It seemed just yesterday that Malashock Dance was staging a gay-themed production. That event was Malashock RAW back in October of last year. Just six months later the long-time local dance company is speaking to LGBT themes once again with a new program at their Liberty Station studio this coming weekend (just three performances, May 11–13).
Hidden Agendas promises to be an evening of personal, intimate and revealing dance works exploring emotional manipulation, physical longing and secret rendezvous (someone’s been reading my Facebook page!). It will include the premiere of In The Dark by renowned choreographer and Malashock Dance’s artistic director, John Malashock. In this new work, Malashock continues his development of compelling characters in this edgy series of chance meetings in the shadowy world of the mind. The spring show will also feature an award-winning, brazenly audacious and wry dance work about male self-indulgence and gratification called Bump in the Road. It was originally created by Michael Mizerany, associate artistic director at Malashock Dance, who was awarded the 1996 Lester Horton Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Performance for this unabashedly bold and undeniably risky piece. This weekend the piece will be performed by Malashock Dance’s Nicholas Strasburg, who will step into the role of the gyrating exhibitionist.
If that isn’t enough Hidden Agendas will also present Mizerany’s duet Let Me into Your Skin, inspired by the play Beautiful Thing, an erotically charged yet tenderly sweet piece that revels in the gentleness of a slow caress and the anticipation of a first kiss.
The evening will also feature two guest choreographers and after a one-year hiatus, Mizerany returns to the stage to perform in one of John Malashock’s signature duets from Window Dressers.
If you are unsure how to celebrate that special mother in your life note that there will be a special Mother’s Day pre-performance reception May 13. Appetizers, wine and desserts will be offered prior to the 7 p.m. performance.
Tickets go on sale April 16 at malashockdance.org.
