Momentum: New Dance Works

Co-presented by the Walker Art Center and the Southern Theater, this annual event features new works by four of the Twin Cities' boldest and brightest choreographers. The first weekend (July 16-18) features Vanessa Voskuil and Sachiko Nishiuchi, performers who suck you in with their charisma and then roll you through their often startling theatrical visions. In Voskuil's "En Masse," 79 civilians of diverse ages, sizes, genders, and ethnicities, led by Voskuil herself, cycle through a range of crowd dynamics from reverie to anarchy in a mass folk dance. Nishiuchi's "The Apple Tree" looks at a novel by John Galsworthy through the lively lens of flamenco—an unusual pairing if ever there was one, but then Nishiuchi comes to flamenco by way of Japanese butoh and Indian odissi dance. The piece features an original score by guitarist Ben Abrahamson and vocals by La Conja. The second weekend (July 23-25) pairs renegade ballerina Sally Rousse with sly post-modernist Megan Mayer. Rousse's "Paramount to My Footage" mines extremes from outrageous celebrity to ballet without boundaries, while Mayer's "I Could Not Stand Close Enough to You" juxtaposes childhood fantasy and self-conscious adulthood in nouvelle slapstick vignettes (think Smothers Brothers redux). There will be a post-show discussion each Friday. For tickets call the Walker at 612.375.7600. (photo by Cameron Wittig)
Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m. Starts: July 16. Continues through July 25, 2009