New Orleans Offers lots of Reasons to Move and be Moved through Dance.

There’s something about dance that intrigues and enlivens. Perhaps it’s the dichotomy of the ethereal and the visceral brought together in a body. Maybe it’s that the stories are told at a slant, with arms and legs and space and no space. Maybe it’s the discipline that must collide with abandon in order for the dance to flow. Dance feels elementary in some ways. But anyone who’s ever seen Alvin Ailey’s performers leap across the stage, anyone who’s watched the taunt, exacting line of a professional ballerina, understands that good dance is as unimaginable as flight. Dance is a quiet but powerful art form. Jack Miles & Douglas McLennan say in an article in Arts Journal,”Dance as an art form has intrinsic appeal. Though ballet is a fairly recent development, dance as a means of expression is one of the earliest art forms.”

Most probably, dance evolved as a means to convey emotion, stories or information to a community. Non-verbal cues through stylized movements of the body provided a means to communicate with audiences. And while it now takes many forms, dancing done well (by the professional or the amateur) can be arresting, alarming, haunting, or uplifting.

I love modern dance and often miss New York’s glut of opportunities to see artists who use physical narrative (that is, dancers and choreographers) showcase their work on a regular basis. But New Orleans has its own groove, and this week provides a number of ways to watch, learn, and practice this vital art.

The legendary choreographer and dancer, Ron K. Brown descends on the city to provide inspiration and instruction at the 12th Annual New Orleans Dance Festival, June 30 – July 12. Presented by the Newcomb College Dance Program and Tulane University Department of Theatre and Dance, the Festival provides participants with the opportunity to study with internationally recognized artists, dancers, and teachers during mixed-level classes that explore dance via African and Caribbean dance traditions. The featured faculty includes Brown, who will teach Modern /Contemporary, Richard Gonzalez for Afro-Caribbean forms, Peniel Guerrier in Afro-Haitian dance, Awal Alhassan who will instruct in Ghananian dance traditions, and Biza Sompa for Congolese dance techniques. Classes are open to those ages 15 and up. The Festival will also feature African dances from Ghana and Congo, dances from Cuba and Haiti, and contemporary and modern dance traditions that incorporate Hip-Hop. New Orleans Second-line dancers and the Mardi Gras Indians will also perform.

After soaking in the cultural dance traditions from afar, come on back home and find out what Louisiana has to say at the ever-popular Fais Do Do at Tipitina’s. The Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band — comprised of accordion, fiddle and a tight rhythm section—mixes traditional Louisiana French music with original Cajun and Zydeco material and the audience is invited to shuffle along. Even if you’re not an expert, you’re sure to have fun watching those who can really twirl and shuffle. It’s $7 to get in to this dance party. The music begins at 5:30 p.m.

Have you hung up your leotard for a seat in the audience? Then sit back and take in SOUTHERN VOICES: dance out LOUD at the CAC. A collaboration between D’PROJECT and Artistic Director Eddy Villalta, SOUTHERN VOICES is a creative amalgam of dance, theatre and video art that combines ballet, flamenco, second line and modern dance with live music and video projections. The project was conceived and composed through the collaboration of six of New Orleans’ dance companies: Anne Burr Dance Company, D’Project, Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble, Micaela y Fiesta Flamenca, Monique Moss & Third Eye Theater, and Barbara Hayley & New Orleans Dance Team. Performances run Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29.

Too highbrow? Want something a little stickier? Dance is about expression after all, so why not watch Reverend Spooky LeStrange & Her Billion Dollar Baby Dolls as they perform on Thursday, June 26 at the Hi- Ho Lounge. Composed of a rotating cast of New Orleans burlesque dancers, out of town burlesque performers, and aspiring burlesque hopefuls, this dance crew has twirled a tassel or two at venues all over the country, including at the Ponderosa Stomp, Tease O Rama, Voodoo Fest and more. The show begins at 10 p.m.

Get moving!

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