February’s Dance-Flask Listing
By Ryan Kelley and Emmaly Wiederholt
Ryan, your dance-enthusiast-aficionado, blows off girlfriends and wastes untold savings on liqueurs in savage anticipation of the hottest dance pieces premiering around California. He’s diligently planning his dance calendar for next month, perfecting each carefully considered libation he will bring in his flask to each show.
So what dance shows – and more importantly what drinks – are on the horizon this February?
Sometimes dance inspires Ryan too much…
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Carolina Lugo’s and Carolé Acuña’s Ballet Flamenco
Are you in need of a sultry Spanish night or a bohemian adventure? Brace yourself for a night when the well-worn hardwood floors of Pachamama resonate with the pulsating sounds of footwork, song, castanets, syncopated hand clapping and guitar.
Drink Selection: Take a date and make “The Fertile Sangria.” Muddle pears, apples, cherries and oranges. Pour half malbec and pinot noir, blackberry brandy, and peach schnapps over ice. Shake, pour and enjoy.
Sat-Sun, through Feb, 6:15 pm, $15-19
1630 Powell St, SF
www.brownpapertickets.com/event/269021
Palanza Dance
“Close” is a new group work developed in RAW (resident artist workshop).
Drink Selection: Close to what, you ask? I’m making a “Close-to-Drunk Martini” because if I’m not already drunk, this will get me pretty close. Shake gin and Looza Pear Nectar over ice. Sip and enjoy.
Fri-Sat, Feb 7-8, 8pm, $10-20
The Garage, 715 Bryant St, SF
Mills College Dance Alumni
From a tongue-in-cheek look at lost love to a somatic and sonic installation, “Ebb+Flow 2014” features the works of Mills Dance Alumni Jalila Bell, Rebekah Brown, Garth Grimball, Megan Nicely, Sandi Scheuber and a collaboration by Amy Lewis, Janet Das & Sonsherée Giles.
Drink Selection: You Mills Alumni are a little over my head. I’ll be drinking Miller Lite while I over-think these pieces. I mean, have you seen the throw back can?
Fri, Feb 7, 8pm, $10, cash only
Mills College Lisser Theatre, 5000 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland
Hamburg Ballet
San Francisco Ballet is pleased to welcome the Hamburg Ballet back to the Opera House stage in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Drink Selection: For this piece, let’s make the “Duke of Athens” – careful, add too much whiskey and you just re-named this drink the “Puke of Athens.” Whiskey, Meyer Lemon Juice, splash of simple syrup and dash of cherry liqueur.
Wed, Feb 12, 7:30pm; Thu, Feb 13, 8pm, $20-327
War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave, SF
Nora Chipaumire
“Miriam” is a personal and immersive dance-theater installation that reverberates with tensions between public expectations and private desires.
Drink Selection: I’ll be making two drinks for this show. The first drink is inspired by public expectations – a “No One Pees in the Shower.” Tequila, orange juice and blue curacao. For the second drink, inspired by private desires, please make a “I Pee in the Shower.” Vodka, lemon juice and a splash of simple syrup.
Thu-Sat, Feb 13-15, 8pm, $25-35
YBCA Forum, 701 Mission St, SF
Ballet San Jose
“Repertory Program 1 Neoclassical to Now” features George Balanchine’s “Serenade” (1949), Jorma Elo’s “Glow-Stop” (2006) and Ohad Naharin’s “Minus 16” (1999).
Drink Selection: If you add up all these years and minus 16 you get 5938. (Please pronounce “59-38”) Let’s combine cranberry (for “Serenade”) Midori (for “Glow-Stop”) and ice cold vodka (for “Minus 16”). Shake and enjoy kids.
Fri, Feb 14, 8pm; Sat, Feb 15, 1:30pm & 8pm; Sun, Feb 16, 1:30pm, $30-105
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S Almaden Blvd, San Jose
Split – Holly Rothschild / Roya Carreras
Choreographer Holly Rothschild will debut two new dance works featuring Genevieve Carson, Andrew Pearson and Drea Sobke. A third piece, a collaboration with Robin Cook entitled “Kitchen Sink,” is an exploration of the extremes of audience engagement.
Drink Selection: An exploration of the extremes of audience engagement?! I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff on stage and I don’t ALWAYS want to get involved. This drink has nothing to do with Meat Loaf and everything to do with the piece. Therefore, we are making an “I’ll do Anything for Love, but I Won’t do That.” Rum, blackberry brandy, crème de banana, pineapple and grenadine.
Fri-Sat, Feb 14-15, 8:30pm, $15-20
Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St, Santa Monica
highwaysperformance.org/highways/event/split-holly-rothschild-roya-carreras/
Benita Bike’s DanceArt
How do dancers create dances? How do they change movement into mood, image and story? These questions and more are answered when Benita Bike’s DanceArt performs at the La Crescenta Library. Dances are performed, and audience members have numerous opportunities to interact with the artists.
Drink Selection: Popular to contrary belief, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was not invented in the 1990s as a policy for gays and lesbians in the military. That’s right, it was invented in 2014 for Stance on Dance’s February Flask edition when I read, “How do dancers create dances?” For this piece, make a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Muddle together blueberries, sugar and mint leaves. Pour in ice, light rum and lime juice. Top with soda water. You’re welcome.
Sat, Feb 15, 2pm, free
2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta
LA Dance Project
Benjamin Millepied’s “Reflections” and Justin Peck’s “Murder Ballads” will be performed at The Theatre at Ace Hotel, formerly the historic United Artists Theatre.
Drink Selection: Reflections and murder ballads make me think of the movie “American Psycho”. Therefore, let’s make an “American Psycho!” In a shaker, muddle oranges, cherries, apples and sugar together. Add a dash of bitters. Top with ice and whiskey. Shake, pour and enjoy.
Thurs-Sat, Feb 20-22, $20-125
The Theatre at Ace Hotel, 933 South Broadway, Los Angeles
Blind Tiger Society
“The Aftermath Affair” transforms the ODC Theater building into a place of extravagance, mystery, celebration and curiosity.
Drink Selection: For this piece, make a “Tiger Claw.” Muddle blueberries, a slash of Cointreau and as much vodka as you can stand and pour over ice. Add a dash of cinnamon, but don’t tell anyone (that’s the mystery part). Trust me, in the aftermath of this drink, you’ll be blind.
Fri-Sun, Feb 28-Mar 2, 8pm, $18-25
ODC Theater, 3153 17th St, SF
Fit this in your flask and run to the nearest dance venue!