Washington Blade - September 24, 2004
Jay Sternberg

THERE IS SOMETHING for everyone in Washington's world of dance this fall.

While the pickings are slim for ballet lovers, there is one choice morsel. In just a few years as artistic director of the Washington Ballet, Septime Webre has managed to leave a major mark on the company. In addition to its long association with the works of Balanchine, Choo San Goh and contemporary choreographers, the Washington Ballet has added Webre's own work and, most surprisingly, full-length ballets.

Webre has assembled a pleasant group of dancers and in October at the Kennedy Center they get to strut their stuff in the company's production of the hauntingly romantic ballet "Giselle."

The major ballet touring companies don't arrive in this area until January, though the Dance Theatre of Harlem announced this week the cancellation of its 2004-2005 performances because of a $2 million-plus budget deficit.

The holiday season brings a bunch of "Nutcracker" derivatives, however. The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago is scheduled to perform its rendition at the Kennedy Center, while the Washington Ballet unveils a new production at the Warner Theatre. Local groups, such as the Maryland Youth Ballet, also plan to present their own versions.

FOR THOSE SEEKING alternatives, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange is planning to perform the multi-generational work "Gumbrops and Funny Uncles" to selections of the Tchaikovsky score. The 50-something Mikhail Baryshnikov is scheduled to bring Rezo Gabriadze's multimedia work "Forbidden Christmas or The Doctor and the Patient," to the Kennedy Center.

And in December, the Washington Reflections Dance Company and the Dance Institute of Washington plan to present "The Spirit of Kwanzaa" there.

Meanwhile, the National Ballet plans to perform the jazzy "Ellington Nutcracker Suite" at Prince George's College's Hallum Theatre. Not to be outdone, the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington recently announced plans for "Men in Tights à A Pink Nutcracker!" at the Lincoln Theatre. While the first half of the program will consist of holiday songs, the second half will showcase an all-male Nutcracker company, replete with a gay love story and, of course, a Sugarplum Fairy.

Commemorating a half-century landmark, the seminal Paul Taylor Dance Company plans to return to the Kennedy Center with a new work and a pair of old favorites. Renowned for its fusion of indigenous culture with modern dance, Australia's Bangarra Dance Theatre is scheduled in November to perform "Bush," a lush celebration of beauty, ritual and music inspired by aboriginal creation stories.

Coming in October to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland is the exuberant Doug Varone and Dancers in the world premiere of "Deconstructing English."

Local companies of note performing at the Kennedy Center this fall include Bowen McCauley Dance, with a new work set to a guitar composition, and Dancesmith, with a restaging of a work by Eric Hampton, the late local gay dancer, teacher and choreographer.

FOR JAZZ AND pop aficionados, Arts United of Washington plans to present "Meet Me at the Caf " in October at the Jack Guidone Theater. This evening of stories about lost loves is set to the music of Nina Simone and pop standards, accompanied by a live jazz combo.

Also this season, look for Washington Reflections Dance Company's "Remembering U," which celebrates U Street's history in Northwest Washington as the "Black Broadway."

El Salvador's all-male dance company, El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea de El Salvador, is scheduled in November to perform contemporary works reflective of Central America at the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, Md., and the Dance Place in D.C.

Local gay dancer and choreographer Daniel Phoenix Singh reprises his sold-out hit, "Songs of My Life," with his company Dakshina, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Sept. 24 and 25. Between vignettes, a DJ spins club music and the audience and cast members are invited to dance.

Another local gay dancer and choreographer, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, is scheduled to bring his company to the Lincoln Theatre in November. Fresh off of a successful summer residency in Peru, this acclaimed company will perform works by the legendary Japanese choreographer Michio Ito, as well as Burgess's "Tracings," an exploration of Korean immigration to America.

On Dec. 1, the Clarice Smith Center and the Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington are scheduled to present "An Evening of Art and Advocacy for World AIDS Day," to focus attention on the United Nation's ongoing effort to address the plight of women affected by HIV/AIDS.

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