing, commissioned the solo work, titled "Towards the Shore," which Rodriguez choreographed and filmed on location in Laguna Beach.
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