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MARTY CLEARChoreographing area dancers and visiting artists in a confluence of movement and locale, Bella Danza hopes to foster an artistic community.
TAMPA - In recent years, several local companies and choreographers have been trying to plant the seeds of a true modern dance community in Tampa. Groups like Moving Current envision a future in which young dancers will stay in town, creating and collaborating, rather than rushing off to better opportunities before the ink dries on their diplomas.
Maria Capitano, the main force behind the sort-of-annual Bella Danza concerts, shares that vision. But she'd also like to foster what she sees as a chance for the arts to return to Ybor City.
"I have a dual passion," Capitano said. "I have a passion for the work, and I have a passion for Ybor."
So Capitano hopes that the Bella Danza concert this weekend at the Italian Club will do more than bring together some of the best local dancers and choreographers with exciting guests from elsewhere.
She has arranged for Ybor businesses that are art-friendly (or at least not art-hostile) to offer free wine and coffee to Bella Danza patrons after the shows. Maybe, Capitano said, encouraging people to stay in Ybor after the concert will promote an artistic ambience.
The concert promises ample material for conversations.
One of the works is a world premiere, and others are new to local audiences. Still more have been performed on other local stages in recent weeks.
Themes range from an examination of Italian-American family life to a paean to musical American girl groups of the '60s; the music ranges from Yo-Yo Ma to the Dixie Cups.
Two pieces that will be familiar to dance fans are Capitano's own Vita di Una Donna, a fluid trio that was part of the most recent Moving Current concert, and Michael Foley's Under Combat Wear, an aggressive but somewhat comic piece performed at the recent Fall DanceScapes concert at the University of South Florida.
Dancers from Moving Current will present Was Is Was by Jennifer Salk, who performs regularly with that company. Recent USF graduate Jody Kuehner will introduce a new and so-far-untitled solo work with music by pianist Carol Biel. Capitano will premiere a new Brazilian-flavored work called Reality Rising.
Among the notable out-of-towners, Susan Hadley, a former principal dancer with Mark Morris' company and one of Capitano's mentors at Ohio State University, has a new work called Back Jack, set to '60s music, and Seattle's Stacee Lanz Cooney will bring an older piece called Ellemeno-P.
Cooney can't make it to town in time for tonight's performance, so Foley's Under Combat Wear will take her spot on the program for one show only.
One choreographer Capitano said she's particularly excited to have on the program is Dena Curtin, a Tampa resident and Florida State graduate.
Capitano met Curtin by chance one night at Bella's restaurant in South Tampa. Curtin recognized Capitano from her work with Moving Current and introduced herself. Curtin's piece on the Bella Danza program is set to Norah Jones music.
"Dena has been a real find," Capitano said. "It was an unusual way to meet with another choreographer and start working with her. I guess it was just meant to be."
PREVIEW: Bella Danza, tonight through Sunday at the Italian Club, 1731 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Curtain is 7:30 tonight and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12. Call (813) 248-3316.