January’s Dance-Flask Listing
By Ryan Kelley and Emmaly Wiederholt
There once was a dance enthusiast
Of all the arts he loved dance best
Each month he planned his calendar
To catch dance shows both near and far
But nary a show could he sit through
Without libation, cocktail or brew
No dance show ever felt complete
Without flask in hand and butt in seat
He sits and watches, drinks and burps
But God forbid he ever slurps
His heart grows warm, he starts to cry
He knows good dance is never dry
Ryan, your dance-enthusiast-aficionado, blows off girlfriends and wastes untold savings in savage anticipation of the hottest dance pieces premiering around California. He’s diligently planning his dance calendar for next month, perfecting each flask concoction.
So what dance shows are on the dance-flask menu this month?
Pre-gaming. We do it for sports; why not for dance?
ALTERNATIVA, Sara Shelton Mann & Christine Bonansea
P.O.V. Weekend 1 features “Apparition” by ALTERNATIVA, “Hybrid 3” by Sara Shelton Mann, and “Floaters #1” by Christine Bonansea.
Drink Selection: I need to thank ALTERNATIVA for the 90s inspiration. Let’s make a “Smells like Teen Spirit.” Jack Daniels, sweet tea and Midori. Float with Blue Curaco for “Floaters #1.” For “Hybrid 3” I’ll be sipping a “Prius Bumper Sticker Slammer.” Malibu, amaretto, sweet and sour, and splash of orange juice.
Fri-Sat, Jan 3-4, 8:30pm, $15-20
KUNST-STOFF Arts, One Grove St, San Francisco
Mary Armentrout
“Reveries and elegies” is a site specific performance project about change and dislocation, meandering through space and time.
Drink Selection: Meandering through space and time, eh? I am always looking for an excuse to revisit the 90s (clearly). Thanks to this piece I am planning on mixing up a “Space Jam.” Citrus vodka, lime juice and jam. Pour, ice, shake and PUMP UP THE JAM.
Sat-Sun, Jan 4-5, 4:15pm; Jan 11-12, 4:30pm; Jan 18-19, 4:30pm; Jan 25-26; 4:45pm, $20
Milkbar, 851 81st St, Oakland
maryarmentroutdancetheater.com
The Wooden Floor
The Wooden Floor is a Santa Ana based dance company comprised of under-served youth. The company’s latest program features choreography by Herb Alpert Award-winner Susan Rethorst, New York-based choreographer Ivy Baldwin, and the company’s artistic director, Melanie Ríos Glaser.
Drink Selection: In honor of this great non-profit, I am flasking “The Giving Tree.” Gin, Framboise, lemon juice, one teaspoon of egg white and five raspberries. Pour over ice, shake, top with soda water. Please note, more than four…you end up on the floor. Please drink responsibly.
Fri-Sat, Jan 17-18, 8:30 pm, $20
Redcat, 631 W. 2nd St, Los Angeles
Printz Dance Project
Over two years in the making, “Hover Space” takes athletic prowess to a new dimension on a tilting, hovering stage.
Drink Selection: A tilting, hovering stage? WOW. Let’s make a “Danger Zone” (it tastes better than the friend zone). Vodka, gin, tequila, rum, lemon-aid and sweet tea.
Fri, Jan 17, 8pm, $20-25
Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main Street, Temecula
Lisa Townsend Dance
“FuGa: to chase or to flee” explores the aesthetic and dynamics found in film noir Cherchez la femme (look for the woman), a kinetic high contrast dream whose protagonist seduces her audience through the identities and words of women characters in film noir.
Drink Selection: Stir up a “Chase-Her.” Chop up pears, oranges, apples and pineapple. In a shaker full of ice add in red wine, blackberry brandy, peach schnapps and dash of triple sec. Shake and drain into flask. If made properly you won’t need a chaser, but careful – she’s a strong one.
Thu-Fri, Jan 23-24, 8pm, $10-20
The Garage, 715 Bryant St, San Francisco
Ate9 dANCEcOMPANY
In “Meeting the Artist,” choreographer Danielle Agami offers an intimate look at a new creation, encouraging conversation and interaction between the artists and audience.
Drink Selection: A common question when meeting a dance artist is, “Can you do the splits?” Thus for this piece I am bringing a “Dancing Banana Split.” Banana liqueur, vodka, and a splash of amaretto. Rim your flask with amaretto and crushed vanilla waver cookies (repeat as necessary – that rim coating will only last about one sip).
Fri-Sat, Jan 24-25, 8pm, $15
Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St, Santa Monica
highwaysperformance.org/highways/event/meeting-the-artist-ate9-dancecompany/
Wayne McGregor and Random Dance
Inspired by the Age of Enlightenment and by the 18th century French philosopher Diderot’s very first set of encyclopedia, “Far” is both physical and immediate, yet intensely cerebral.
Drink Selection: Drink outside the flask for this one folks. It’s all about individualism here so pick a drink and container that you think best suites this performance. I’ll be drinking an “Encyclopedia Brown.” Muddle blueberries, cinnamon, simple syrup and Bulleit Bourbon together, shake over ice. I’ll be drinking out of a slick-looking thermos.
Sat, Jan 24, 8pm and 11pm,
Royce Hall at UCLA, 10745 Dickson Plaza, Los Angeles
Fit this in your flask and run to the nearest dance venue!