Alum Andrew Wojtal dances in the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Festival this weekend.
by Lindsey Lollie (Dance BFA 4) / Special to 24700
The Diavolo Dance Theater and Brockus Project Dance Company present the first Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Festival with public performances and workshops for dancers and choreographers throughout the weekend (April 14-15).
Bringing together some of the best dance companies in the Los Angeles, the inaugural festival focuses on contemporary dance and technique. Performers and troupes include a number of dance artists who’ve performed at CalArts or REDCAT, including Barak Marshall Dance Theater and Nugent Dance, whose founder is Stephanie Nugent, a faculty member of The Sharon Disney School of Dance at CalArts.
One recent graduate, Andrew Wojtal (Dance BFA 2011), performs with the BodyTraffic dance company in the festival. Although he’s been dancing and touring with the company since June 2011, Wojtal got his first “break” with the company last January when it invited him to perform the Barak Marshall piece, Rooster, at REDCAT. It was a good fit for Wojtal because he was already familiar with the dance artist’s fast-paced style. (Marshall was a guest choreographer for the CalArts Winter Dance Concert.)
The festival is being held in the Brewery Arts Complex in Downtown Los Angeles. Performance classes will be held from 10 am-6:30 pm at Brockus Project Space; performances will be held at the Diavolo Space at 7:30 pm both evenings.
Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Festival
April 14-15
Brockus Project Space
618B Moulton Ave., Los Angeles
Class tickets: $20 for single class; $50 for five classes; and $90 for 10 class package
Diavolo Space
616 Moulton Ave., Los Angeles
Performance tickets: $40 for pre-sale passes to both shows; $22 advance sale tickets, $30 at the door.