Whenever I see a festival billed as “Bay Area” I prepare myself for disappointment. Is this yet another case of bait and switch, offering the promise of region-wide events but only delivering content in San Francisco?
Among many other cures, Bay Area Dance Week offers an antidote to cynicism by spreading an international array of dance traditions and practices across at least five of the Bay Area’s nine counties.
And did I mention that every event is free?
Running April 25 through May 4 (over-delivering on its weeklong billing, too), BADW returns with more than enough dance to keep any city moving and grooving. While the past two years opened at Yerba Buena Gardens, the One Dance kickoff returns at noon April 25 to Union Square, which can accommodate hundreds of people who have learned some of the moves online (you can catch the instructional video at www.bopsidy.com or dancersgroup.org/badw) and feel like stepping into a cinematic dance scene.
The center of the terpsichorean South Bay action is San José’s Eastridge Center Mall, where sjDANCEco presents the 23rd Annual Spring Dance Festival on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, April 26-27. With more than five-dozen organizations participating, including professional companies, community troupes and children’s ensembles, the weekend includes classes and demonstrations for the dance curious.
“Every year we have a lot of spectators who come up and ask how they can contact this company after seeing a performance,” said Maria Basile, sjDANCEco co-founder and artistic director. “We really cultivate the next generation of dancers. How do you know what you like if you don’t see it? It’s an opportunity to find out what you love.”
The dancing runs non-stop for five hours both days. The professional dance sets are 15 minutes each on the half-hour from 1:30 p.m. on. Free dance classes are on tap throughout the afternoon on-the-hour.
Among the companies participating are Los Lupeños de San José, Latizmo Hip Hop Productions Dance Company for All Abilities, CarOlé Flamenco’s Legacy Project, HH Lin Dance Company, and N’fungola Sibo African Dance and Drum, who hail from New Orleans. Host sjDANCEco has five spots on Sunday’s program, with solos and Nhan Ho’s “Onus,” which was part of the company’s fall season.
Check the sjDANCEco website for the festival schedule, www.sjdanceco.org.
Launched in 2003 as Dancin’ Downtown at the Circle of Palms Plaza, the festival was designed to showcase the diversity of dance taking place in the South Bay. The first year featured about 30 groups, with classes and demonstrations offered next door at the San José Museum of Art. The festival eventually moved to Santana Row as it continued to expand, and since 2019 it’s been held at the Eastridge Center.
Some groups have gone along for the entire ride, including Palo Alto’s Zohar Dance Company, San José’s Silver Creek High School and Independence High School, and Helen Vazquez’s Hermosura Dance Productions.
“I remember Helen as a young salsa dancer in her teens and she was very impressive back then,” Basile said. “The diversity of the festival is so beautiful. We need to see dance as a community, Dance changes you and refreshes you, brings people together and spreads joy.”
Contact Andrew Gilbert at [email protected].
DANCE FESTIVALS
Bay Area Dance Week: April 25 through May 4 at various venues; all events free; www.bopsidy.com
sjDANCEco Spring Dance Festival: Noon-5 p.m. April 26-27 at Eastridge Center Mall, San José; free; www.sjdanceco.org
