New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Los Angeles-based BODYTRAFFIC, named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2013, is an internationally acclaimed contemporary dance company known for commissioning repertory from the world’s most acclaimed contemporary choreographers. Praised for its “confident, hard-hitting” (LA Weekly) execution in a wide range of styles, BODYTRAFFIC has surged to the forefront of the dance world. Their New Bedford debut will feature works by Barak Marshall, Richard Siegal and Victor Quijada on Saturday, February 27 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $27-$47 and are available at www.zeiterion.org or by calling 508-994-2900. Tickets can also be purchased at The Zeiterion Box Office, 648 Purchase Street in New Bedford.
BODYTRAFFIC uniquely reflects LA’s diverse landscape – warm, innovative, and sexy. Known for their ability to communicate the sheer joy of dance, they have invigorated new audiences and experienced dance enthusiasts throughout the country. Their ever-growing repertory by today’s most distinctive choreographic voices is inspiring, accessible, and challenging. BODYTRAFFIC’s family of vibrant dancers drives the company’s commitment to art and entertainment.
BODYTRAFFIC will kick off its performance with Israeli-American choreographer Barak Marshall’s piece And at midnight the green bride floated through the village square… According to Marshall, the piece, inspired by a real Yemen family, “is a morality tale filled with dark humor.” Set to an eclectic score ranging from traditional Yiddish, Ladino and Judeo-Arabic sayings and songs, to the Barry Sisters’ Chiribim Chiribom, “And at midnight…” showcases Marshall’s innovative aesthetic, recognized for its intense gestural vocabulary and fusion of contemporary movement with physical theatre.
The second piece, Once again, before you go is by a choreographer Victor Quijada whose work applies a range of modern to hip-hop ideology, and examines humanity through a unique fusion of classical and street aesthetics. Quijada grew up dancing in the hip-hop culture of his native Los Angeles before moving on to some of North America’s most acclaimed ballet and contemporary dance companies. Bringing his wide-ranging influences into a singular style, Quijada’s piece deals with relationships and explores a number of different stories with an intimate cast of four male dancers and just one female. It was created to a newly commissioned score by Jasper Gahunia, a classically trained composer who regularly performs as a competitive DJ. His composition combines classical music with turntable techniques from hip hop and dance music.
The program concludes with the cheerful and exuberant o2Joy. Choreographed by Munich Dance Award Winner Richard Siegal, o2Joy pays adoring tribute to American jazz standards and features music by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Glenn Miller and The Oscar Peterson Trio. The work is ballet based, peppered with syncopated hip-hop, and drenched in light-hearted humor. As its’ title suggests, o2Joy is the piece is an expression of sheer joy through music and movement, promising to end BODYTRAFFIC’S New Bedford debut on a high note.
BODYTRAFFIC is helping establish Los Angeles as a major center for contemporary dance. Founded in 2007 by Co-Artistic Directors Lillian Barbeito and Tina Finkelman Berkett, the company is already internationally recognized for its high quality and vitality. BODYTRAFFIC has performed throughout the United States and in Canada. In June 2012, the company made its Joyce Theater (NYC) debut; in September 2013, BODYTRAFFIC made its Walt Disney Concert Hall debut at the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Opening Night Gala performance; and this past summer marked BODYTRAFFIC’s Jacob’s PiIlow Dance Festival debut.
Tickets to BODYTRAFFIC are $27-$47 and available for purchase at www.zeiterion.org, by calling 508-994-2900, or in person at the box office at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. Box Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and two hours before each performance.
BODYTRAFFIC’s appearance at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is part of the 2015/16 “Stories Untold” season. From September through May, this collection of 50 theater, music, comedy and dance performances will present tales told in many ways – from nationally syndicated NPR radio storytelling hour, “The Moth,” to classic tales told through dance with The Moscow Festival Ballet’s “Cinderella” and Arlo Guthrie’s fantastically woven yarn that led to the classic song and album, “Alice’s Restaurant.”
VIDEO CLIPS:
“And at midnight, the green bride floated through the village square… “ by Barak Marshall: https://vimeo.com/106251397
“Once Again, Before You Go” by Victor Quijada: https://vimeo.com/126697148
“o2Joy” by Richard Siegal: https://vimeo.com/84006644
