Crossover Appeal

If any art form in Western New York lends itself to synergistic endeavors better than our increasingly colorful dance scene, I'd like to know about it.

Reading over dance writer Steve Sucato's preview of this year's eclectic offerings from touring groups as well as local dance talent, at least one thing is clear. Collaborations are the flavor of the year for 2007-08, with a plethora of nicely complementary and even unlikely crossover projects in the works. From essential events like McCoy Tyner and Savion Glover at the University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts to somewhat stranger collaborations on the local level, here are a few synergistic highlights from the season:

• Buffalo Contemporary Dance opens a new venue on Oct. 25 and 25 with David Kane's Them Jazzbeards providing the musical accompaniment. A shot from the company's 2006 season:

• Opera Sacra's huge production of a Leonard Bernstein choral piece will feature 120 dancers singers and musicians, all at St. Joseph University Church (3269 Main St.). That one seems like it'll be off the hook.
• The hallowed halls of the Albright-Knox will make a fine backdrop for Janet Reed and Dancers, who practice an exciting form of contemporary African dance. The synergy here is simply in the surroundings, but there's something about watching a group of dancers doing their thing dangerously close to a multi-million dollar Jackson Pollock that lends an intriguing sense of danger to the whole affair. The A-K will also host Configuration Dance on Jan. 18.
• In possibly the most intriguing dance collaboration this season, Nimbus Dance will join forces with Brian Millbrand (a Real Dream Cabaret member, videographer, filmmaker and documentarian) for a sort of video/dance extravaganza.
• Of course, we can expect to see freelance dance sensation Aaron Piepszny at number of venues around town (including several schedule performances with BCD), but it's hard to predict when and where. Rest assured, though, that they'll be spontaneously entertaining. Piepszny dancing at the Albright-Knox last year:

(News file photo)

So that's that. Check out Steve's story for the full picture and gird yourself for a season where dance will be hard to avoid.

--Colin Dabkowski