Just one minute
Artists perform very short skits in annual ‘From Zero to Fierce’ program
The 10th annual “One Minute Dances” event will take place March 12 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
The event — part of the Arcata Playhouse Womxn’s Festival, From Zero to Fierce — is an eclectic, fastpaced, bare-bones production showcasing artists of all ages and backgrounds who’ve created pieces that last just 60 seconds, said Laura Muñoz, “One Minute Dances” organizer, producer, coordinator and performer.
“The show is a container for all performing arts: all styles of dance, theater, physical theater, music, magic, puppetry, spoken word, poetry, word, performance art — and anything else that doesn’t fall into any of these categories,” Muñoz said.
These performances are so fun and interesting to watch, because of “the variety of disciplines and people, the different styles, the fact that whatever it is they do, it only lasts one minute, and the fact that one minute feels very different watching the different pieces,” said Muñoz, who calls the event “always joyous and celebratory.”
“The performers are excited to share their work and play with the audience, and the audiences have always been very receptive and enthusiastic.
I am grateful both to the performers and the audience for their love and generosity,” she said.
“One Minute Dances” originally came to Humboldt County via Texas.
“Ellen Bartel from Spank Dance in Austin created an evening with 40 pieces, each lasting one minute. She called it ‘Short Stories,’” Muñoz said. “My friend, Bonnie Hossack, brought it to Arcata under the same name and, when she moved away, handed it to me and I renamed it ‘One Minute Dances.’”
Because of the pandemic, some adjustments have been made to the usual presentation. This year’s show, she said, will combine live and recorded pieces locally, nationally and internationally.
“Most of the pieces, so far, will be recorded, though we have given performers the option to livestream from anywhere in the world with a good internet connection,” Muñoz said, “and if they live in the area, a few can also perform live from Redwood Raks.”
Tickets for “One Minute Dances” are $5, and are available at https:// zerotofierce.org/afterfive/2021/3/12/one-minutedances. For more information about the show, go to https://zerotofierce.org/after-five.