Photo by Anna Marie Panlilio
The PUSH Dance Company, under the direction of Raissa Simpson, is mixing modern, ballet, hip-hop, ethnic, and multi-disciplinary works for its inaugural season of PUSHfest, Sept. 19-21.
The festival, in ODC Theater, features 14 mid-career and emerging choreographers in two programs. The announcement of the festival says its purpose is:
… to mix a diverse and culturally relevant entity that is carefully curated by a professional panel made up of artists and presenters. Part of the success of PUSH is its commitment to building community and engaging diverse audiences from different walks of life.
The lineup includes well-known Bay Area choreographers Randee Paufve and Hope Mohr; and traveling artists range from Los Angeles based Project 21 Dance to Kansas City based choreographer Chadi El-Khoury. Artistic Director Raissa Simpson will restage the audience favorite Point Shipyard Point, a dance installation which premiered in the spring at the Museum of the African Diaspora. PUSH will also premiere a new work by Resident Choreographer Katerina Wong.
Program A, at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 and 4 p.m. Sept. 21: Raissa Simpson, Randee Paufve, Anandha Ray, Natasha Adorlee Johnson, Martha Zepeda, and Sept. 19 only, Sarah Bush.
Program B, at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 and 7 p.m. Sept. 21: Katerina Wong, Hope Mohr (Sept. 21 only), Chadi El-Khoury, Tanya Chianese, Ashley Gayle, Maura Townsend, Jamie Wright, Jetta Martin; also Point Shipyard Project and premiere by Katerina Wong.