Architects Daniel Martinez and Etienne Santiago have mentioned how their Exhibit Columbus “Entry Portal” installation at The Republic Building is meant to be an emphatic open door and welcome mat to the community — one to to see inside Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program housed in the building.
They never quite dreamed that it also would serve as an open door to another segment of the arts community.
Yet, 15 dancers from Indianapolis’ Dance Kaleidoscope will visit Saturday via an arrangement with the Columbus Area Arts Council to offer their choreographed interpretation of that work and two others built for the annual exploration of art, architecture and community. The arts council had the troupe visit in 2017 and perform three separate dances for three installations then.
“I think it’s awesome,” Martinez said of the idea. “I think it’s wonderful that they’ll have an opportunity to interpret these pieces from their own perspective. Personally, I’m excited to see just what they come up with.”
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Three dancers — Jillian Godwin, Manuel Valdes and Stuart Coleman — are choreographing. Coleman is well-known to many in the local arts community because he, like a number of the Dance Kaleidoscope crew, has led classes at Columbus’ Dancers Studio Inc. And Coleman also directed the local company’s presentation of “The Nutcracker” in 2015.
“For me, maybe the coolest part of this is seeing how the arts complement each other so well,” said Paul Hansen, a former dancer himself and Dance Kaleidoscope’s marketing director. “You can look at one of those installations, and they are wonderful just as they are. You see all the lines and the shapes.
“And then the dancers bring all those elements to life and help take it to the next level. And I think that’s one of the coolest experiences of DK’s entire season.”
Hansen said he believes it’s easy for the choreographers to draw inspiration and ideas from the installations.
“These sculptures form a good starting point (for ideas),” he said.
Hansen added that the troupe loves chances to perform outside a traditional studio/theater setting to highlight the art form. The performers regularly visit places as different as retirement homes and prisons.
“We think it allows for a more in-depth understanding of dance,” he said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the appearance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Who: The Columbus Area Arts Council’s presentation of 15 dancers from Indianapolis’ Dance Kaleidoscope performing works for three downtown Exhibit Columbus installations.
When: Saturday. Times will be 11 a.m. at SO-IL’s "Into the Hedge" at the lawn of the Bartholomew County Veterans Memorial; at 11:25 a.m. at Daniel Martinez and Etienne Santiago’s "Entry Portal" at The Republic Building; and at 11:50 a.m. at Bryony Roberts’ "Soft Civic" on the City Hall Plaza and lawn.
Where: Around Second and Washington streets downtown.
Information: artsincolumbus.org.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
