Contemporary dance showcase returns to Nevada City | News

Trina Spiller, the producer of the two nights of dance, said she wanted to create an event that feels accessible to everybody so each piece will be under five minutes and will include many different styles of contemporary modern dance.

“I try not to make the pieces too long. I don’t want the program to be hours and hours,” Spiller said. “Kind of short and sweet.”

In past years Dance Because has sold out, especially on Friday night, according to Spiller, when the audience participates in a dance party after the performance.

“Friday night we have a dance party after the performance, so you get to watch dance, and then you get to get up and join in,” Spiller said. “I hired a DJ so we can have a dance party together. It will be a mix of 80s, 90s, and some hip hop type music to make a fun dance party.”

Dance Because dance event is planned for Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2 at 7 p.m. on both nights and there is open seating at the Oddfellows Lodge located at 212 Spring Street in Nevada City.

For several years, apart from the COVID shutdown, approximately 200 people have attended the hour-and-a-half event in the big airy hall with newly refinished floors that have springs in them.

“For me, it is the best place in Nevada City to dance. The high ceilings and large airy space give the whole show a bit of a renegade feel to it,” Spiller said. “It’s not a traditional theater.”

Other dance genres planned for the two nights of dance will include contact improvisation, physical theater, temple fusion Bellydance, and Brazilian folkloric dance.

“This show is not like a traditional ballet dance show. It is more contemporary modern pieces that are under five minutes each,” Spiller said.

Contact improvisation is a form of improvised partner dancing that involves the exploration of one’s body in relationship to others by sharing weight, touch, and movement awareness, according to Spiller.

“How you give your weight on the other person and how that body responds. How you give and take weight,” Spiller said.

An original performance of Butoh, a Japanese form of dance theater, is also included in the program.

“Traditionally they paint their bodies all white and the movement is very slow and deliberate. The show in general is going to be a little more artsy,” Spiller said.

A dance troupe named Jacaranda will be performing a type of Brazilian folkloric dance mixed with a samba style.

This style of samba is often seen in clubs and discos; it is a partner dance that is incredibly difficult to master. Samba de gafieira is often referred to as the ‘Brazilian tango’ because many of the movements are inspired by Argentine tango.

Sedonal Swan Soulfire is slated to perform something similar to a temple fusion Bellydance, a dance technique incorporating Eastern and Western classical dance, yoga, and contemporary fusions.

Many of the artists are contemporary modern artists, according to Spiller.

“For a small town, you could go to a different style of dance class or dance event almost every night of the week,” Spiller said. “I often have felt like dance is the underdog of the arts — theater and music is a little bit more popular.”

Spiller went on to say, “The community that ends up coming are supporting their performers and are often dancers themselves.”

The audience dance party after the performance is Friday night only.

Kids are free as long as they are comfortable with sitting on the floor in the front row.

No food or beverage will be sold at the hour and a half event.

“The idea is that everyone is creating an original piece of art and sharing it with the community,” Spiller said.