Texture ‘ Flying & Falling’ into new season
While many dance companies take a break from their regular seasons in the summer, Texture Contemporary Ballet is just getting started.
This week, the Pittsburgh- bred dance group will open its ninth season with the mixed repertory program “Flying & Falling,” which runs Thursday through Sunday at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side.
A new season is like a puzzle for any dance company. What pieces should it perform? In what order? How much money do we need to make it happen?
Many full- time companies construct their seasons after obtaining permission from other choreographers or dance troupes to perform their creations. Texture Contemporary Ballet largely builds its shows from scratch with original choreography. To date, the company has created more than 140 works.
“I feel like it’s a nice challenge for us to keep us always creating,” says Alan Obuzor, who juggles the roles of artistic director, executive director, resident choreographer and dancer. Inviting company members or guest artists to create something new for each performance is a way to stay relevant and fresh.
For the opener this week, associate artistic
director Kelsey Bartman will premiere a work she co- choreographed with Obuzor to tunes from The Piano Guys, a musical group that reinvents popular songs with a classical approach.
Audiences also will be treated to expanded pieces by Bartman and resident dancer Madeline Kendall that were part of a previous works- in- progress showcase. Rounding out the program are “Reshifting Time” — an intense, intricate piece by Obuzor to Two Steps From Hell music — and something from Texture’s early repertory.
In addition to Texture’s core group of dancers, this yearly summertime show includes other local dancers, so expect a slightly larger cast.
Planning for each season usually starts in January or February, Obuzor says. He and Bartman, who also dances for Texture, then map out overarching themes for each show.
“There’s always a wealth of certain composers that I feel I want to do certain pieces to, or even certain movement types,” he says.
For September, they’ve put together a tribute to the Beatles and Bach that will feature live music by cello rock group Cello Fury. In November, they’ll hold a works- inprogress showcase. The season concludes next spring with “Personal & Powerful,” a collaboration with Pittsburgh- based choreographer Shana Simmons with new works by Texture resident artists.
“In the past, we’ve had some shows where it’s like we don’t know yet,” Bartman says. “It’s a little easier to get things together now.”
Sure, it can be tough to come up with so many new dances for a season, but Obuzor says it’s just another way for Texture artists to showcase their passion for dance. He hopes audiences take notice.
“I think that becomes infectious. They really see everyone working together to create something that’s bigger than themselves.”