Wow, Dance Camera West! If this image does not capture the coolest vision of dance-of-the-future, then we must not be in the midst of the go-go dance explosion happening right now in Los Angeles.
We sure are excited to see performances by BODYTRAFFIC on the crazy “structure” artist Gustavo Godoy has created on a commission from Dance Camera West and the Los Angeles Music Center for the 13th annual Dance Camera West Festival, June 6 – 8, all taking place on Bunker Hill downtown. The amazing sculpture-installation will roost a dance choreographed by Victor Quijada, performed on the Music Center Plaza, free to the public, at various junctures throughout the Festival weekend.
But certainly the funnest time to view it must be on Festival opening night, Friday, June 6.
The amazing steward of Dance Camera West, Tonia Barber, hugely ambitious, has incorporated loads of conversation as well as live performance and, of course, her core offering, a full roster of curated films that fit with the genre DCW has always celebrated — the art of film for and about the moving body. Barber is the talented visionary of the festival, which has morphed, now, to a new level, the schedule a rather daunting if not slightly overpacked explosion of dance-film screenings & performance. But hey, DCW, bring it on!
Upon and inside Godoy’s amazing chopstick configuration will nest a bunch of wonderful dancers, Tina Berkett, Guzmán Rosado, Brandon Alley, Bynh Ho, Yusha Sorzano and Andrew Wojtal of BODYTRAFFIC. Let’s see how they use the ramps and passageways that invite a physical experience — we’re told that the public is welcome to climb, sit on, and even walk through the structure, although, just venturing a guess, probably not during the performance.
Godoy’s architectural monument was created in sync with the “RESTRUCTURE” theme of the festival, more or less what the entire art form of dance is undergoing, at least in our fair city, in this observer’s humble opinion.
Quijada, who got his start in L.A. hip-hop clubs, has gone on to create works for THARP!, Ballet Tech, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and his own RUBBERBANDance. He is a self proclaimed practicioner of hip-hop ideology, examining humanity through a unique fusion of aesthetics. Right on, let’s see it.
Photo: Erich Koyama
Sculptural dance opener by BODYTRAFFIC | Dance Camera West Festival | Music Center Plaza | June 6, 7:30 pm, June 7, 2 pm, June 8, 2 pm
Like this? Read more:
- For this dance critic, L.A.’s dance renaissance began with this BODYTRAFFIC project in May 2009, five years ago
- Read arts·meme’s entire thread of writing on BODYTRAFFIC.
a genuine movement innovator – can’t wait to see this…
Really looking forward to seeing his work, I have heard about him, from the BODYTRAFFICkers, for years now.
Victor Quijada is also an alum of the dance program at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.