As our eyes turn toward Beijing, it’s important to note another group of lithe, athletic Americans that will grace stages at the Olympics and elsewhere around the Forbidden City.
Denver-based Kim Robards Dance is one of two U.S. dance companies to play the first Booking Dance Festival Beijing, along with artists from the National Ballet of China and other troupes. The festival, which takes place Wednesday through Aug. 17, is meant to dovetail with the bigger-picture cultural exchange of the Olympics.
“Modern dance is a truly American form that has such freedom of expression, and the fact that we’re getting to take it to this communist country is pretty mind-blowing,” said company founder Robards.
The trip presents a unique opportunity for Robards’ outfit, which is coming off an appearance in the Big Apple that garnered a rave in The New York Times, praising the athleticism in Robards’ choreography and performance.
That athleticism will come in handy as the company plays four shows at Beijing’s Nine Theatres — one of the city’s newest performing arts centers — as well as on stages in Olympic parks with athletes from across the world milling about.
“I wanted to take work that I felt showed the range of modern dance, but that’s also very physically driving to match that drive of athletes,” Robards said.
The program will comprise selections from the grueling “Waves Against Sand,” the playful “Kym Gym Megalomania” and others (“Cascades,” “Scales”).
The trip — which Robards said costs about $50,000, including travel and pay for the dancers — will send 11 dancers and company manager Kim Jackson overseas for more than a week.
“None of us has been to China before except (Jackson),” Robards said. “It’s such an amazing opportunity, sometimes I can’t even find the words for it. I have to pinch myself.”
She may need to get a clothespin: The company was also recently invited for a seven- to 10-date Chinese tour through the Gateway to Music program, which would take place in summer 2009.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
