Even if you’ve never connected to contemporary dance, it’s hard to not be persuaded after witnessing Wabi Sabi perform at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, with the audience following the dancers to different spots on the manicured grounds for each piece on the program.
The dancer-driven Atlanta Ballet offshoot, whose mission is to showcase rising choreographic talent, gives the first of five performances at three outdoor settings on Aug. 21 at the Midtown garden, where it will return Sept. 18. In between there will be appearances at the High Museum of Art (as part of the design installation “Mi Casa, Your Casa” on Sifly Piazza) on Aug. 22 and 29, and at the Decatur Book Festival on Aug. 31.
At both High dates, Wabi Sabi will premiere “Yours is Mine” by Robert Dekkers, a former Atlanta Ballet student who is now a choreographer and director of his own San Francisco company, Post Ballet. For the Aug. 29 performance, Dekkers’ specially commissioned score will be performed live by Georgia Tech’s Sonic Generator and two MCs/rappers.
Botanical Garden performances are at 7:45 p.m., High Museum at 8 p.m. and Decatur Book Festival (beside the Community Bandstand) at 4:30 p.m. All performances are free, but Botanical Garden admission ($18.95; $12.95 ages 3-12) applies. www.atlantaballet.com/wabi-sabi.
