ORLANDO ARTS SEASON PREVIEW 2020-21: DANCE Three to see
A trio of dance highlights selected by Orlando Sentinel arts writer Matthew J. Palm.
FLAMENCO DEL SOL: What if the original star-crossed lovers were transported from “fair Verona” to Spain? Flamenco del Sol brings its cultural artistry to Shakespeare’s tale of “Romeo and Juliet” with a dance adaptation that will be presented June 13, 2021. The passion of the young lovers will meet the passion of the art form when “Romeo y Julieta” takes the stage at the Athens Theatre, 124 N. Florida Ave. in DeLand.
If you can’t wait that long to get a flamenco fix, the troupe also will present “Ritmos Del Corzaon (Rhythms of the Heart)” from Feb. 5-7, 2021. That show will be staged at Penguin Point Productions at the Oviedo Mall. For more information, go to flamencodelsol.com.
MOULIN ROUGE: The storied Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris — which gets its name from the distinctive red windmill atop it — was long known as a place for romance and debauchery of all sorts. Its bohemian denizens provided the inspiration for Baz Luhrman’s 2001 movie starring Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. And recently, that film was adapted into a splashy Broadway musical.
Back in 2009, Jorden Morris choreographed “Moulin Rouge:
The Ballet” for the Royal Ballet Winnipeg in Canada. He is this season’s artist-in-residence for Orlando Ballet, which will present his work in time for Valentine’s Day.
Expect love, ambition, betrayal — and the can can, which was born at the club.
Orlando Ballet’s production of “Moulin Rouge: The Ballet” will be staged Feb. 11-14 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, go to orlandoballet.org.
EMERGENCE DANCE FESTIVAL: A new festival comes to Orlando on Sept. 25. Choreographer Cindy Heen has arranged the online Emergence Dance Festival, featuring contemporary and tap, among other styles.
The choreographers represented stretch from coast to coast, Central Florida to San Francisco. They include: Starr Needre, Abigail Mytych, Cherie Carson, Whitney Stites, Brittany Benton, Andi Salazar, Herman Ramos, Willow Palmer, Savannah Raulerson, Meagan Walters, Kitty Conlon, Doha Abounouadar, Dawn Branch Works, Joy Lyon, Heather Hall Lobley, Jesselito Bie and Roberto Sanchez.
The festival runs from 8-10 p.m. Sept. 25, and to watch the stream costs $5. You can find tickets at teachtix.com/emergencedance.
Your season planner
With the uncertainty of the coronavirus, planned events are more likely to change than usual. Always doublecheck closer to the
date of an event, and use the websites and phone numbers listed with each organization to familiarize yourself with an event’s or institution’s COVID-19 precautions.
CENTRAL FLORIDA BALLET
The company will offer a free online-streaming series of performances, featuring footage from the Central Florida Ballet video archives in celebration of its 20-year history. Details: 407-8499948 or centralfloridaballet.com.
TUTUS, TANGOS AND MORE: Throughout October. Mixed program.
GISELLE: Throughout November. A peasant girl’s love extends after death.
THE NUTCRACKER: Throughout December. Both the full-length version and a shorter version with narration for children will be offered.
YES! VIRGINIA and 9/11 AN AMERICAN MOMENT: January 2021. Lighthearted fun, followed by a somber reflection.
WORLD BALLET COMPETI
TION GALA PERFORMANCE:
February 2021.
CORSETS & CUTIES
The burlesque troupe performs monthly shows at Theater West End, 115 W 1st St. in Sanford. Ticket information: TheaterWestEnd.com.
5TH ANNUAL AMATEUR SHOW: Sept. 27. Cheer on contestants as they strut their stuff.
CORSETS & CUTIES HALLOWEEN: Oct. 25. Spooky stuff.
HOLIDAY KICKOFF: Nov. 29. Seasonal trappings.
EMERGENCE DANCE
Led by Cindy Heen, the company presents an online streamed festival. More information: emergencedance.com, with tickets at teachtix.com/emergencedance
EMERGENCE VIRTUAL DANCE FESTIVAL: Sept. 25. Showcasing dancers both local and beyond, the festival will include multiple genres, such as modern, tap and contemporary. (More information under “Three to See.”)
ENGRAM DANCE PROJECT
The Orlando-based dance company is directed by Katrina Anne Soricelli and Natalia Alarcón.
THE UNRAVELING: Oct. 8-17. Audience members will find out where the show begins when they buy a ticket. The audience, who will watch the show from their cars, will drive to new locations as the show moves within an 8-mile radius around downtown Orlando over the course of 90 minutes. More
details on the company’s Facebook page.
FLAMENCO DEL SOL
Led by Tamara Weber Miller, the company celebrates the Spanish dance form. Details: flamencodelsol.com.
RITMOS DEL CORZAON: Feb. 5-7, 2021. The show, in English “Rhythms of the Heart,” will be staged at Penguin Point Productions at the Oviedo Mall.
ROMEO Y JULIETA: June 13, 2021. The retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy through dance will be staged at the Athens Theatre, 124 N. Florida Ave. in DeLand. (More information under “Three to See.”)
FUSIONFEST
The annual festival of diverse cultures features two days of nonstop dance performances at its Dance Stage on the Dr. Phillips Center lawn, on the corner of Orange Avenue and Anderson Street in downtown Orlando. For other aspects of FusionFest, see the Festivals & Fun listing. More information: Fusionfest.org.
DANCE STAGE: Nov. 28-29. Performance troupes include African Heritage Ensemble, Alpenrose Schuhplattle Gruppe, A Magi Belly Dance, Bomba of Puerto Rico, Capoeira for Tomorrow CBP Martial Arts Academy Orlando, Casa de la Cultura de Venezuela, Central Florida Chinese Evergreen Seniors Club, Central Florida Irish Dance, Crawford Jazz Project, Devyani Dancers, E Hula Mai Dance Academy , Emerging Dance Academy, Escuela de Bomba y Plena Tata Cepeda, Esor Dance Ensemble, Fantashique, Flamenco del Sol Forever Dancers, Grupo Folklorico Mi Panama, Huellas de Colombia Folkdances, Just D.A.N.C.E. School of Arts, Kalinka, Kayla Moses-David Dancers, Lion of Judah Dancers, Manu Afi, Mexican Danza, Mexico Lindo Folkloric Ballet, Natyatharu Performing Arts, Nazira, Noise Complaint, NuLook Dance Emporium, Olabavo Ogunrinola’s Bayoa African Dance Pro, Peru Art, Putri Mandelika Indonesian Dance Club, Raymi Dance School, Recuerdos de mi Panama, Rhythm Theory Tap Ensemble, Rodni Ritmi, Russian Ballet Orlando, Shatriska, Sifu Al Aki, Sonya Flex Academy, Star India, Tamaril Ma’ohi/Polynesian Luau Productions, Tatiana Chichugova, Thuyen Mae Productions, USA Dance and Wild Garden Bellydance.
ORLANDO BALLET
The company’s mainstage performances are at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 455 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando, except for “The Premiere Collection.” Details: 407-426-1739 or OrlandoBallet.org.
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY: Oct. 22-25. Artistic director Robert Hill will debut his adaptation of the fairy tale, using Tchaikovsky’s beloved music.
THE NUTCRACKER: Dec. 4-20. The holiday tradition returns.
MOULIN ROUGE: THE BALLET: Feb. 11-14, 2021. Take a trip to the bohemian world of Paris and the birthplace of the can can. (More information under “Three to See.”)
THE PREMIERE COLLECTION: March 19-28, 2021. In this mixedrepertory show, Hill will take the stage in “The Calling,” a solo piece choreographed by Jessica Lang. The show will be staged at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, 600 N. Lake Formosa Drive in Orlando.
PETER PAN: April 16-19. Join Captain Hook, his pirate band, Tinker Bell and “the boy who never grew up” — Peter himself — in this adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic novel.
VALENCIA COLLEGE
The college’s spring plans are still tentative. Details: valenciacollege.edu/arts.
CHOREOGRAPHER’S SHOWCASE: Nov. 13-14. A recorded performance will be shared on the Valencia website.
WAYNE DENSCH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The venue, at 201 S. Magnolia Ave. in Sanford, hosts touring concerts, plays, children’s productions and other events in addition to dance. See the music, theater and festival listings for other events. Details: wdpac.com or 407-321-8111.
BALLET FEDOTOV’S THE NUTCRACKER: Dec. 13. Dancers from Fedotov and the Russian Academy of Ballet Alafaya present the classic holiday story of young Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and his fierce battle against the Mouse King.
THE PHANTOM: A FLAMENCO STORY: May 23, 2021. A dancebased interpretation of Gaston Leroux’s novel “The Phantom of the Opera” that incorporates Andrew Lloyd Webber music from the Broadway adaptation.