This winter, Boston’s panoply of dance productions channels international cultures. Catch the luminescent “Swan Lake” from Grand Kyiv Ballet, or tune into the beat of Japanese Taiko drums, brought to us by Drum Tao. Argentine tango also appears on the bill, as does a tribute to Spanish guitarist Maestro Sabicas. Take a seat, sit back, and allow yourself to be transported during this snowy season.
Cambridge | Jan. 24-March 8
Central Square’s The Dance Complex portrays the frequently chaotic nature of life in one’s 20s in a one-night performance of “qUaRtEr LiFe cRy SiS” (Jan. 24). In this dance and comedy fusion, Miranda Lawson’s contemporary choreography meets hip-hop, telling a story of a young adult’s descent into a messy age that she confronts with humor. “Return To Joy” (Feb. 7-8), a solo, whimsical tap show from dancer Ryan P. Casey, features what Dance Magazine called “freakishly clean footwork,” set to the music of Count Basie, Samara Joy and others. Finally, “The Gathering” (March 7-8), steeped in African Diasporic social dance traditions, will immerse viewers in Street and Club styles, poetry, live DJ sets and more.
Grand Kyiv Ballet: ‘Swan Lake‘
Multiple venues | Jan. 24 & Feb. 15
This independent, touring Ukrainian company brings the timeless tale of “Swan Lake” to Boston at two different venues, The Huntington Theatre (Jan. 24) and Emerson Colonial Theatre (Feb. 15). Set to the music of Tchaikovsky, the tragically romantic narrative is about a prince who is enthralled with Odette, a swan princess under the spell of a sorcerer. Choreographed by Anatoliy Shekera, the intricate ballet grapples with themes of light and dark, redemption, transformation, and sacrifice committed for the sake of true love. Dancers from Ukraine, the United States, Italy, Spain and Japan will star in this spellbinding classic.
Berklee Performance Center | Jan. 25
Drum Tao is a Japanese drum and dance ensemble that implements traditional Taiko drums to engage spectators in powerful, percussive performances. Formed in 1993, the group will come to Boston this season for its latest demonstration called “The Best,” presented by Global Arts Live. Using “acrobatic choreography,” the theatrical masterpiece promises to present booming beats, melded with strains from Japanese flutes and harps, to create a phenomenon that is both modern and traditional.
Boston Arts Academy Theater | Feb. 13-14
Choreographer and dancer Trisha Brown, an influential figure in the postmodern dance movement, founded her own company in 1970, and the group carries on her legacy today. Presented by Vivo Performing Arts (formerly Celebrity Series of Boston), Trisha Brown Dance Company will perform works such as “Glacial Decoy,” which uses visual artist Robert Rauschenberg’s photographs as a backdrop. Other highlights include “Son of Gone Fishin’,” from the “Unstable Molecular Structure” cycle,” imitating the movement of a stone tossed across the water’s surface. The company’s Vivo debut will also deliver “Rogue,” where the exercise of mirroring is practiced by two dancers.
Berklee Performance Center | Feb. 20
Presented by Global Arts Live, “Tango After Dark” channels the culture of Buenos Aires. World Tango Champion German Cornejo, who appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2017 and was a finalist in Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s TV program Q Viva, brings a cast of dancers, musicians and singers for this scintillating spectacle. Set to composer Astor Piazzolla’s “nuevo tango,” “Tango After Dark” is at once contemporary and steeped in tradition.
Berklee Performance Center | Feb. 28
Established in France in 1952 by choreographer Keita Fodeba, Les Ballets Africains is the national dance company of the Republic of Guinea. One of the first African national groups of its nature, the troupe has stood as “a global phenomenon,” upholding the continent’s rich culture and heritage. Global Arts Live brings this 35-member ensemble to Boston this winter for a complex celebration of drama, comedy, storytelling and acrobatics.
Citizens Opera House | March 5-15
This year’s “Winter Experience” graces the stage with Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite’s “The Seasons’ Canon.” This work, originally imagined for the Paris Opera Ballet, features 54 dancers synchronistically performing “as if they are one living being.” The ballet is set to German-British composer and pianist Max Richter’s interpretation of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and is known for its evocative invocation of human emotion. Choreographer Jorma Elo’s “Le Sacre Du Printemps,” set to Stravinsky’s famed 20th-century score, rounds out the program.
Berklee Performance Center | March 13
Robust flamenco takes center stage at this tribute to Spanish guitarist Agustín Castellón Campos, known as Sabicas. For four decades, flamenco artists who had newly arrived in the United States would visit Sabicas’ New York home, finding a place where they belonged. Guitarists Gerardo Núñez, Latin Grammy-winner Antonio Rey and Álvaro Martinete will perform, while flamenco dancer and choreographer Olga Pericet will pay tribute to the legendary figure, presented by Global Arts Live.
ICA | March 13-14
Presented by Global Arts Live, New York City’s Gibney Company comes to Boston to display a collection of works that unite contemporary choreography with thoughtful storytelling. Founded in 1991 by choreographer Gina Gibney, the group shares three insightful pieces: “Trio (of six)” by William Forsythe, “A Couple” by Roy Assaf, and Lucinda Childs’ “Three Dances (for prepared piano) John Cage.”
Symphony Hall | March 18
Acclaimed Irish fiddle player Martin Hayes will be joined by pianist Cormac McCarthy, cellist Kate Ellis, guitarist Kyle Sanna and musician Brian Donnellan at Symphony Hall. Special guests American jazz/folk multi-instrumentalist Sam Amidon and “Sean Nós” singer and harpist Síle Denvir will join the performance, along with Irish dancer Stephanie Keane and American percussive dancer Nic Gareiss. Presented by Vivo Performing Arts, this unique celebration also features Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon.
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