As their sixth installment to the Expulsion series, the Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre will showcase an artistic collaboration with Danza Floricanto USA titled “Expulsion: Boyle Heights” this Saturday night at the vacant lot across from Mariachi Plaza.
Visual and location-based dance is the emphasis of this partnership as traditional and colorful footwork will be coupled with a contemporary spotlight brought by two of Southern California’s oldest dancing ensembles.
Bringing life to empty space, this collaboration will explore the idea of “home” atop three stories of scaffold overlooking downtown Los Angeles.
Focusing on cross-culture, Duckler’s Expulsion series has illustrated their representations of ethnic customs and traditions through a blend of movement and dance. Since 1985, Duckler has given public art an alternative meaning as public locations, not stages, have set the platform for their performances at places like laundry mats, baseball fields and a section of the LA River.
The Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre has choreographed more than a hundred dance works throughout the United States and the world.
“‘Expulsion’ is a work of both universal and culturally specific themes that center around our feelings about home ”“ what it means to leave a place or discover some place new,” said Founder and Artistic Director Heidi Duckler. “I feel Boyle Heights, situated on a hill overlooking downtown to the west, and sandwiched between freeways, is a neighborhood on the move. This makes it a dynamic place for dance.”
Founded in 1975, Danza Floricanto is the oldest Mexican folk dance troupe in Southern California. Their region-based meaning of home will complement vibrant, signature costumes to their first site-specific performance.
“Any dance form can be used to deliver a message. Usually, Mexican folk dance says have a joy for life, and that is a very valid statement,” said Danza Floricanto USA’s Artistic Director Gema Sandoval.
This event is sponsored by Metabolic Studio, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Angell Foundation, The Durfee Foundation, East Los Angeles Community Corporation, Metro, National Endowment for the Arts and the Center for Cultural Innovation.
Live music and curbside conversation will begin at 6 p.m. and performance at 7 p.m.
Expulsion: Boyle Heights will take place on Saturday, March 16 across Mariachi Plaza located at 101 S. Boyle Ave.
This event is free to the public but accepts a $10 suggested donation.
