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Pasadena Dance Festival Entertains & Teaches All Week Long
AXIS Dance Company. Dancers Sonsheree Giles and Rodney Bell. Photo by Trib LaPrade.
Though our own city just initiated its own contemporary dance festival last weekend at Brockus Project Studios and the Diavolo Dance Theater, our adjacent neighbor has been developing its dance audiences, participants and performances for five years running in the Pasadena Dance Festival. Produced by the Lineage Dance Company, a Pas-based performing troupe directed by choreographer Hilary Thomas, the week-long event includes classes taught by teachers of many different dance genres and performances by local and regional dance companies and artists.
Headlining their closing night, physically integrated Oakland-based AXIS Dance Company will present their Alex Ketly-choreographed duet of one dancer in a wheelchair and the other able-bodied. Seen originally on TV's "So You Think You Can Dance," the work demonstrates the extended range of possibility in communicating and making movement art.
There's a slew of other Southland dance companies on the program, preceded earlier in the week by showcases for other emerging and established artists as well as classes in dance styles ranging from ballet to Bollywood to Broadway jazz and much more.
As stated in the promotional materials, the company's mission is to "bring the community together through the exciting art form of dance... by offering a full range of affordable performances, classes and workshops for all levels of dancers, aged 12 and up."
Looks like there's something for everyone to do or watch throughout the week. Check out the trailer below and venture east sometime soon!
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