BWW Reviews: 8th Annual CELEBRATE DANCE 2013 Presents Premiere Performances

Since its bold beginning in 2006, Celebrate Dance has presented 40 dance companies to over 10,000 enthusiastic audience members in the annual event and has served as a platform for artists to enhance their craft, develop a foundation of support and propel their careers locally, nationally and abroad. Each participating dance company can also boast being part of critically acclaimed, seamlessly produced productions at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale.

From its inception, Celebrate Dance has always reached out to community youth, inviting them to the yearly event without expense. Thus far more than 2,000 students from local schools and studios have seen the production. Each year Celebrate Dance's annual dance production grows in applause and accolades from both dancers and audience alike. More information at www.celebratedance.org and on Facebook.

This year Executive Producer Jamie Nichols engaged the following diverse and electrifying dance talent from the greater Los Angeles area:

The Los Angeles premiere of "Human Flotation Devices" by the Lux Aeterna Dance Company, choreographed and performed by Jacob "Kujo" Lyons and Teresa "Toogie" Barcelo. The piece offered a peek at their creative process as depicted by two people who apparently don't get along very well, and let us see why nothing ever gets done in rehearsal when dancers cannot agree on what to present.

"Ooh Child" by JazzAntiqua Dance Ensemble was created in 2012, choreographed by Artistic Director Pat Taylor. For those that sometimes lose their way on this journey, the nine dancers reminded us there is always hope. Just keep moving, believing, trusting, and each step will bring you out of the darkness and into the light. Especially moving was their encouraging the audience to join in their rhythmic clapping at the end of the piece.

Inspired by Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company's Artistic Director and Choreographer Kate Hutter's travels in the Middle East where she observed many women shroud in Burkas, "Identity Theft" presented dancers with their faces covered in red cloth to embolden and focus attention on their body and its movements.

The Los Angeles premiere of "The Walk West" by SoleVita Dance Company, choreographed by Artisitc Director Joele Martinec, offered four Movement journeys across the plains of America into a new life where family is necessary and hard work is the way of life. Special praise to replacement lead dancer Dave Birr whose shining spirit lit up the stage.

Shari Barrett, a Los Angeles native, has been active in the theater world since the age of six - acting, singing, and dancing her way across the boards all over town. After teaching in local secondary schools, working in marketing for several studios, writing, directing, producing, and performing in productions for several non-profit theaters, Shari now dedicates her time and focuses her skills as an independent publicist to "get the word out" about smaller theaters throughout the Los Angeles area. As a founding member of the LA Stage Alliance Leadership Council Task Force, she and reps from theaters throughout the city work together to articulate a vision for the theatre community of Greater Los Angeles. Shari has received recognition from the City of Los Angeles for her dedication of heart and hand to the needs of friends, neighbors and fellow members of society for her devotion of service to the people of Los Angeles. Shari is honored to serve her hometown as a contributor to Broadway World.