Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater Presents JANUS II: Dances of Beginnings, Transitions, and Endings
Choreography by Jean Isaacs, Trystan Loucado, and Gina and Kyle Sorensen performed by 12 of the region's most compelling dancers
Saville Theatre, San Diego City College
Friday, January 19 at 730pm
Saturday, January 20 at 730pm
Sunday, January 21 at 230pm
This concert honors Artistic Director Jean Isaacs' past, and provides a platform for the choreographers of the future. The fitting, inspirational theme was selected by Isaacs. In Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions. Often depicted with two heads facing opposing directions, Janus possesses the ability to see all things past and future. Janus is associated with January because this month is, the door to a beginning and an end of a year.
Isaacs will present her critically acclaimed "Rite of Spring", created in 2002 to Stravinsky's ground-breaking score. Twelve dancers bring this "Rite of Spring", which takes place in a rave, back to life. The virgin sacrificed to ensure fertility is dancer Trystan Loucado.
Reminiscent of "Janus I", Isaacs will premiere five dances inspired by photos from her family's photo albums. This new collection includes a 1952 photo of her grandparents Francesco and Virginia Baldini with their 14 grandchildren, a photo of Isaacs sleeping with newborn Emmi, six-year-old daughter Liv with her Cabbage Patch doll, a shot of Dora Branchini (Isaacs' godmother) on her 90th birthday, a recent photo of Isaacs and partner Steve Baker, and the original duet created for, and aptly named, "Janus", danced by Desiree Cuizon Fejeran and Minaqua McPherson to Dvorak's "Piano Trio #4". These deeply personal photos and the dances inspired by them are building for Isaacs a kind of memory album which will combine for a full evening-length work touching on her early history, current interests, and challenges.
Highly anticipated are two new world premiere dances commissioned by the San Diego Dance Theater from Gina and Kyle Sorensen and Trystan Loucado. Long-time company member, and emerging choreographer Loucado, explores cyclical relationships and small group personal interaction in a quartet set to "Black Earth" by Fazil Say. Choreographers Gina and Kyle Sorensen, Artistic Directors of somebodies dance theater, created "Seeker" for Janus II. The work is a visually and sensually arresting piece for six dancers. It dives into the deeply personal and totally universal psychology of looking for where you belong. A contemporary modern dance collage, depicting the rollercoaster we ride - from territorial animal to space-makers and sharers - when we try to find our place, our fit, our home.
Dancers performing include Brianna Bellamy, Annie Boyer, Matt Carney, Desiree Cuizon-Fejeran, John Diaz, Cecily Holcombe, Trystan Loucado, Mario Jaimes, Minaqua McPherson, Erica Ruse, Zaquia Mahler Salinas, and Jeremy Zapanta. Also performing are Steve Baker (piano) and Liv Isaacs-Nollet (vocals).
All sales are final.
Special discounts for SELECTED PERFORMANCES are available for students, military and groups of 10 or more. Please call (619) 225-1803 or email [email protected] for more information.
