RICH LOPEZ | A&E Writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
When TITAS launched its very first season 45 years ago, the dance company Pilobolus was the first ensemble to grace the TITUS stage. Today, that longtime relationship continues to flourish as TITAS welcomes the East Coast collective back to Dallas.
And this time, it’s gonna be a trip.
Pilobolus brings its boundary-pushing program TRIPS to Dallas this week as TITAS/Dance Unbound presents the dance company in performance on Nov. 6 and 7 at Moody Performance Hall.
“We definitely want to transport you to a world, so if that means ‘Beam me up, Scotty, then so be it,” Isaac Huerta said.
At the center of the show is Huerta, serving as the dance captain. In that role, he wears many hats — acting as the primary point of reference for stage managers, crews and fellow dancers while also performing in the show.
“Hopefully I’m being as oversightful as possible on everything going on, but yeah, I’m dancing as well. So yeah, it can be tricky. But also, having my perspective helps shows to take shape,” he said.
To a certain stretch, those shapes can be queer.
In the repertoire, Huerta said he finds that Pilobolus allows him to explore some of his own interior identity.
“I think sometimes I can tap into a certain masculinity that is conducive to art and life. So, for me, I think that space of full expression can touch the queer community the way it touches me,” he said. “We don’t see that usually, so I think when people come to see our shows, they are rooted in this particular humanity that I think is particularly poignant to the queer community to witness and experience.”
This marks Huerta’s second year with the company, having come to Pilobolus by way of an audition notice on Instagram. He was in Los Angeles when the opportunity came and he auditioned. Then he found himself in New York as part of the Pilobolus dance company.
The move turned out to be an opportunity for self-realization for the queer artist: “Pilobolus allows me to tap into the essence of myself which is queer, and it also represents my movement as spirit,” he said.
“I love that this company is open to let me be completely myself and add a queer voice into the mix.” ■
For tickets, visit ATTPAC.org.