There is dance happening all around us. If you haven’t noticed it before, soon you may not be able to ignore it.
According to advocates like Deandra Clarke, the local scene has been burgeoning since the pandemic. “In the last two years, dance in Richmond has grown exponentially,” Clarke says.
The art form is becoming unavoidable in part because choreographed movement is being incorporated into a broader array of performances, as demonstrated by two unique events early in September.
[For example] Rattlemouth presented “Unheard of Practices 5” on Sept. 5 at Dogwood Dell, a collaborative event the band first performed back in 1990. This time, they invited three local dance companies – Concert Ballet of Virginia, Starr Foster Dance and Richmond Urban Dance – to develop original choreographed pieces to compliment a full slate of the band’s “art school dance” songs.
A similar music and dance collaboration graced the Gallery 5 stage on Sept. 7, with the eclectic Fuse Ensemble performing in tandem with members of Starr Foster’s troupe.
Richmond Ballet’s season kicks into gear starting on Sept. 11 with “Moving Art 1.” This will be the first full slate of Moving Art performances at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) after the series premiered there last season.
“We’ve learned that this setting enhances how our audience connects with one another,” says Ma Cong, Richmond Ballet’s artistic director. “With that in mind, we’re exploring ways to further enrich the performance experience this season by hosting post-show Q&A sessions on stage for each opening night of the Moving Art series.”
To coincide with the VMFA installation on artist Frida Kahlo, “Moving Art 1” will include a world premiere developed by Ma in her honor. “This ballet will be a tribute to her strength, complexity and creative spirit,” he says.
The slate will also include Trey McIntyre’s “Wild Sweet Love,” an exuberant piece scored with highly recognizable songs by the likes of Queen, Lou Reed, Roberta Flack and the Partridge Family.
Local dance fans have the opportunity to experience out-of-town talent in addition to homegrown hoofing when the Mark Morris Dance Group comes to University of Richmond on Sept. 20. Morris, an inductee into the National Museum of Dance’s Hall of Fame, is bringing a new piece featuring the work of iconic American composers like George Gershwin.
On Oct. 3, Starr Foster’s season preview will be held at the new Richmond Movement Center. Foster chose the Center to hold her preview, which features sneak peaks of four new works, to highlight the new facility. “It’s a much-needed space that embraces the entire dance community,” Foster says.
Richmond Ballet’s “Moving Art 2” will open Oct. 16 and then University of Richmond will welcome a diverse group of independent choreographers to join the school’s dancers for the 15th Annual Celebration of Dance on Oct. 25.
Many local choreographers use the fall to prepare for big performance events closer to the holidays, so look for notices from companies like Radar Dance, Dogwood Dance Project and Conflux Dance Theater. Starr Foster’s “Mercy” will hit the Firehouse Theatre stage on Dec. 4. That will be just days before the Virginia Dance Awards on Dec. 7, sponsored by Clarke’s Studio 4 Dance Agency. For dancers and dance fans alike, it’s an event worth attending to see just how diverse and expansive the local scene has become.
