Three prominent San Diego arts companies collaborated on a return to live dance productions, plans that will come to fruition Friday when the “Dance Is in the Air Festival” opens at the new outdoor space at Arts District Liberty Station.
San Diego Dance Theater, Malashock Dance and San Diego Ballet offered performances virtually due to the pandemic, but came together on plans to return to in-person shows.
The dance theater’s artistic director, Terry Wilson, said the conversations between creatives that led to the festival have “been so exciting and inspiring during our pandemic dance drought.”
In pooling resources, the companies hope to successfully confront the challenges presented during the pandemic as the festival continues through June.
“This project serves as a reminder of how creative and innovative our dance community is when we work together toward a common goal,” said Molly Glynn Puryear, Malashock’s executive director.
San Diego Dance Theater is up first, with “Other Times, Other Places,” at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
The collection of works includes Wilson’s premiere of dances that celebrate music from the 1950’s. Former Artistic Director Jean Isaacs will reset “Phantom Limbs,” a duet illuminating the tragedy of lives lost to AIDS, while Khamla Somphanh returns as a guest choreographer with “Purposely Accidental,” a solo work inspired by the hidden story of bombs dropped in Laos.
Guest artist Rosanna Tavarez also will perform a solo work exploring a blend of contemporary dance and milonga, a syncopated, tango-style dance with African and other roots.
Malashock follows May 27-30 with “The Bridge,” a new collaboration between Artistic Director John Malashock and guest choreographer Tristian Griffin of Kansas City. The show depicts the polarized state of our world and how to find ways to bridge the gaps.
San Diego Ballet follows on June 5-6 with “Debussy Dances: Preludes and Arabesques,” as Artistic Director Javier Velasco choreographs to composer Claude Debussy’s classics, including “Claire de Lune” and “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.”
The dance theater also will present their annual Young Choreographers Showcase June 11-13. Selected finalists will compete for three prizes, while the slate includes guest artists H2O Dance Company, Maya Allum, Luis Lopez, Mitchum Todd and Mayra Barragan, a winner in 2019.
Individual shows cost $30.
