Dancing at Laguna

Suzie Harrison

Straight off performing on Broadway, renowned dancer Jodie Gates will

bring the world of dance to Laguna with premier dance companies for

Saturday’s Dance Day.

Gates spent last week dancing with the Complexions Dance Company

at the Joyce Theatre in New York City. The new Artistic Director of

Gallimaufry Dance in Laguna has come a long way from her Northern

California roots.

“At 15, I was discovered in Sacramento by director Robert Joffrey;

he asked me if I would like to come to New York,” Gates said. “It’s a

wonderful story of small-town girl does great.”

The ballet company toured extensively and was bicoastal, so Gates

spent a lot of time in Los Angeles and Laguna Beach.

“I got to know a lot of people out here; my first boyfriend lived

in Laguna Beach,” Gates said. “I’ve been in and out of Laguna Beach

for about 20 years.”

Gates expressed the experience -- bringing an international level

of dance to Laguna with Dance Day -- as coming full circle.

“After living in Europe and New York, I realized I want to bring

what I know to this area,” Gates said. “It would be great to host a

dance festival as well as continue to educate audiences throughout

the year with different dance days.”

This is the sixth year for Dance Day -- which originated as the

California Choreographers Dance Festival’s project, but the two have

now merged.

Gallimaufry’s Dance Day is a free event that includes master dance

classes and performances by professional dancers.

Gates’ credentials are staggering as a principal ballerina for

several esteemed dance companies. She has been a professional dancer

for almost 25 years, achieving critical acclaim nationally and

internationally with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, Ballet

Frankfurt in Germany and the Pennsylvania Ballet, to name a few.

During her career, Gates has danced nearly on every Continent,

danced for the first President Bush, and Presidents Reagan and

Clinton, and appeared on the Tonight Show.

In Laguna, “I am transitioning from dancer to the next part of my

life,” Gates said.

Because of her connections, Dance Day will feature internationally

acclaimed dancers from Complexions Company, New York City and San

Francisco Ballet’s Tina Le Blanc and Gonzola Garcia.

“We’re going to continue to encourage local choreographers to

create new works, as well as introduce the finest dancers in America

to the community of Laguna Beach,” Gates said.

Gates isn’t kidding.

“LeBlanc is a national treasure and Desmond Richardson is

Tony-nominated for ‘Fosse’ on Broadway,” Gates said. “He just

finished doing ‘Movin’ Out,’ and was the lead principal for the

American Ballet Theatre.”

These are the top companies with less than 20 dancers, Gates said.

An example of having the best of the best in the world for this event

is Complexions Dance Company.

“They’re the finest I’ve seen; I want to share their gift with the

community here,” Gates said.

The first half of the day consists of dance classes held at Legion

Hall, 384 Legion St. Heather Hamilton from Complexions will teach

jazz dance classes from 10 to 11:20 a.m.; contemporary dance will be

taught by another Complexions dancer, Juan Rodriguez, and from 1 to

2:20 p.m. Capoeira Brasil will teach Capoeira.

“Capoeira is a form from Brazil that almost looks like martial

arts [with] extreme athleticism and grace,” Gates said. “Capoeira

Brasil was in ‘Ocean’s Twelve’ and did the Grammy’s; they’re quite

sought after, get people going with live music.”

Gates said it’s important to offer an eclectic range of what dance

can be whether from Brazil or from classical ballet. From tribal to

very contemporary, to modern, it’s very important to have a mix, she

says.

In the afternoon, performances will take place at 3 and 5 p.m. at

the cobblestone area at Main Beach.

“[The program will include] Tina and her partner, Gonzola, who is

a principal with the San Francisco Ballet and also a dear friend of

mine,” Gates said. “She is one of the most beautiful ballerinas I’ve

seen.”

Gates will perform a piece called “Ave Maria,” dancing with

Meredith Rainey, a soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet.

“Complexions [will perform], featuring about six dancers, one

being Desmond Richardson, who is truly the finest dancer you’re going

to see,” Gates said.

Also performing are local talent Jennifer Backhaus McIvor, modern

dance; Donna Sternberg and Dancers, modern dance; and 2005 Spotlight

Award winner Quenby Hersh, ballet, are also in the line-up.

In October, Gallimaufry will host a dance festival.

“With Jodie joining forces it’s enabled us to create a much larger

and higher caliber event than we were able to do before,” Gallimaufry

Executive Artistic Director Steve Josephson said.

As part of Dance Day, to help support the upcoming “caDANCE

Festival, intimate fundraiser events will be held over the weekend:

tonight from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. a casual sunset dinner with special

guest dancers at the beachfront home of Mike and Nancy Meyer; a

champagne reception with guest dancers from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Stuart

Byer’s and Dr. Jeffery Rehm’s North Laguna home; and “A Tea for Two”

for mothers and daughters from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Surf and Sand

Hotel.

For information about Dance Day or to make a reservation for a

fundraiser event, call (949) 499-5060.