Reviews | Jen Norris Dance Rev

Review: Dorrance Dance ‘The Nutcracker Suite,’ at Zellerbach Hall a presentation of Cal Performances at UC Berkeley Dec 14-15, 2024

Jen Norris

4 days ago6 min read

Review: Dorrance Dance ‘The Nutcracker Suite,’ at Zellerbach Hall a presentation of Cal Performances at UC Berkeley Dec 14-15, 2024

When Dorrance Dance comes to town, a tappin’ good time is bound to unfold. And such was the case for the Bay Area premiere of The...

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Review: Circus Bella presents ‘Kaleidoscope’ Dec 13, 2024-January 5, 2025, The Crossing at East Cut, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

6 days ago4 min read

Review: Circus Bella presents ‘Kaleidoscope’ Dec 13, 2024-January 5, 2025, The Crossing at East Cut, San Francisco, CA

Circus Bella’s lighted marquee beckons circus goers approaching from the Embarcadero or Salesforce Pak. Carnaval carts with popcorn,...

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Review: Smuin Contemporary Ballet, ‘The Christmas Ballet,’ Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, Nov 23 & 24, 2024; also Dec 5-8 Mountain View, Dec 13-24, San Francisco

Jen Norris

Nov 254 min read

Review: Smuin Contemporary Ballet, ‘The Christmas Ballet,’ Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, Nov 23 & 24, 2024; also Dec 5-8 Mountain View, Dec 13-24, San Francisco

Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s The Christmas Ballet is the ideal way to ring in the holidays. A bountiful selection of dances performed to...

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Review: SF Danceworks, Season 7, Z Space, San Francisco, November 7-10, 2024

Jen Norris

Nov 95 min read

Review: SF Danceworks, Season 7, Z Space, San Francisco, November 7-10, 2024

As we enter the season of gratitude, the presence of SFDanceworks in the Bay Area is at the top of my list. Their Season 7 tryptic,...

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Review: Step Afrika! ‘The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence,’ at Zellerbach Hall a presentation of Cal Performances at UC Berkeley Nov 2-3, 2024

Jen Norris

Nov 54 min read

Review: Step Afrika! ‘The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence,’ at Zellerbach Hall a presentation of Cal Performances at UC Berkeley Nov 2-3, 2024

Invited to join the fun, we stomp, clap and shout ‘alright,’ in a call and response ritual that harks across oceans and time. Faces...

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Review: RAWdance 20th Anniversary Home Season, October 24 - 27, 2024, ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Oct 255 min read

Review: RAWdance 20th Anniversary Home Season, October 24 - 27, 2024, ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA

RAWdance, known for crafting thought-provoking contemporary works, is a mainstay of the Bay Area dance scene. Co-Artistic Directors...

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Review: SMUIN Contemporary Ballet, Dance Series 1 (2024-25 Season) Cowell Theater at Fort Mason, San Francisco, October 17-24, 2024

Jen Norris

Oct 205 min read

Review: SMUIN Contemporary Ballet, Dance Series 1 (2024-25 Season) Cowell Theater at Fort Mason, San Francisco, October 17-24, 2024

Pushing the boundaries of contemporary with theatrical flair, Smuin Contemporary Ballet is a treasure of the Bay Area cultural scene....

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Review: Sharp & Fine, A Detective Story, October 18-20, 2024, Z Space, San Francisco

Jen Norris

Oct 195 min read

Review: Sharp & Fine, A Detective Story, October 18-20, 2024, Z Space, San Francisco

The secrecies and vagaries of love collide, with a missing person case in Sharp & Fine’s latest “play for dance” A Detective Story at Z...

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Review: Arenas Dance Co. & Duniya Dance and Drum Co. perform Raíces et Résistance, Oct 11-20, 2024, Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco

Jen Norris

Oct 135 min read

Review: Arenas Dance Co. & Duniya Dance and Drum Co. perform Raíces et Résistance, Oct 11-20, 2024, Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco

On this balmy October night, the dynamic beats of West African drumming emanate from the second story windows of the Dance Mission...

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Review: Split Second presents GAME TIME created and performed by Aviva and Molly Rose-Williams, ODC Theater, San Francisco – Oct 4-5, 2024

Jen Norris

Oct 84 min read

Review: Split Second presents GAME TIME created and performed by Aviva and Molly Rose-Williams, ODC Theater, San Francisco – Oct 4-5, 2024

In their latest Split Second production Game Time, playing at the ODC Theater October 4 & 5, 2024, sisters Aviva and Molly Rose-Williams...

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Review: CAL Performances presents Olivier Messiaen’s ‘Harawi’ an AMOC Production at Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA - September 27, 2024

Jen Norris

Oct 15 min read

Review: CAL Performances presents Olivier Messiaen’s ‘Harawi’ an AMOC Production at Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA - September 27, 2024

Friday, September 27, CAL Performances opened their 2024-25 Season with the United States Premiere of Olivier Messiaen’s Harawi in a...

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Review: Liss Fain Dance OPEN TIME a Performance Installation co-presented with Z Space, September 27-29, 2024, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Oct 15 min read

Review: Liss Fain Dance OPEN TIME a Performance Installation co-presented with Z Space, September 27-29, 2024, San Francisco, CA

Emerging from a dark tunnel, a ghostly Victorian house of floating windows and scrim walls awaits us in the center of Z Space’s vast Lisa...

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Review: Jocelyn Reyes, REYES Dance present ‘DIOS’ODC Theater, San Francisco – September 6-7, 2024 (Preview Sept. 5)

Jen Norris

Sep 75 min read

Review: Jocelyn Reyes, REYES Dance present ‘DIOS’ODC Theater, San Francisco – September 6-7, 2024 (Preview Sept. 5)

First generation Mexican-Salvadoran artist Jocelyn Reyes crafts powerful and visceral dance performances using broad theatricality and...

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Review: FACT/SF Summer Dance Festival 2024 Weekend Two, August 23-25, 2024 ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Aug 286 min read

Review: FACT/SF Summer Dance Festival 2024 Weekend Two, August 23-25, 2024 ODC Theater, San Francisco, CA

FACT/SF Summer Dance Festival 2024 Weekend Two at ODC Theater includes a generous helping of contemporary dance performances. Joining...

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Review: CounterPulse co-presents BODYSONNET’s production of ‘OTHER/self’, Aug 22-24, 2024, CounterPulse, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Aug 237 min read

Review: CounterPulse co-presents BODYSONNET’s production of ‘OTHER/self’, Aug 22-24, 2024, CounterPulse, San Francisco, CA

The Bay Area dance scene is in the middle of a generational sea change. Younger performers, who have enthralled and enticed us in the...

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Review: ODC Theater presents Paufve Dance’s ‘Sisters’ part of State of Play 2024 dance festival, Aug 1 & 2, ODC Theatre, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Aug 35 min read

Review: ODC Theater presents Paufve Dance’s ‘Sisters’ part of State of Play 2024 dance festival, Aug 1 & 2, ODC Theatre, San Francisco, CA

The world premiere of Paufve Dance’s Sisters, on the first day of ODC Theater’s State of Play 2024 dance festival is sold-out. The house...

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Review: ODC Theater presents David Harvey & Babatunji’s ‘Chimera’ and Audrey Johnson’s ‘For A Moment/No Longer’ as part of State of Play Festival, August 1 -4, ODC Theatre, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Aug 35 min read

Review: ODC Theater presents David Harvey & Babatunji’s ‘Chimera’ and Audrey Johnson’s ‘For A Moment/No Longer’ as part of State of Play Festival, August 1 -4, ODC Theatre, San Francisco, CA

In the wake of pandemic-induced venue closures, San Francisco’s dance scene has been meandering toward its former vibrancy. Fast forward...

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Review: ODC/Dance presents “Summer Sampler 2014” July 18-21, 2024, ODC Theatre, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Jul 206 min read

Review: ODC/Dance presents “Summer Sampler 2014” July 18-21, 2024, ODC Theatre, San Francisco, CA

Art informs art. Dance influences dance. Sometimes this is more transparent than others. Choreographer Catherine Galasso developed 10,000...

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Review: Lesher Center for the Arts & Diablo Regional Arts Association present Ballet Hispánico, July 17, 2024, Walnut Creek, CA

Jen Norris

Jul 185 min read

Review: Lesher Center for the Arts & Diablo Regional Arts Association present Ballet Hispánico, July 17, 2024, Walnut Creek, CA

What a treat it is to see the renowned Ballet Hispánico in the Bay Area, here for a single evening at the Lesher Center for the Arts in...

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Review: Circus Bella’s WOW presented by TJPA in Salesforce Park, Sunday, July 14, 2024, San Francisco, CA

Jen Norris

Jul 175 min read

Review: Circus Bella’s WOW presented by TJPA in Salesforce Park, Sunday, July 14, 2024, San Francisco, CA

Free, open-to-all, and fun for ages from two to ninety-two, Circus Bella’s 15th Annual Circus in the Parks arrives in Salesforce Park on...

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