AkomiDance, headed by Artistic Directors Marie Hoffman and Melesio A. Aceves, has announced the fifth annual Orange County Dance Festival (OCDF) as well as the inaugural presentation of the Rising Artists Festival, on May 8, 2021. This will be a hybrid experience for audiences with two concerts on stage to a limited audience at 5pm and 7pm (PT) in Westminster’s Rose Center Theater and two virtual presentations of dance films by leading artists from Southern California. There will be a lineup of more than 20 companies participating this year with dance styles ranging from contemporary ballet to modern dance, to performance art.
Included in OCDF is Witness, a dance co-directed by Janell and the late beloved Orange County dance artist Chris Baltes. Witness was “…created with the intention of learning to accept the death of our physical body. One could also observe the piece and possibly relate it to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story “The Scarlet Letter” and experience feelings of guilt, separation, or simply not being accepted. In today’s world, the ork could be compared to our current social climate: we are perhaps ‘witnessing’ the soloists feelings of deep sadness & solitude while sensing the separation and segregation of the ensemble dancers.” (Janell Burgess)
Kairos Dance Company – Photo courtesy of OCDF
The companies and dance artists performing on May 8, 2021 include:
Live Concert at 5pm
AkomiDance
Goblin Party
Benita Bike’s DanceArt
DagDag Dance
Trevyn and Dancer
Live Concert at 7 pm
AkomiDance
Louise Reichlin/LA Choreographers
Continuum
Evolution Dance Company
Jazz Spectrum Dance Company
With Online Dance Films
Virtual Show 1
PGK Dance
Regina Klenjoski Dance Company
Kairos Dance Company
Western High School Commercial Dance
Continuum
Antics
Virtual Show 2
APA Dance Company
Luciana Martinez
Contempo Ballet
Cheng-Chieh Yu
Marimar Lopez Tovar
Tashara Gavin-Moorehead
Victoria Hime
Tashara Gavin-Moorehead – Photo courtesy of OCDF
What: Orange County Dance Festival and Rising Artists Festival
When: May 8, 2021 Concert 1 @ 5 PM PT, Concert 2 @ 7 PM PT
Where: Rose Center Theater, 14140 All American Way, Westminster, CA 92683 – And Online
Tickets: $25 or Ticket Bundle Prices: $45 for two shows; $95 for four shows; $125 four shows, VIP reception, media package (visit akomidance.com for details.)
All tickets must be purchased in advance and seating is limited. For additional information regarding purchasing tickets to the live events and/or links to the virtual concerts, call 562.810.7359 or 714.745.5955 or Info Email: akomidance@gmail.com or visit AkomiDance website HERE.
To learn more about the Artistic Directors Marie Hoffman and Melesio A. Aceves, click HERE.
By Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Trevyn & Dancers – Photo by jim.mccormack@mac.com, courtesy of OCDF
