March Events!!

by Aisha Cruse

Going a little stir crazy? Getting that spring fever? Get out and about and see some awesome dance!

Sunday, March 6, 7:30 pm
FARRUQUITO
Presented by CrashArts/ World Music 

At the Berklee Performance Center in Boston
$79, $65, $52, $40
The Flamenco Festival has returned to Boston for its 15 season, it has brought an incredible performer. "From the legendary Farruco dynasty, the first family of Gypsy flamenco dance, Farruquito is regarded as one of the most faithful representatives of flamenco puro." He regards his new show Improvisao as a "return to his roots", so if you're interested in seeing one of the best Flamenco dancers in the world, 
definitely go see this show.

Fri & Sat, March 11 &12 @ 8 pm
COMPAGNIE HERVÉ KOUBI

At The Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston
$40 / $36 World Music/CRASHarts members

The description for this show makes me think of the incredible Fleur d'Orange, which is more than enough to make me want to go: "Twelve French-Algerian and African male dancers, mostly coming from street dance and hip-hop backgrounds, perform the Boston premiere of Ce que le jour doit à la nuit (What the Day Owes the Night), a highly physical, stunningly fluid work that combines capoeira, martial arts, and urban and contemporary dance with powerful Sufi imagery."

Fri & Sat, March 11 & 12 @ 8 pm
The Body Becomes the Messenger
Presented by Kelley Donovan and Dancers
At the Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge
$12-$20
This new show from Kelley Donovan and Dancers explores how health and well being informs the creative process, a theme near and dear to Monkeyhouse and it's dancers. I'm interested to see their take on what is often a deeply personal subject. Thurs, March 17@ 7:30 pm 
Fri, March 18 @ 8 pm 
Sat, March 19 @ 2 pm & 8 pm
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
At the Citi Wang Theatre in Boston
$35 and up
If you are going to see a very established touring company in peak performance, see Alvin Ailey. The performance schedule is slightly different each night, featuring at least one classic repertory piece alongside new choreography. I think this is a perfect excuse to see it every night, but that's just me.

Fri & Sat, March 18 & 19 @ 8 pm
Paradise Lost Presents REPLAY
At the Multicultural Arts Center in Lechemere, Cambridge
$23 / $18 students/seniors/BDA members
I am so incredibly excited about this show (partly because I'm stage managing, so I might be biased)! Monkeyhouse favorites, Paradise Lost is thrilled to premier 4 new pieces from choreographers Shannon Sweeny, Cassie Samuels, Gabriel Nesser and Artistic Director Tyler Catanella. These new pieces "explore cycles and repetition within human nature and relationships. Whether told through the story of a silent family at a dinner table, two couples waking up at sunset on a grassy hill, or three ghosts stuck in a purgatory, Paradise Lost asks: How do we escape from the cycles that trap us? Where can we find the strength to break free from those that tie us down? What does it take for us to let go and move forward? Let's get lost!"

Fri, March 25th @ 10 pm
Acoustica Electronica
Presented by toUch Performances
At Club Oberon in Harvard Square, Cambridge
$15 -$90 (VIP)
Acoustica Electronica has returned to Boston, and March 25 is your last night to see the show! An electric mix of aerialists, dancers, theater and live opera music, this show has been described as "Cirque du Soleil meets a rave" which is my personal ideal night out. Once the show is over, the party continues on into the small hours, so prepare to dance the night away!

January Events!!

by Aisha Cruse

January 1- 30
NACHMO

Presented by Intimations Dance and the Dance Complex

At The Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge
If it's January, it must be time for NACHMO! Intimations dance Sponsors the Boston branch of National Choreography Month, when we all get a choreographic kick in the pants! Keep checking the website to see when they announce the choreographers participating in this years showing in February, and to check out the workshops, talks and lead up events. (PS Monkeyhouse is doing our own NACHMO inspired series of dance prompts that we'll be putting up on Instagram, so stay tuned!)

January 7, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Return to ORG!
Presented by the ART

At the Oberon, in Harvard Square, Cambridge
$20

I had no idea what this was or that I wanted to see it until I realized Luminarium was performing and now I am very excited and concerned I won't get a ticket in time.
"After a two year hiatus, ORG ~ the multi-performer, multimedia variety show bringing together local (and beyond) performing and visual artists ~ returns to Oberon in full tilt. Return to Org! is a wholly locally grown affair, with Boston-based performers filling both acts." In addition to Luminarium, there will be live music: including the infectious folk-swing of As The Sparrow & the dark, avant-elegance of Jaggery; animated shorts curated by experimental filmmaker Bryan Papciack., theater featuring Veronica Barron and live art by Kristilyn Stevenson. Click the links, get excited. See you there!

Fri, January 23 thru Sat, February 6

Catalyst Performance Series

Presented by the Dance Complex
At the Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge
$30 VIP/$20 General/$15 BDA 

Three Ticket Bundles: $75 VIP/$50 General/$36 BDA
The Dance Complex presents the culmination of their inaugural Catalyst Series, three weekends of performances featuring the inaugural CATALYSTS in a performance series intent on deepening how, and how often, we look at dance. Join choreographers Chavi Bansal, Callie Chapman, Michael Figueroa, Sarah Mae Gibbons, and Kathleen Nasti as they delve into their individual focuses of dance installation and film, memory and spirit, spectacle and uproar. 

Sat, January 30 @ 8:00 pm
Sun, January 31 @ 3:00 pm

Trinity Irish Dance Company
Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston
$68, $58, $48, $35 Does anyone else remember the Folgers commercials with the Irish step dancers? It was around the time of Riverdance's peak popularity, and I can't see step dance without getting the jingle stuck in my head, remembering how poised and precise the dancers were. The Trinity Irish Dance Company puts both the commercial and Riverdance to shame. Multiple award winners, they will be performing The Dawn in it's Boston area premiere.

November Events!

by Aisha Cruse

Sun, November 8 @ 12:30pm & 1:30pm
Amherst Storybook Project
Presented by Luminarium Dance Company
at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA
Free!
Luminarium debuts its season-long project with the Amherst community with its book launch and family-friendly performance with Q&A at 12:30 and 1:30pm in the museum theater. You can learn more about the incredible breadth and scope of the project, as well as see some of the original images on Luminarium's website; click the link above!

Fri, November 13 @ 8:00 pm
Sat, November 14 @ 4:00 pm
Entangling
Featuring ANIKAYA
Presented by Boston Center for the Arts
At Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA,  Boston, MA
$20 general admission
Inspired by the phenomenon of Quantum Entanglement, in which two atoms become linked to each other, Entangling explores how we are inextricably and consequentially connected to each other. This piece seems to be a natural extension of Anikaya Dance Theater's mission statement to break down the perceived boundaries between people, cultures and artforms. A collaboration between US-based choreographer Wendy Jehlen and West African-based contemporary choreographer and dancer Lacina Coulibaly, Entangling, investigates the interlacing of the internal, physical energy between two human beings.

Mon, November 16 @ 7:00 pm
Onstage Dance 5th Anniversary Gala
Featuring and Presented by OnStage Dance Company
At OBERON, Cambridge, MA
Free! Standing room only; VIP seating $15
We had the great pleasure of meeting some of the members of OnStage Dance Company during ChoreoFest back in September, when they made an amazing peice to the prompt "The snozzberries taste like snozzberries", so I'm pretty excited to see them at Oberon. You should definietely join me. From their website: "OnStage Dance Company invites you to celebrate FIVE incredible years of dance. Featuring: "Greatest Hits" performances throughout the evening, special guests, award presentations, games, giveaways, raffles and MORE! This event is FREE and open to the public. In an effort to continue building a strong local dance community, we encourage local dancers and dance companies to attend."

November 20 @ 4:00pm through November 22 @ 8:00pm 
The Festival of You & Us & We & Them
Presented by The Dance Complex
At The Dance Complex, Central Square, Cambridge, MA
FREE; other ticketed events range from $5- $25 dollars
The Dance Complex marches on in it's mission to bring dance to the community and grow the dance community in Boston with The Festival of You & Us & We & Them.  Mostly free and open to the public, this weekend- long festival will have workshops, performances, and a flashmob class (really), and will also make use of the Dance Complex's temporary street level performance patio, standing in for the much anticipated unveiling of Studio 7 (PS check out dancecomplex.org for information about Dance Building Building Dance Phase II and how you can help!) So far, the list of artists sharing work includes Adrienne Hawkins, Brian Feigenbaum, Margot Parsons, Brian Crabtree, David Sun, DeAnna Pellechia. New works in progress from dancemakers in aMaSSiT Creative Labs of The Dance Complex include Audrey MacLean, Kathy Hassinger, Kristen Wagner, Jenny Herzog, Sarah Eley and Colleen Walsh. Check on the Dance Complex main page closer to the festival for a complete list of events!

Fri & Sat, November 20 & 21@ 8:00 pm
Sun, November 22 @ 3:00 pm
This is Tango Now 
Presented by World Music/CRASHarts
At Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, MA
$40, $36 World Music/ CRASHarts members
This is Tango Now returns to Boston yet again, so if you've missed their previous performances, now is a great opportunity to get acquainted with this incredible company. "Formed by renowned, Tony-winning tango artists Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo and musician Alfredo Minetti, This Is Tango Now represents a unique approach to tango, reflecting an unconditional passion for the art form. Featuring a stellar company of 12 dancers and musicians performing the world premiere of CARMEN . . . de Buenos Aires, this breathtaking new production of Carmen blends tango and flamenco with an original score based on Bizet’s beloved melodies." As always, ICA events are accompanied with pre- and post- show discussions, so check out the Friday night performance for a Q&A with the company.