Bay Area dance fans can look forward to a packed fall season that continues well into December. Check out last week's issue for dance performances in early fall. Then start making plans for the rest of the season, which includes programs inspired by the movement of Guinea, West Africa, Cuba, and Haiti; a 20th anniversary celebration of our city's beloved Trolley Dances; a retrospective program by the internationally renowned dance troupe Pilobolus, and much more.
AXIS Dance Company
The Bay Area's own AXIS Dance Company, one of the nation's most acclaimed ensembles of disabled, non-disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodiverse performers, presents its fall program, "Ecos." The performance includes three world premieres that showcase the company's unparalleled artistry in blending physical movement, diverse perspectives, and innovative collaborations. Works include "Blueprints of being" by award-winning Spanish choreographer Jorge Crecis, a collaborative work with Post:ballet; "Harmony of Souls" by celebrated Bay Area artist Dazaun Soleyn; and "Piel de Luna," choreographed by AXIS Artistic Director Nadia Adame. $25-55, October 11-13, ODC Theater, 3153 17th St. www.axisdance.org
Raíces et Résistance
Arenas Dance Company, Duniya Dance & Drum Company, and Dance Mission Theater's Liberation Academy present a world premiere work that delves into the rich socio-political ties between Guinea, West Africa, and Cuba.
The piece traces the complex relationship forged by the transatlantic slave trade and the cultural exchange of the post-colonial era in the 1960s. $15-35, October 11-20, Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St. www.dancemissiontheater.org
Dimensions Dance Theater
Oakland's Dimensions Dance Theater, one of the country's oldest and most respected Black dance companies, premieres a new evening-length work by Haitian-American choreographer Laurie Fleurentin and company founder Deborah Vaughan.
"Healing to Joy," a fusion of traditional Haitian dance with music and contemporary dance, is planned as the first of two parts, with the complete work to be premiered in 2025. $15-25, October 12, Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland.
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Sharp & Fine
Directed by sisters and co-founders Megan and Shannon Kurashige, "A Detective Story" showcases the distinctive talents Sharp & Fine has developed over more than a decade: visually captivating storytelling, dynamic dancing, and live music. The performance features three couples, each with one member missing, and reinvents the detective genre by having each character draw the inspector's attention onto themselves. $20-80, October 18-20, Z Space, 450 Florida St. www.sharpandfine.org
Epiphany Dance Theater
Over the past two decades, San Francisco Trolley Dances has become a mainstay of the City's arts calendar. This year the company will premiere a feature-length film covering the history of the event and the more than 1,000 artists who have taken part in it. This one-night-only screening event will also include live performances and a giveaway of costumes, props, and other sundries. Free, October 19, YBCA Forum, 701 Mission St. www.epiphanydance.org|
RAWdance
RAWdance celebrates its 20th anniversary with four world premieres. Company Co-Artistic Directors Wendy Rein and Ryan T. Smith choreograph two works: "Escape," inspired by culturally-rooted vacation destinations such as the Borscht Belt and Provincetown, and "Social Circle," which delves into the elaborate web of Victorian-era etiquette.
Company dancers Erin Yen and Kelly Del Rosario premiere "Refer," inspired by quirky cultural habits the artists hold dear, while Stacey Yuen and Nick Wagner offer a new quartet exploring cultural death rituals. $25-30, October 24-27, ODC Theater, 3153 17th St.
www.RAWdance.org
SFDanceworks
SFDanceworks presents a trio of exciting works including "Äffi," created by controversial German choreographer Marco Goecke; a world premiere by Rena Butler, set to music performed by the Young Women's Choral Projects of San Francisco; and a new work by Ja Collective, best known for their mesmerizing choreography created for pop music videos. $40-100, November 7-10, Z Space, 450 Florida St. www.sfdanceworks.org
Step Afrika!
Washington DC's renowned step dance company marks its 30th anniversary with "The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence," a powerful production depicting the Great Migration through Black dance, bold visuals, and vibrant theater.
Based on Jacob Lawrence's 1940s paintings, the performance features a bold soundtrack with Nina Simone, John Coltrane, gospel, and West African drumming. The choreography blends stepping, tap, body percussion, and modern dance to trace a journey from Africa to the post-Civil War South and beyond. $36-108, November 2-3, Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. www.calperformances.org
San Francisco International Hip Hop DanceFest
Micaya presents her annual global convergence of hip hop dance artistry. The 26th annual event features artists from Montreal, Paris, Detroit, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Vacaville, San Mateo, and San Carlos, and showcases works drawing from hip hop, krumping, dancehall, popping, locking, waacking, house, jit, and other dance styles.
According to Micaya, "With the recent debut of breaking at the Paris Olympics, the enthusiasm for hip hop artistry is bigger than ever. I'm honored to be presenting these innovative, world-class companies and to celebrate this art form and the world-wide hip hop community." $60-75, November 9-10, Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St. www.sfhiphopdancefest.com
Pilobolus
The athletic, innovative, beloved, and critically acclaimed dance theater company Pilobolus returns to the Bay Area with "reCREATION," inviting audiences into a realm where imagination knows no bounds. This retrospective production blurs the lines between gravity and creativity, offering a deep look into the creative process.
After a successful three-week residency at the Joyce Theater in New York, "recreation" sets out on a transformative journey, where artists and audiences together rediscover and reinvent timeless narratives through fresh perspectives on history, myth, and human expression. $36-108, November 30-December 1, Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. www.calperformances.org
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