What is it like for a dance company during the Coronavirus? While restaurants turn to take-out, retailers ship online inventory, tele-health accepts patients virtually – can dance companies, too, face the challenge of operating remotely? After all, the very nature of dance performance, well, does require you to attend events live with a full company onstage. But, as resilience and creativity are the essence of any professional dancer, those furloughed, out of work and waiting just can’t be stopped. With Philly companies and collectives virtually rehearsing, streaming technique classes, turning to Instagram Live, and busying their video editors, this time of COVID-19 has proved a (painful but) blossoming one for many tapping into new means of dance expression.
And Philly does NOT disappoint – listed below are just a few ways to virtually experience dance performance in quarantine.
Koresh Dance Company’s recent creations are a must-see. With videographer Sandy Mitchel and direction by Roni Koresh, the Elephant is in the Room, on male Blackness in America and 6 Feet Apart, a dance response to social distancing, is brilliant and chilling, bitter and healing. https://www.koreshdance.org/short-films
The incomparable duo Kyle "JustSole" and Dinita "Princess Di" Clark, running Just Sole Street Dance Theater Company, are not resting either. The husband and wife team has brought their dancing and expression right to our homes with their quarantined “Basement Series”. The 10+ episodes on the company Facebook page will have you watching and moving right along with them. https://www.facebook.com/JustSoleSDT
For an international experience with Philly in tow, check out the “Social Distancing Festival”, where Philly artists represent with Scot J. Wittman’s images in Duencia and Zoom extravaganza Carry On! (Yes, this is your very own ARTIST HOUSE/Asya Zlatina + Dancers creation! More about that later…) https://www.socialdistancingfestival.com/dance
New Jersey’s Atlantic City Ballet is not one to get left behind on the virtual train, as their dedicated dancers elegantly showed off in the company’s June 16 Facebook post Carmen excerpt. https://www.facebook.com/AtlanticCityBallet
Exciting things are happening! Stay tuned for more about great dance opportunities and stay safe.
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