By Michael Balderston
Dancers and actors and poets—that is what’s in store for those who attend Atlas’ Intersections Festival in D.C. from Feb. 20 to March 7, which connects audiences with the most exciting new forms of community-inspired art. Among the variety of performers will be a number of Northern Virginia art groups including the Gin Dance Company and Arts on the Horizon.
The Gin Dance Company was founded by Shu-Chen Cuff, a Taiwanese immigrant who came to the United States to study dance. After relocating to the D.C. area and dancing in professional groups for years, Cuff decided to set out on her own.
“I like to create my own things and my own styles and share them with the audience,” says Cuff. “Hopefully it can help a lot more people appreciate art and open up their vision.”
With her experience in both modern ballet and traditional Chinese dance and movements, Cuff certainly will be bringing that unique style to audiences at Intersections.
Arts on the Horizon is also creating new opportunities for its audience, but the audience itself is what makes the group an interesting component to the festival. Taking a page from European groups, Arts on the Horizon is the first theater company in the U.S. that performs plays exclusively for children from 0-6.
“There’s just nothing here in the area with a full focus on this age group, and there are so many kids who I think would benefit from programs such as these,” says Michelle Kozlak, founder and producing art director for Arts on the Horizon.
Each of the company’s shows, which are all original productions, centers on themes important to children’s development and introduces them to new forms of art. Its show for Intersections, “Sunny and Licorice,” teaches the kids how to live with others and features two orangutans and a tap-dancing number. Many of the plays are also nonverbal to make sure they suit the varying levels of language development of young children.
Having performed at last year’s Intersections Festival, both Gin Dance Company and Arts on Horizon know the potential value for audiences.
“To be able to give an opportunity for families, especially with young children, to be able to participate in the festival,” says Kozlak. “Hopefully they’ll come back as their kids get older or even the parents themselves come to the shows for adults.”
“It can be really inspiring after seeing the performance and go back to your normal life,” says Cuff. “You never know how art can change people’s lives.”
Atlas’ Intersections Festival
Feb. 20-March 7,
The Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
202-399-7993
Times and ticket prices vary
