One of the great things about having such a plethora of dance in the Bay Area is that choreographers have been able to develop specific styles of dance unique to the area. In addition to a diverse selection of world dance and contemporary forms, aerial dance in the Bay Area has been able to create a distinct style influenced by politics, theatricality and a female perspective. Aerial dance designed by women is one of the Bay Area's most innovative contributions to contemporary dance.
"The Bay Area is the original home to aerial dance, starting around 1975 with Terry Sendgraff," says local dance curator Krissy Keefer. "Since that time, it has become the main medium for many choreographers based in the Bay Area. The Circus School has been a partner in this explosion, with many artists coming here to train in circus arts. Postmodern dance and the circus arts influence each other, creating a constantly changing community of aerial artists." This week, Keefer is producing the 5th Annual Skydancers, A Festival of Aerial Dance featuring female choreographers like Project Bandaloop, Jo Kreiter and Sendgraff.
"Perhaps it is our desire to fly," Keefer says. "There are women in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon called dakinis, whose name literally means 'skygoers, those who travel through space.' I think the medium of aerial dance also reflects our strength, our daringness, our quest for freedom." The political component has always been a crucial part of the festival's mix. "There's a grappling with social issues in the work. I think this reflects the Bay Area, which has a strong political culture."
Keefer notes that the festival has been strongly influenced by the lesbian community. "The physicality seems to appeal to a lesbian sensibility. These women are very strong, and that is an enjoyment for many women to watch."
"Women flock to aerial dance in the Bay Area because it's a physical medium that demands our best possible integration of risk, strength and intuition," says Kreiter. Choreographer Rebecca Stronger adds, "This type of work offers women the opportunity to explore different ways of using our bodies that develop power, strength and risk-taking that's not typically found in dance, which then translates to art that questions established paradigms regarding female roles.
"The relationship between dance and circus makes perfect sense, both physically and conceptually," says Stronger. "I worked with an all-female company whose main vocabulary consisted of a variety of circus arts, but we functioned as a dance company. I always considered myself a dancer, even though I wasn't performing typical dance. Who is to say that a pliĊ½ or pirouette on your feet is any different from one on your hands, or in the air?"
Sendgraff is widely considered the pioneer of female-based aerial dance in the Bay Area, having developed a technique for low-flying trapeze in the mid-70s. "Terry set the stage for aerial dance by training dancers, influencing choreographers, and educating audiences," says choreographer Rachael Lincoln. "On her heels, the work has grown in many different directions. There are powerful women choreographing aerial dance, and there's a huge aesthetic range. The only commonality is that they get their dancers into the air."
Skydancers: A Festival of Aerial Dance at Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th St., SF. Nov. 2-4, 9-11. Tickets ($20-$25): (415) 273-4633.