Dancing in Snow

"Dancing in Snow," choreographed by Roderick George, is a sophisticated and thoughtful statement about Black and Queer experiences, and how cultural appropriation and tokenism separate Black dancing and culture from Black bodies.

Choreographer: Roderick George
Premiere Date: 2022
Run Time: 60 minutes
Number of dancers: 9

Available for touring

INFO

The poetic title is a metaphor for those who have had to assimilate into a society of White America. George’s new work is a deeper redevelopment of Tainted, a solo piece that premiered at the Odyssey in 2020. The original work was a solo narrowed on the vision of the dancer, Jamila Glass, and how she could see her existence as the only Black woman in white spaces. In the new work with a larger cast, Glass is joined by LACDC dancers Kate Coleman, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM Rodriguez, and Ryan Ruiz, and guest artists Edgar Aguirre, Sam McReynolds, and Dave x.

Credits

Choreographer:

Roderick George

LACDC Artists:

Kate Coleman, Jamila Glass, Nicole Hagen, Colleen Hendricks, JM Rodriguez, Ryan Ruiz, with guest artists Sam McReynolds, Edgar Aguirre, Dave x

Collaborators include:

Music: slowdanger
Costume Designer: Robert Huerta & Ashley Kayombo
Lighting Designer: Claire Chrzan
Rehearsal Director: Natasha Poon Woo
Costume Consultant: Kelsey Vidic

Trailer | Dancing in Snow | L.A. Contemporary Dance x Roderick George

Additional Info

Trailer Filmed by Anna Tse and Edited by Danielle King

"...needed to let you know that I was deeply moved by Dancing in Snow. It was so rich, I still get glimpses of it randomly through my days. This work stayed with me and I just wanted to say thank you and just… WOW. Sending you lots of love." -- Teresa Toogie Barcelo (Choreographer - Dua Lipa, Alicia Keys, Miguel)

“[Dancing in Snow] zooms in on the 1950s to address cultural appropriation and capitalism in white America, toying with the phrase “Make America Great Again” under [Roderick George's] own interpretation as a Black queer choreographer. 'What was important for me was to rattle bones and to rattle the emotions that we’re all collectively dealing with,' he says." -- Steven Vargas, L.A. Times

"Thank you Jamila for an incredible show last night. You all are such strong dancers holy sh*t. And I loved all those tiny precise moves. Damn. So impressed." - Jasmine Albuquerque (Choreographer - Katy Perry, St. Vincent, Savage x Fenty)

"I was totally blown away by artistic & creative choreography. The bold, soft, athletic movement had me thinking how dance continues to evolve. And the fact all the dances were in top shape as they were on stage for like 45 min straight. What stamina, what artistic expression and what cohesiveness you all had. The space you used was poetry in motion…thank you for sharing your skills and talents." - Daniel G. Girey

"His dance vocabulary runs the gamut from modern to jazz, ballet to street, with a deft touch of musical theater tossed in. The movement emanates from the core with the torso always in use and the arms beautifully rendered. With small gestures or perhaps a nod of the head George captures the musical accents and innuendo throughout. He understands the need to keep the stage moving, yet also knows when to slow it down for a solo or unison work. I was instantly drawn in." -- Tam Warner, L.A. Dance Chronicle

8 dancers dressed in all white clothing with white wigs and hats and white mesh covering their faces and white gloves covering their hands. standing on a white stage with their arms outstretched.

dark brown person dressed in white clothing from head to toe, including a white hat and white mesh over their face. arms outstretched with a cheshire cat grin.

4 dancers in various shades of flesh colored clothing with arms outstretched to the sky. another dancer standing on leg with arms and his other leg outstretched to the sky.

Dark brown person lays on the floor while dark brown woman grabs his head and pulls body up from the floor. red lighting. both people in flesh colored clothing.