Bay Area blooming with a lively array of recitals
Dance fans are probably in heaven right now. The next two weeks feature some of the country’s top troupes performing at Bay Area venues. Here’s a partial rundown of what’s on the way.
SMUIN CONTEMPORARY BALLET >> The popular San Francisco company is reprising its Dance Series 1 program this weekend in Mountain View, which is particularly good news for fans of Johnny Cash and Dave Brubeck. The program includes James Kudelka’s “The Man in Black,” a bittersweet ode to Cash in which dancers clad in country-western garb (including cowboy boots) perform to songs covered by the singer-songwriter legend. Also included is company member Rex Wheeler’s “Take Five,” set to the songs and distinctive rhythms of Brubeck, and a revival of late company founder Michael Smuin’s lively “Carmina Burana.”
Smuin’s annual new works series Contemporary Showcase is slated for March 6-8 at the company’s new San Francisco digs. All performances are listed as sold out, but check the company website to see if any seats become available. DETAILS >> Dance Series 1, 7:30 p.m. today and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; $25-$79; www.smuinballet.org.
NANCY KARP + DANCERS >> The adventurous East Bay troupe returns with another Karp-choreographed sitespecific work, titled “piano piano,” at the Dresher Ensemble Studio in West Oakland. The title, says Karp, is a reference to an Italian expression essentially meaning “take your time,” and the performers will indeed unfold the work at a gradual pace through the building’s halls, balconies and central floor space. The work is set to music by Bay Area composer-sound engineer Jay Cloidt. DETAILS >> 8 p.m. today through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; Dresher Ensemble Studio, Oakland; $25-$45; www.nancykarp.org.
WENDY WHELAN AND MAYA BEISER >> Whelan, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet, teams with Beiser, the so-called “rock star cellist” out of New York, on the moody 9/11-themed “The Day.” The evening-length piece is choreographed by another New York arts icon, Lucinda Childs, and set to music and words by David Lang. It comes to San Francisco this weekend, presented by San Francisco Performances. DETAILS >> 7:30 p.m. today and Friday; Herbst Theatre, San Francisco; $45-$65; sfperformances.org.
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET >> The company’s next program features a keenly anticipated revival of George Balanchine’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The legendary choreographer’s whimsical and romantic take on the Shakespeare classic, which S.F. Ballet hasn’t performed in 34 years, is a family-friendly production with eye-popping sets and costumes and a cast of more than 100, including some 25 kids. DETAILS >> March 6-16; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $35-$399; www. sfballet.org.
JOFFREY BALLET >> The acclaimed Chicago troupe returns to UC Berkeley to perform a program packed with Bay Area or West Coast premieres, including Nicolas Blanc’s “Beyond the Shore,” set to music by San Francisco composer Mason Bates, and Justin Peck’s “The Times Are Racing,” set to music by electronic composer Dan Deacon. DETAILS >> Presented by Cal Performances; March 6-8; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $21-$148; 510-642-9988, calperformances.org.
DORRANCE DANCE >> The acclaimed New York tap dance company led by Michelle Dorrance, who has performed with Stomp and Savion Glover, brings her troupe and her sound/choreography extravaganza “SOUNDspace” to the Bay Area for two shows. DETAILS >> 7:30 p.m. March 7 at Weill Hall at Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park; $25-$75; gmc.sonoma. edu; 7:30 p.m. March 10 at Bing Concert Hall, Stanford; presented by Stanford Live; $40-$90; live.stanford. edu.