From young emerging artists creating cutting-edge performances on a downtown rooftop to distinguished visitors honoring the venerable history of their company in a formal hall, the city will come alive with captivating dance events this season. Here are our picks for some of the don’t-miss performances of fall 2016.
“Cloth Field”
Atlantans are accustomed to seeing music director Robert Spano at the podium of Symphony Hall conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, but he's also an accomplished pianist and composer. For "Cloth Field" he collaborates again with choreographer Lauri Stallings, artistic director of Glo to complete their work, which premiered in part in 2014 as "cloth," that will weave together Spano's live performance of his multi-layered, contemplative music with the daring, dreamlike movements of the Glo dancers. Sept. 7-11. The Goat Farm Arts Center, Foster Street NW, Atlanta. 470-344-4561, www.gloatl.org
“{Stairs}”
Independent Atlanta-based choreographer Mary Grace Phillips presents her latest work "{stairs}," which blends dance, poetry and installation art. A freestanding staircase is the central set piece for five dancers. The show is a great opportunity to check out some of the new work coming from up-and-coming artists working at the innovative Atlanta dance studio the Work Room. Sept. 29-Oct. 2. The B Complex, 1272 Murphy Ave. SW, Atlanta. 404-889-7681, www.thebcomplex.com
The Boiler Room
The Boiler Room is an ongoing series of contemporary dance performances set on a small stage on the roof of downtown's Eyedrum Gallery every second weekend of the month at sunset, offering viewers a great performance paired with a great view. Of special note are October's performances, a dance work experimenting with audience response to binaural audio frequencies. It's by Fly on a Wall, an Atlanta dance collective helmed by Sean Hilton and Nicole Johnson, formerly of Glo, and Nathan Griswold, formerly of the Atlanta Ballet. Oct. 7-10. Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery, 88 Forsyth St SW, 678-813-7860, www.eyedrum.org
Exposed
This ambitious new festival devised by Sue Schroeder of Decatur's Core Performance Company brings a host of Israel's most innovative troupes to Atlanta for six weeks of performances across multiple venues including 7 Stages Theatre, the Rialto, Emory's Schwartz Center and Kennesaw State. Expect forward-thinking, often political dance and performance art from Israeli artists including Niv Sheinfeld & Oren Laor, Yossi Berg & Oded Graf, Anat Grigorio and Vertigo Dance. Oct. 8-Nov. 19. Multiple venues, 404-285-3434. www.exposedfestivalatl.com
Dance Theatre of Harlem
A performance by Dance Theatre of Harlem isn't just an opportunity to watch great dance, but a chance to connect with history. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, the first African-American male dancer in a major ballet company, the troupe has been delighting audiences around the world since its inception. "Return," set to music by Aretha Franklin and James Brown, and Spelman College's Distinguished Visiting Scholar Dianne McIntyre's "Change" will be performed. Oct. 22-23, Cobb Energy Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2800, www.cobbenergycentre.com
Pilobolus: “Shadowland”
New York-based company Pilobolus returns with its latest genre-bending work "Shadowland," using high-tech shadow puppetry to tell the story of a young girl lost in a surreal dream in which a mysterious giant turns her into a dog from the waist up. "Shadowland" was created in collaboration with indie rock songwriter David Poe and Steven Banks, head writer for "SpongeBob SquarePants." Expect clever visual tricks, athletic illusions, lots of humor and a crowd-pleasing, Cirque-style pop score. Oct. 27, Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta. 404-894-2787, http://arts.gatech.edu
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