Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/8603
A Leap into Spring: Nacho Duato's Compañia Nacional de Danza's Daring Dances at OCPAC April 16 TH BY>>TOVA MORRISON S egerstrom Hall's magnificent stage at the Orange County Performing Arts Center will be the site of Nacho Duato's Compañia Nacional de Danza de España's (National Spanish Dance Company) spectacular signature performances May 6, 7 and 8. The company is led by Juan Ignacio Duato Bãrcia, also known as Nacho Duato, who rose to prominence as a modern and classical ballet dancer and choreographer throughout Europe and the United States. The ballet company was founded in 1979 in Spain and Duato was appointed the auspicious position of artistic director and choreographer of Compañia Nacional de Danza by Spain's Ministry of Culture and Education in 1990. Duato's choreographic style is a synthesis of classical techniques and contemporary aesthetics. His approach is recognized by his fusion of dance moves with the subject matter and characteristics of Mediterranean and Spanish people. The dance company is making its first return to the Orange County Performing Arts Center since its debut at the Fall for Dance Festival in 2008. Compañia Nacional de Danza will be performing three beautiful and controversial pieces. Two of the works, Arenal and Castrati are premiering for Southern California audiences. Gnawa is the third work to be performed. All works being presented in Segerstrom Hall have received awards and critical admiration. One of the Southern California debuts, Arenal, is set to the music of María del Mar Bonet by Duato. Del Mar Bonet's music was also featured in the company's 2008 performance of Con Perdut at the OCPAC. In this ballet, Arenal, del Mar Bonet translated Greek songs into Catalonian and Majorcan. Arenal, which was first performed in 1988 to praises from the international dance community, reflects the dual nature of the Mediterranean personality. People of the Mediterranean are genuinely cheerful and positive amidst their daily stresses from life's struggles. The joy of dancing to music is portrayed by the men and women dancers. But then, a lone woman dances to a cappella, contrasting the group dancing festivities with the contemplative dancer. Castrati – Castrated Ones – is choreographed by Duato, which he sets to a series of Antonio Vivaldi and Karl Jenkins musical compositions. This ballet is a social commentary on the practice of castration throughout history. In particular, Duato focuses on the divisive custom in 16th, 17th and 18th century Europe to castrate talented pre-pubescent boys to preserve their high-pitched soprano and alto vocal range. Certain ecclesiastical church institutions, where women were not allowed to sing, kept castrati in their employ. The castrati were highly paid and sought after because of their unique vocal timbre – gained at the expense of losing their manhood. Gnawa is by Duato that has music by composers Hassan Hakmoun, Adam Rudolph, Juan Alberto Arteche, Javier Paxariño and Rabih Abou- Khalil Velez. The dance is an intricate representation of the transplanted West African Gnawa people of Morocco and their creation liturgy. The Gnawa are the descendents of black slaves exiled from the sub-Saharan Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Guinea and Mauritania, and transferred to Morocco on the Mediterranean Sea. Through the dance, the audience is taken into the Gnawa's choral and musical spiritual traditions, the lila and derdebá. Their liturgy tells of primal sacrifice. It evokes the story of the beginning of the universe by the actions of the seven divine colors, the mlùk. The Gnawa chant that this rainbow of creator-colors is the primordial light energy that manifests genesis. For the largest arts non-profit in Orange County, providing excellent and enlightening cultural experiences for the community is the OC Performing Arts Center's first priority. Spain's finest dancers in Compañia Nacional de Danza come to Segerstrom Hall as part of the 2009-10 International Dance Series supported by the Audrey Steele Burnand Endowed Fund for International Dance. The Center is also supported by ticket sales, and these performances in particular are being offered to the public at a price that is extremely affordable! Take a chance, see these daring dances. Thursday May 6 at 7:30pm Friday May 7 at 7:30pm Saturday May 8 at 2pm and 7:30pm Segerstrom Hall Orange County Performing Arts Center 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA Tickets start at $14 Groups receive special discounts on tickets. Box office: 714-556-2787 Group sales: 714-755-0236 TTY: 714-556-2746 www.OCPAC.org THE APRIL TODO LIST Compania Nacional de Danza Coachella Buddy Holly Story Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach The Marvelous Wonderettes Newport Beach Film Festival Taste of Huntington Beach How the Other Half Loves SOKA International Festival o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 o 3 LIVEMAGS.NET APRIL>>10 11