The “jaw-dropping” modern dance group Michael Mao Dance is coming from the bright lights of New York City to the humble Chilkat Center stage at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The performance is presented by the Haines Arts Council.
Deemed “splendid” by the New York Times, “exquisite” by the Village Voice, and “engrossing” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Michael Mao’s multicultural choreography includes influences from Cuba, Italy, Spain and China.
“Far from any uniform look, Mao’s dancers seem to be chosen for their individuality. Mao takes advantage of their strengths. The company perform the expressionist, elastic choreography with a wholehearted commitment and technical polish,” one reviewer wrote in the Boston Globe.
Dancers in the group hail from the United States and abroad.
Arts council president Tom Heywood said he discovered the group two years ago when Thodos Dance Chicago came to Haines. The two groups are represented by the same artist agent, Jodi Kaplan.
When Kaplan saw the Chilkat Center on a trip here with Thodos Dance Chicago, she knew it would be a great venue for Michael Mao’s choreography. “She thought this would be a great group for our capabilities,” Heywood said.
Heywood estimated Michael Mao Dance is the second dance group in over a decade to come to Haines. “It’s really hard for an arts council to bring a dance group. It’s a large number of people and they require a lot of technical stuff.”
Heywood described the group’s style as “very athletic, fluid and beautiful.” He emphasized people should come out to enjoy the opportunity to watch a dance group in Haines, which only happens once in a blue moon.
“It is very rare. Because of that and because it is very labor-intensive and expensive, we hope to get a great crowd,” he said.
Heywood is seeking volunteers to help as stagehands with rehearsals and the performance. Interested volunteers can contact Heywood at [email protected].
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students and $50 for families. The dance group will make two performances at the school Tuesday for the elementary and middle schools.