Heidi Duckler had much to celebrate on the occasion of her company’s 39th anniversary. As Artistic Director of Heidi Duckler Dance, she has kept the dance company alive and thriving for that many years and has had many phenomenal people who helped her along the way. This was evident in the many acknowledgements and thanks given over the course of the evening and especially during the reception which launched the nights’ festivities. Drinks and salutations were flowing among the fabulous crowd gathered to honor Heidi Duckler, among others. There was an exceptional reception table loaded with blinis, capers, crème fraiche, and caviar, etc. as well as champagne and special cocktails courtesy of Silverlake Socialite all lending to the singular celebration of Duckler, her company, and the organization which enables its endeavors.
The reception was held in the plaza of the Loyola Law School in downtown Los Angeles surrounded by the buildings designed by Frank Gehry. This was fitting for a company that has illuminated so many singular buildings and other landmarks throughout the Southland and beyond. Architecture has played a major part of Duckler’s work if only as the backdrop to, and sometimes partner of, her many dance creations. This was a most fitting outdoor space for her anniversary and celebration.
Heidi Duckler and new artistic director Raymond Ejiofor – photo by Denise Leitner.
The event highlighted two important announcements for the company. 1) The Getty Research Institute has acquired and will house Heidi Duckler’s professional archives. This will put her work in the company of other choreographic greats such as Yvonne Rainer and Simone Forti. 2) Heidi Duckler will be replacing herself as artistic director with Raymond Ejiofor. After having worked with Duckler for over eight years, he will take the reins of the company as of 2025 and continue her legacy.
There was also an awards ceremony honoring those who have had a particular impact through and with the dance company. Marla Bleavins, an honoree for the Civic Engagement Award, Therese H. Maynard, honoree for the Education and Learning Award, and Alex M. Johnson, honoree for the Human Impact Award.
Heidi Duckler Dance – How To Eat Red Amaranth choreography by Madison Olandt – Photo by Dean Deckert.
After this, dancers began to appear climbing over the wall from the garage with fanciful headdresses and tennis shoes and started to corral the guests towards one of the buildings with an extensive outdoor stairway. Upon the stairway were more performers moving and exploring the parameters of the structure. A musician playing live sax gave way to another on the cello and we were off! Once on the ground, the dancers launched into partnering and unison movement which worked well with the bright backdrop of Gehry’s buildings. After this interlude we were led to a magnificent tree in the middle of the courtyard, lit from underneath giving it a magical aspect as if it were Yggdrasil itself. This section worked best as it alluded to any number of mythologies all having a great tree as their symbol. Four female dancers performed their ritual around this tree and could have been: Isis, Nephthys, Neith and Serqet, or, North, East, West and South, or Earth, Air, Fire and Water – you get the picture. They could have been Diana, Goddess of the hunt with her handmaids as they had port-de-bras resembling the pulling of an arrow across a bow. It was beautifully engaging in the natural setting with the eerie lighting.
“It Is In Itself” choreography by Alejandro Perez Performance – Photo by Sean Deckert.
The evening ended with a Pied Piper excursion to the top of the parking garage where many tables were set up for the crowd with live music and a bar with two large stations fitted out with food on one and desserts on the other. I say Pied Piper because the dancers led the crowd all the way up the five levels of the garage with a constant improvisation of soap bubbles and the occasional pirouette. It was entertaining in a “What is going to happen next?” sort of way. The crowd was united in their anticipation of the rooftop dinner, and they had good right to be as the view from the roof was extraordinary and encompassed the entirety of downtown Los Angeles laid out like a prospector’s map. I sat at Table One and was able to share the experience with a few other dancers and performers and toast to the past success of Duckler’s Company and to ring in the new era of where the company may go under the direction of Raymond Ejiofor.
To learn more about Heidi Duckler Dance, please visit their website.
Written by Brian Fretté for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Heidi Duckler Dance – School of Fish, choreography by Shoji Yamasaki – Photo by Sean Deckert.
