ELEVATE: OPEN SPACES will present dance films and live performances in galleries, public spaces, and parks throughout Atlanta during this year’s festival. Events are free and open to the public.

“As this year’s ELEVATE Dance Curator, I am excited to present a program that showcases the depth and versatility of Atlanta dance!” states Iymaani Aytes, Founder, The Aytes Agency. “Our festival theme, OPEN SPACES, connects to dance in such a lovely way, as it focuses on accessibility in the various ways dance can be presented to the community in welcoming spaces.”

Friday, September 16

ELEVATE Presents 3 Dance Films at CODA Tech Square from Noon-1 pm and 6-7 pm

Touch & Agree, a short film by Juel D. Lane, explores what it is to be in love and how we commit to another person without losing our own identity; all while navigating the highs and lows of a relationship. Touch & Agree has been screened at LGBTQ+ Los Angeles Film Festival, LGBTQ LOVE STORY FILM FESTIVAL LONDON, The Pan African Film Festival, Out On Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival, and BronzeLens Film Festival.

“Glitch: Escaping Plato’s Cave” was created by Thulani Vereen and Francesco Fedele and produced by Dance Canvas, in partnership with Georgia Tech’s Science.Art.Wonder. Inspired by the Allegory of Plato’s Cave, this work aims to show the journey to the true nature of being. We explore what happens when a being ventures from the depths of the cave, where people are shackled by a distorted reality shaped by stress and anxiety, to the tumultuous process of detaching from these chains, to questioning then embracing what could be, and finally to discovering a reality shaped by truth and light.

Internationally acclaimed film The Poet is presented by Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre. TMBT resident choreographer Tara Lee’s The Poet is about a man who is losing his memory and attempts to hold on to what he knows through his poetry.

"My interest for this piece is to find the beauty that potentially remains in one's mind amidst the losses that come with dementia," says Lee. “How do loved ones connect to someone that is losing connection to them and to their legacy? Terminus artists explore this subject and how it translates to dance and film. Choreography and Film concept by Tara Lee, inspired by the poetry of Kahlil Gibran, Directed by Joseph Guay, with Original Score by Andy Kurtz.

Saturday, September 24

ELEVATE Presents Dance on the Square at Colony Square from 1-3 pm

Under the direction of Emory Professor of Dance, Julio Medina, Emory Dance will perform three pieces from 1-1:30 pm.
The solo, coalesce (2021) will be performed by Julio Medina. The work was recently performed in Brooklyn, New York at the Performance Mix Festival, and will be presented at the Dance Studies Association conference in Vancouver this October.
The duet, ridge (2021), will be performed by dance artists Jacque Pritz and Julianna Feracota.
A student work will be performed by TNT, a co-ed Hip-Hop crew at Emory University.

Emory Dance creates vibrant explorations of movement for all skill levels, encouraging students to move freely, develop a mindful practice, create original work, and discover interdisciplinary connections.

DanceMakers of Atlanta will perform four pieces from 1:40-2 pm.
Green
Back to Life
Concerto #23
Clap Back

DanceMakers of Atlanta prides itself on being a premier center of dance education in Atlanta. For over 20 years it has offered core classes that provide young dancers with a solid foundation as well as an opportunity to grow and develop their talents and skills.

Dance Canvas, under the direction of Angela Harris, selected two works from their 2022 Dance Canvas/Atlanta Contemporary Resident Choreographers: Anicka Austin and Vanessa Zabari. The works will be presented from 2:30-3 pm.
The Death of Two Birds by Anicka Austin is a solo that will be performance by Indya Childs. Accompanying music composed by Chris Gravely, performed by cellist Alana Bennett-Garcia.
The Heart of the World choreography by Vanessa Zabari, performed by Vanessa Zabari and Mary-Beth Stinson.

Choreographer and archivist Anicka Austin considers the performance of repetition, endurance, and devotion as a way of knowing, learning, and being. She is curious about the relationship between physical documentation, embodiment, and ephemerality.

Vanessa Zabari is the Director of Atlanta’s only professional tap company, The Tap Rebels. Love is the focus behind her piece. With a commentary on racism and inequity, she believes that “with everything happening in the world, the focus should be LOVE. Love for yourself and love for your neighbors.

Sunday, September 25

Dance Performance of Words In Action by Room To Move Dance at Grant Park at 3 pm and 4 pm
Room To Move Dance (RTMD) continues building on the study of post-modern movement in this work. Company members created choreography around spoken word pieces. The company is also excited to present a new work in collaboration with renowned cellist, Robert Een.

Artistic director Amy Gately collaborates with the dancers to incorporate other art forms including music, visual arts, and poetry into innovative dance works that challenge audiences with complex experiences.

Friday, September 30

Dance Performance by Qudus Onikeku at Gallerie 88 Design House in Buckhead Village at 8 pm
The internationally renowned choreographer and dancer will perform AFRICAMAN ORIGINAL. The solo performance will take the audience on a journey into the world of Black dances from Africa, Brazil, and the United States, set to the music of the king of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti. This event is being presented in partnership with ELEVATE, Villa Albertine, France-Atlanta, and Gallerie 88 Design House.

Saturday, October 1

Bautanzt Here presents The Games We Dance at the Playground at Westside Park at 4 pm
The Games We Dance are dance and music performances on public playgrounds. Performers will reimagine popular games through the lens of dance to create a dynamic, fun, and engaging spectacle for audiences of all ages. Live musicians will accompany performers to create a playful soundscape. Nadya Zeitlin is the Artistic Director.

Bautanzt Here merges dance and theatre, creating a unique language to tell meaningful and
visually engaging stories in unconventional performance spaces, usually outdoors.

Sunday, October 2

Bautanzt Here presents The Games We Dance at the Playground at Candler Park at 4 pm
The Games We Dance are dance and music performances on public playgrounds. Performers will reimagine popular games through the lens of dance to create a dynamic, fun, and engaging spectacle for audiences of all ages. Live musicians will accompany performers to create a playful soundscape. Nadya Zeitlin is the Artistic Director.

Saturday, October 8

Beacon Dance Performance of HydroCartography at Rodney Cook Sr. Park from 2-3 pm
This is the premier performance of HydroCartography which takes its inspiration from Cook Park, designed specifically to process excess storm water runoff as the water makes its journey from the clouds to the sea. Inspiration also comes from the community members who regularly inhabit the park, and their stories of how it has transformed the community. Through story sharing and movement, HydroCartography will meld geography and personal events into an entertaining and evocative experience for audience and performers.

The mission of Beacon Dance is to develop people’s understanding of the art of movement as a means of communication.

Bautanzt Here presents The Games We Dance at the Playground at Grant Park at 4 pm
The Games We Dance are dance and music performances on public playgrounds. Performers will reimagine popular games through the lens of dance to create a dynamic, fun, and engaging spectacle for audiences of all ages. Live musicians will accompany performers to create a playful soundscape. Nadya Zeitlin is the Artistic Director.

Sunday, October 9

Bautanzt Here presents The Games We Dance at the Playground at Rose Circle Park at 4 pm
The Games We Dance are dance and music performances on public playgrounds. Performers will reimagine popular games through the lens of dance to create a dynamic, fun, and engaging spectacle for audiences of all ages. Live musicians will accompany performers to create a playful soundscape. Nadya Zeitlin is the Artistic Director.

The City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ vision is to enhance the quality of life through arts and culture, and to contribute positively to the social and economic health of Atlanta and the region. Their mission is to promote rich, diverse, and educational cultural experiences; nurture artists and arts organizations; preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage; and expand Atlanta’s international reputation. ELEVATE is a program of the City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.