Last year, I was introduced to CONTRA-TIEMPO, a bold Los Angeles-based dance company, dedicated to transforming the world through dance while building community, facilitating dialogue and moving audiences to imagine what is possible. Their work is rooted in Salsa and Afro-Cuban movement and draws from hip-hop, urban dance and contemporary dance theater. They push the boundaries of Latin dance and blend physical movement with social movement.
Presented at the Center for the Art of Performance UCLA, ‘Agua Furiosa’, CONTRA-TIEMPO’s newest work, challenges audiences to confront harsh realities of race in our country. Inspired by Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and Oya, the Afro-Cuban deity of wind and storms, artistic director and choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez harnesses her unique urban-Latin movement approach to create a visually stunning and thought-provoking evening of dance performance. Audiences will walk away from ‘Agua Furiosa’ impacted and inspired to locate themselves inside the complex and transforming conversation of race in America. Creative collaborators include sound designer d. Sabela Grimes, vocalist Pyeng Threadgill, lighting designer Masha Tsimring, dramaturg Michael Garcés and costume designer Rosalida Medina.
‘Agua Furiosa’ began with a series of site specific performances, throughout the creation of the piece, connected to distinct bodies of water in Los Angeles. These events were the “community choreographic laboratories”. Through these labs audience members/participants witnessed work in progress, participated in the performance and had an opportunity to share their own stories connected to the themes explored in the piece: race, exile, injustice, water, drought and upheaval.
If you’re anywhere near Los Angeles area, come support this powerful piece of living, moving, breathing art! Choose from 8 Performance dates: Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 8PM; Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 8PM; Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 8PM; Sun, Jan 17, 2016 at 4PM; Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 8PM; Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 8PM; Sat, Jan 23, 2016 at 8PM; Sun, Jan 24, 2016 at 4PM.
More information and tickets HERE>>>