By David F. Rooney
Revelstoke is in for a real cultural treat when the Aeriosa Dance Society comes to town. Aeriosa is not only an enthralling cultural experience it literally soars high above all other contemporary dance experiences.
“The mission of Aeriosa Dance Society is to create unexpected experiences of dance,” says the dance company’s website. “We do this by dancing in non-traditional environments and proposing unusual performance scenarios to artists and audiences alike. Our mandate is to produce dance and movement-based performance events for the general public and to offer workshops and other educational activities in dance and other performing arts to the community.”
That sounds like the usual self-promotion you’d find on a website. But just watch Aeriosa dancers flying across the sky and literally dancing up and down the glassy walls of modern skyscraper and your instantaneous reaction is likely going to be like mine: “Wow — just wow!”
Aeriosa has, under the direction of Artistic Director Julia Taffe, been blowing minds across BC, Canada and the United States since 2001.
And now they’re coming to Revelstoke where they will no doubt be welcomed with open arms by climbers, kids, dance enthusiasts and art patrons of all kinds.
The week-long Aeriosa experience begins on February 1 and Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre Manager Miriam Manley is excited by this unusual and enervating dance company.
Starting with a special photo/video presentation on Saturday, February 1, at 7:30 pm, Aeriosa will introduce Revelstokians to what they do. And, throughout the week they will be holding free daily workshops for youths and adults who would like to dance through the air with them. All of that culminates in what promises to be an amazing performance at The Arts Centre on Saturday, February 8, starting at 7:30 pm.
“They will develop an original aerial dance performance based on the space and contours of The Centre,” Miriam said in an interview on Monday, January 20. “They will be literally suspended off the balconies and along the hallways!”
Tickets to the February 1 and February 8 events are available from the Chamber of Commerce and ArtFirst! Downtown and online.
Please click here to learn more about the Aeriosa Dance Society.
Please click here to learn more about Aeriosa’s free workshops.