SFDanceworks Announces Season Four, this June at Cowell Theater

SFDanceworks is pleased to announce its fourth season featuring a West Coast premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, a Bay Area premiere by Olivier Wevers, as well as newly commissioned works by Brett Conway,Laura O'Malley and Andrea Schermoly. SFDanceworks' Season Four takes place at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Tickets, $20 - $60, will go on sale next month via a direct link at sfdanceworks.org or by phone at (415) 345-7575.

"We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Spanish-born choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo," said Artistic Director James Sofranko. "Season Four marks our third year drawing from the well of his inspiration." Cloudless is Cerrudo's first pas de deux for two women, and Ana Lopez, of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, will perform alongside Laura O'Malley.

Olivier Wevers was a principal dancer at Pacific Northwest Ballet before founding his own company Whim W'him in Seattle. As a choreographer, he has proven to be a trendsetter, and SFDanceworks is proud to present the Bay Area premiere of his timely Silent Scream, which has been called a "sweeping anti-fascist ballet." Drawing on imagery and music from Charlie Chaplin's magnum opus The Great Dictator, "SilentScream is full of wit and poignancy, and it packs a wallop," observed Sofranko.

"The mission of SFDanceworks is to evolve the art of dance by presenting new works in the context of what has come before, and to that end this year we have invited company members Brett Conway and Laura O'Malley, each of them distinguished dancers at the beginning of their choreographic careers, to create new pieces."

Audiences received a first taste of their experiments at SFDanceworks' 4Play showing in January. This June, the company will present expanded versions of their works. O'Malley's Room for Error will grow from a duet to a quartet. Likewise, Conway's TheBedroom is developing from a solo to an ensemble work featuring current Alonzo King LINES Ballet dancer Babatunji.

The company's third commission this season belongs to South African-born artist Andrea Schermoly. She has danced with the Boston Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theatre, and has made works on Royal New Zealand Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet and Louisville Ballet, among others. "Andrea is a rising star within the fields of contemporary and classical dance, and we are very pleased to collaborate with her this year," said Sofranko.

In addition to Lopez, O'Malley and Babatunji, dancers this season include DavidCalhoun, Katerina Eng, Nicholas Korkos and Katie Lake, with more performers to be announced later this spring. In advance of its weekend at the Cowell, SFDanceworks will host several open rehearsals and other behind-the-scenes social events. For more information visit sfdanceworks.org.

Founded in 2014 by former San Francisco Ballet soloist James Sofranko, SFDanceworks is a contemporary repertory company dedicated to presenting the best of the past, present and future of dance. SFDanceworks engages world-class dancers performing choreography from dance masters as well as commissioned work from emerging choreographers. The company's inaugural season was co-presented by ODC Theater in 2016. Danielle Rowe serves as Associate Artistic Director.

Photo credit: Nicholas Korkos