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If the 2015-16 season of TITAS was one of premieres, the 2016–17 season — just announced by executive director Charles Santos — is one of mostly familiar, but innovative, dance companies.
Four Texas debuts — Argentina’s Estampas Portenas Tango and Che Malambo, Canada’s Ballet BC (pictured above) and Guggenheim Fellowship recipients Bridgman|Packer Dance — join returning favorites including Pilobolus, Diavolo, Alvin Ailey and more for the 11-show lineup.
The season, titled Virtuosic Innovation, kicks off at the City Performance Hall with two performances from the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (Sept. 16–17). That will be followed by Estampas Portenas, which brings the flamboyant tango to the stage of the hall (Oct. 28–29). Jessica Lang Dance, which impressed audiences with its Dallas debut in 2013, is back at the Winspear Opera House on Dec. 10.
High-Res_DougVaroneandDancers_ReComposed_2_photocredit-Grant-Halverson_copyright-The-American-Dance-Festival2017 begins with the return of Pilobolus (CPH, Jan. 13–14), one of the most popular and quirky of modern dance troupes, followed soon thereafter by Bridgman|Packer (Jan. 27–28).
It’s back at the Winspear for the return of the kinetic Doug Varone and Dancers (Feb. 18, pictured). Diavolo‘s stylist Architecture in Motion demonstrates the relationship between man and his environment at the CPH (March 10–11). Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater settles in for three shows at CPH (March 31–April 1), followed by another Argentine company, Che Malambo (CPH, April 14–15), known for its rhythmic stomping and speedy footwork. The season concludes at the Winspear on June 3 with the local premiere of Ballet BC.
As always, the season also includes Command Gala Performance (May 13), which treats audiences to a director’s choice of the best dance artists around. Season tickets are available at ATTPAC.org. Individual tickets are available for as little as $12/each.