1 STEP AHEAD
Dancers who are raising the bar(re) in 2022
One look at Pittsburgh’s dance scene and it’s tough to tell we’re still in the throngs of a global pandemic. Despite the lingering challenges of COVID-19, the city’s dance community continues to find ways to safely share its craft with patrons in person and online.
From thought-provoking performances to forget-your-worries community classes, here’s a sampling of who and what to watch — or even try out yourself — during the first few months of the new year.
Kelly Strayhorn Theater: The historic East Liberty venue and its sister studio in Friendship offer many chances to experience dance on stage and on the screen — or do it yourself. On Jan. 30, it will kick off “Demystifying the Box,” a five-part climate change-themed dance workshop series with Pittsburgh-based multidisciplinary dance duo slowdanger. It continues Feb. 27, March 27, April 24 and May 15 at The Alloy Studios, 5530
Penn Ave., Friendship.
On Feb. 12, the Alloy School will begin an eight-week session of classes, including outer space-themed ones for children ages 3-6 and Zumba-style dance fitness classes for adults.
The Kelly Strayhorn Theater also will present the Pittsburgh premiere of the experimental dance film “Obi Mbu (The Primordial House): An Igbo Creation Myth.” On Feb. 25, experience its “fantasia of dance and ritual performance” by co-directors Mikael Owunna and Marques Redd and movement director Ursula Payne, along with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Corey Bourbonniere and Victoria Watfordand sound designer Herman “Soy Sos” Pearl. Learn more about these and other events at kelly-strayhorn.org.
NACHMO Pittsburgh: Dance into the new year with NACHMO, a national celebration of dance and choreography held each January. You don’t need to be a pro to participate. Each day during the month,
a new prompt will be posted on Instagram @NACHMOdance to inspireorg movement. By the end of the month, you might just have completed a new choreographic work. The Pittsburgh chapter has been holding its own events, including a recent meet and greet. A choreography showcase is scheduled for Feb. 5. Follow along on Instagram @NACHMOPgh.
CorningWorks: In March 2020, Beth Corning was gearing up to present “The Tipping Point,” a work she views as one of the largest, most complex undertakings in her 40-year career. Days before its premiere at 25 Carrick, she had to postpone the show because of the first wave of pandemicprompted shutdowns.
This month, she hopes to finally be able to share it with audiences. Performances are slated to run Jan. 19-30 at 25 Carrick. “The Tipping Point” brings together professional dancers and actors with refugees who’ve migrated to Pittsburgh. Another collaborator is the international humanitarian medical organization Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières.
Together, they’ll share a provocative glimpse into the lived experiences of global refugees. Visit corningworks. for tickets; some performance times are already sold out.
Attack Theatre: If you haven’t yet seen Attack Theatre’s new home in Lawrenceville, you’ll get plenty of chances in 2022. Check it out in person or online when the company premieres “Curiosity: The Play Book,” billed as a “performance that celebrates the curiosity in all of us” and “a fresh eye to the day’s challenges and opportunities.” It opens Jan. 27 and runs through Feb. 5.
Also stay tuned for the announcement of Attack Theatre’s winter and spring Community Class series. From Pilates to tap and hiphop funk, there’s sure to be something to fit your tastes and abilities. For details, go to attacktheatre.com.
Pittsburgh Dance Council: On the heels of a dark season due to COVID-19, the Dance Council has a busy spring planned. Botis Seva’s Far From the Norm — known for its blend of visual artistry and hip-hop — will travel from the United Kingdom for the U.S. premiere tour of its work “BLKDOG.” See it at Byham Theater,
Downtown,on Feb. 18.
The next two programs were originally slated for the 50th anniversary season. Pilobolus, which also had its golden anniversary cut short by the pandemic, plans to bring its “BIG FIVE-OH!” program to the Byham Theater on April 9. New York City-based Complexions Contemporary Ballet will present its ballet-meetship-hop style on May 7 at the Byham.
Looking ahead to summer, expect an outdoor showstopper at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival in June. The U.K.’s Motionhouse — which specializes in “pushing dance-circus to its limits” — will deliver the U.S. premiere of “Torque,” featuring four artists and two construction vehicles.
For more on these and other dance productions presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, visit trustarts.
Maria Caruso’s Bodiography: The new year is only a few weeks old, and Maria Caruso has already embarked on a seven-week tour, with stops planned across the U.S. and Brazil.
The 2021-22 season is extra special because it marks her company’s 20th anniversary. Pittsburghers can join the celebration during performances of Bodiography’s “Red Carpet Roll Out” Feb. 24-27 at Caruso’s new Movement Factory on the North Side. Tickets are available at new.bodiography.com.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: The 2022 portion of PBT’s mainstage season was to get underway in February with “Alice in Wonderland,” a U.K. production. But due to cross-Atlantic travel issues and ongoing uncertainties related to COVID-19, performances have been canceled. (Those who already purchased tickets can exchange them, get a refund or donate at pbt.org/performances/alice
The show will go on — fingers crossed! — March 24-27
at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Downtown, with “Here + Now,” a mixed-repertory program celebrating female choreographers. After a two-year delay, pandemic-weary audiences will finally get to see the world premiere of Pittsburghbased choreographer Staycee Pearl’s “SKIN + saltwater,” inspired by The New York Times’ The 1619 Project, named for the year the first African slaves were brought to North America. Other highlights include a new work by Aszure Barton, Anabelle Lopez Ochoa’s intimate “La Pluie” (with Bach and Hildegard von Bingen music), Gemma Bond’s expressive “Depuis le Jour” (GustaveChapentier music), and a Helen Pickett piece.
PBT will close its 2021-22 mainstage season with a new staging by artistic director Susan Jaffe of the iconic classic “Swan Lake” with the PBT Orchestra May 6-15 at Downtown’s Benedum Center. According to Jaffe, two dancers to watch this season are principal Yoshiaki Nakano and soloist Jessica McCann.
“Yoshi is a very dynamic and natural performer. He’s also very versatile and has a classic but bravura style that is exciting and engaging,” Jaffe said. “Jessica is a versatile performer who delights every choreographer
who walks through our doors. As a result, she’s had many amazing opportunities.”
Formore information and tickets, visit pbt.org or call 412-456-6666.
The Pillow Project: After a sneak peek showing at PBT’s Open Air festival last May, Pearlann Porter is set to debut her featurelength work “Understars.” The work emerges “from a time of profound isolation, loss, loneliness and disconnection …” and is a chance to “rediscover and reinvent our connection to one another, despite what has felt like galactic distances of space between us,” she says. Mark your calendars for March 4-5 at Attack Theatre’s Lawrenceville headquarters, and keep up online at pillowproject.org.
Shana Simmons Dance: Shana Simmons Dance has found a creative outlet through dance on film throughout the pandemic. It’s continuing its exploration of the medium this year with “Constructed Sight: An Online Dance Film Festival” that will stream March 11-20.
Still in development for later this spring is “Living Landscapes: An Environmental Dance Film Installation.” Last May, Shana Simmons Dance filmed dancers on location in McConnells Mill State Park. Those
pieces will be complemented by interviews with representatives from the local environmental organizations Grounded and Allegheny Cleanways. The goal of the work is to shed light on environmental concerns and to inspire new appreciation for the planet. Shana Simmons Dance is in the process of confirming an art gallery space to present the work. Learn more at shanasimmonsdance.com.
Texture Contemporary Ballet: Alan Obuzor will close out his company’s 11th season April 1- 3 with “Reimagine” at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side. Details are still to come, but it’s shaping up to be an exploration of “new ways to reimagine ballet in the modern world,” according to Texture’s website. Stay tuned for more at textureballet.org.
Confluence Ballet Co.: Confluence Ballet is a new company in the ’Burgh in the middle of its inaugural season. On the heels of presenting its mini story ballet “The Nutcracker Sweet” in December, dancers will present work by choreographer Hannah Knorr at NACHMO Pittsburgh’s February presentation. Confluence also is gearing up for its formal theater debut later this spring. Event updates will be shared at confluenceballet.org.