On Friday April 26, 2024, in the Los Angeles’ Brewery district, next to Diavolo Studio is the home of BrockusRED and L.A. Dance Festival. A true Pioneer of L.A dance, Deborah Brockus is a staple for nascent, experimental and historical works of L.A area dancers and dance companies. Training and mentoring artists in choreography and dance is one of her missions, along with giving opportunities often difficult to find in a city that has few resources to support live dance at any level. Her generosity and hard work makes it possible to present new ideas in front of an appreciative, curious and critical audience.
On that balmy Friday evening, her studio was filled with a gaggle of fans, new-comers and dance aficionados noisily greeting each other while proceeding to their seats to see and support the heartbeat of L.A. Dance, and an evening at the L.A. Dance Festival 2024. In the large studio, we were all greeted by the luminous redhead, Deborah Brockus, who welcomed all with a warm introduction to this special evening. She announced, with anticipation, that the Company was presenting the Lifetime Service to the Field Award, to the esteemed Jeff Slayton, an important presence for dance companies and dancers in Los Angeles and beyond.
LADF – BrockusRED – Denali Huff in “Soul” – Photo by Denise Leitner.
Then to begin the dance focus of the evening, strains of Arvo Pärt’s haunting musical meditation presented “a tribute to all dancers” (Brockus) called “Soul.” Through the dark, the ambient light illuminated the faces and bodies of three BrockusRED company members, Mara Hancock, Denali Huff, and Jolyn Rae who individually contributed emotionally, creatively and physically to the opening piece; the concept was by Brockus, the choreography was by Hancock, Huff and Rae.
As the music faded, Brockus, introduced the honoree, Jeff Slayton, with a beautiful presentation on film and video of his vast background as a dancer, choreographer, educator, writer and now the founder, with partner Martin Holman, of the L.A. Dance Chronicle. LADC began nearly seven years ago with a hand-full of dedicated writers, working hard to bring dance out from behind the curtain and into the light in L.A.
LADF – (L-R) Jeff Slayton accepting Lifetime Service Award with Deborah Brockus – Photo by Denise Leitner.
This evening, Jeff Slayton was honored for his remarkable life as an artist, reinventing his career from his early work as a dancer with Merce Cunningham’s Company, a principal dancer with Viola Farber Dance Company and Artistic Director and Choreographer of the Jeff Slayton & Dancers, having been a recipient of several NEA choreography grants. He had the pleasure of serving on the California Arts Council’s touring panel and worked as a professor at Cal State Long Beach. As a published author of “Dancing Toward Sanity” and “The Prickly Rose: A Biography of Viola Farber” he examined his deep personal trials and insights along with his experiences with the gifted artist/teacher/mentor/creator, Viola Farber. Slayton, not to be daunted by seemingly lack of ballet, modern or jazz companies in L.A, set out to bring recognition to the richness of the existing and growing Los Angeles Dance community and discovered it had always existed but went unacknowledged. Deborah Brockus, and the dance community recognized and congratulated a truly beloved and important messenger of dance in Los Angeles.
LADF – (L-R) Nico Albuja holding Seda Aybay and Simon Lathrop in “Istanbul Nights” by Aybay – Photo by Denise Leitner.
Inspired by these insights, we moved into the program for the evening, which presented some memorable work. Among them was choreographer Seda Aybay’s, Kybele Dance Theatre’s performance of “Istanbul Nights,” with music by Dave Brubeck, “Take Five.” The Dancers, Nico Albuja, Ariel Scott, Simon Lathrop, Monica Moe, Jade LeLievre and Seda Aybay, reminded us of how musical and electric Jazz dance can be, having lost so many great Jazz dance teachers and artists during the AIDS virus. The musicality, the teamwork and expertise in the Jazz vernacular made this number one of the highlights of the evening.
Arturo Gonzales, Harry Peterson and Joyln Gonzales in “Edges, Lines and Corners” – Photo by Denise Leitner.
BrockusRED’s heady “Edges, Lines and Corners” Set to music by Peter Askim generated form with movement and wood dowels that, when in motion, appeared to set the angles of the dancer’s personal trajectories. The piece’s final configuration was a two dimensional square-like cocoon that brought all the dancers Rebecca Lee, Joyln Rae, Arturo Gonzales, and Harry Peterson together, moving from individuation to a kind of tribe community. A fascinating concept that worked well bringing attention and resolution to the final strains of the music.
LADF – (L-R) Andrea Camacho , Celest Lanuza, Susanna Alvarado, Mattie Sharp in “Rekeying Presenting or Belongingness? – Photo by Denise Leitner.
Celeste Lanuza Dance Theatre” performed “Rekeying Presenting or Belongingness?” Even though some very nice dancing occurred, it appeared to be an idea searching for a meaning. Celeste Lanuza, the piece’s choreographer, composer (with Frank Lanuza) and dancer, certainly created the flavor of Flamenco, with dancers, Susanna Alvarado, Andrea Camacho, Maddie Sharp. However, some were unfamiliar with the vernacular, and because of that, the piece become more about fire than substance. In its finality it led to the dropping of the flamenco skirt which Lanuza replaced with brown trousers. Without program notes, it was unclear what the actual message was.
LADF – Cara Laughlin in “Silent World” by Anthony Aceves and Marie Hoffman – Photo by Denise Leitner.
Wedged between larger pieces were also solo contributions that were an interesting respite showing individual’s talent and ideas: AkomiDance presented a “Silent World” choreographed by Anthony Aceves and Marie Hoffman, with music by Aquilo and performed by Cara Laughlin. A simple, nicely constructed, Chaplin-esque remembrance which brought us back to earlier times.
Charlotte Katherine & Co. tickled us with her “Whimsical Wanderings.” Her colorful “actual” flowered tunic over a simple wheat under-dress played against pastural scenes that appeared to be shot on an iPhone and projected on the large back wall. It took the audience on a ride with scenes turning upside down and sideways – just to counter her delight and simple playfulness that left us smiling at its ending. Then “Untitled ” solo piece done by Gretchen Ackerman using a folding chair and table powered through movements, purging feelings and physicality, only to end by folding the chair and table again and walking off into the darkness.
LADF – Gretchen Ackerman in ” ” – Photo by Denise Leitner.
The Festival’s evening of dance lifted spirits and introduced many to new talent, new friends, wonderful music and always a unique array of dance pieces. Thank you Deborah Brockus for your continuous dedication to the Los Angeles dance community. And with grateful thanksgiving for honoring a true friend of L.A. dance, Jeff Slayton.
For more information about LA Dance Festival, please visit their website.
Written by Joanne DiVito for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Charlotte Katherine in her solo Whimsical Wanderings – Photo by Denise Leitner.
