One of the great things about Oakland, and the Bay Area in general is how much culture we have at our fingertips. From Hip-Hop to Opera, art is very accessible here and we want you to have the knowledge to experience it! Smaller shows and experiences are going on all throughout the year and hopefully we will be able to bring those to your attention as they come up.
For some, dance viewing can be a daunting experience. It’s non-verbal communication and sometimes…the music doesn’t even have words. Yikes! Fortunately, here in the Bay Area we have, and bring in, some of the best story tellers in the world, who make dance accessible and profound all at the same time.
AXIS Dance Company- Axis Dance Company is an innovative company that works, not only with able bodied dancers, but with dancers with disabilities. Their work is inspiring and ground breaking and if you need a heart lift, this is the company for you.
Dance Access Day Nov 13&14 (Marlonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts)
San Francisco Ballet
San Francisco Ballet is on of the world’s leading ballet companies. This season is Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson’s 30th anniversary as AD and they have a calendar chalk-full of his favorites. With some of the leading talent in the ballet world, their season is not to be missed if you are looking for the highest of ballet technique and production quality.
Program 1: Jan 27-Feb 7 Serenade, RAkU, Lambarena
Program 2: Jan 29-Feb 10 Giselle
Program 3: Feb 24-Mar 7 The Vertinginous Thrill of Exactitude, Variations for Two Couples, Myles Thatcher World Premiere, The Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadere
Program 4: Feb 26-Mar 8 Dances at a Gathering, Hummingbird.
Program 5: March 20-29 Don Quixote
Program 6: April 8-April 19 Shostakovich Trilogy
Program 7: April 10-21 Caprice, Yuri Possokhov World Premiere, The Four Temperaments
Program 8: May 1-May 10 Romeo and Juliet
Cal Performances- Zellerbach Hall
The performances at Zellerbach Hall on Cal’s campus are always exciting and present some of the leading artists of the times. What’s great about the dance that you can see here is that there is a range of options and there is bound to be something that interests you.
Austrailian Ballet Oct 16-19 (Zellerbach) Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake
Sasha Waltz & Guests Oct 24&25 (Zellerbach) Impromptus
Jeoffrey Ballet March 14&15 (Zellerbach) Incantastions, Son of Chamber Symphony, Episode 31
Alvin Ailey April 21-26 (Zellerbach) Program announced in January
Smuin Ballet is always pushing the envelope. They have a cast of young dancers who can take on the great experiments and always make the performances fun.
Walnut Creek Performances
Uncorked: Nov 21-22
Untamed: March 13-14
Unlaced May 29-30
Headed by one of the most innovative Hula director’s in the states Patrick Makuakāne, Na Lei Hulu presents both traditional hula and contemporary pieces. Not only did the director create the music and choreography for Lilo and Stitch but he is constantly pushing the boundaries of hula all over the world. If you can see the company do their piece to At Last by Billie Holiday. Do it. It’s incredible.
Hula Guyz– October 18 2pm & 7pm
Ho’ike Nui- Oct 25-26
If powerful, moving, dance pieces performed by incredible athletes are for you, then don’t miss Lines’ home season. Alonzo King is one of the most inspiring contemporary choreographers who has an arsenal of talent at his disposal.
Fall Home Season- November 14-23: Shostakovich Strings Quartet World Premier, and Rasa with Zakir Hussain live Post Performance talks by Mr. King Nov 19&20th.
Oakland Ballet- 50th Anniversary Season
Oakland Ballet is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary season with their annual Nutcracker performance and an exploration of their last 50 years of ballet.
Nutcracker: December 20-21, 2014
Five Decades of Dance: May 22-23, 2015
ODC–
ODC is a phenomenal contemporary dance company who take their work all over the world. If you can catch one of their home performances, or (if you’re really brave) even go take a class there, it will definitely be memorable.
October 2, 2014
ODC/Dance performs at Cal Academy NightLife
November 1, 2014
ODC/Dance Unplugged, San Francisco
November 28-December 14, 2014
The Velveteen Rabbit, YBCA, San Francisco
March 12 – 22, 2015
Dance Downtown at YBCA
Dance Week: April 24-May 3, 2015
The Bay Area always takes full advantage of Dance Week each year. You can take free classes, watch company class, and even see some free performances. A great way to feel out what is going on in the dance world and see what kind of dance might strike your fancy!
So dance on Bay Area! (Or at least go watch some)
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