Today started with a sneak peek at an upcoming dance with Collide Theatrical Dance Company – free donuts sweetened the deal. I’m going to parse out the experience a little bit. First, thank you to Collide for being so clever about finding ways for people to be able to appreciate dance. Be sure to subscribe to their newsletter for fun events like Dance and Donuts. Second, we got a sneak peek at some of the dances they will be taking on tour to schools. Think After School Special meets, somebody’s teen mixed tape, meets dance. The shows are catchy, clever and come with a feel-good message. Third, we got a sneak peek at their upcoming Halloween show, Dracula.
They have just gone into rehearsal for show so what we really got to see was early-stage rehearsal. Not being a dancer, it was fun for me to see how quickly dancers can follow the choreographer and her notes. It’s like watching someone speak a language that you should know but don’t. I feel like I went in knowing “Donde esta…” and left with a whole lot of respect for anyone who can finish that question and answer it with dance. The dancers watch and hear brief directions for a multi-step action and repeat, maybe not perfectly but they know where they are and where they are going.
Also, they spoke about the upcoming performance. They will be following the original Dracula by Bram Stoker. (Always worth a read or re-read this time of year.) There will be modern interpretations, including adding narrative from a female protagonist. I love that for two reasons. First, love the female voice being added to anything but in a story that puts women in peril and often gives them the ability to scream but without being heard. Second, this is a dance. The action is moved forward through astute song selection and in the past, I have seen Collide find creative ways to give direction and context to the audience and I’m ready to see how this voice over works with the dance.
They plan to make Dracula fly with the help of an aerial performer. They also have dancers who come from ballet and modern dance. It’s great to see the various disciplines within dance come together to (sometimes literally) lift each other up.
Dracula runs from Oct 23-Nov 9 and is performed at the Luminary Arts Center. Get tickets now!
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