Body Traffic to perform at the Wallis Annenberg in Beverly Hills Dec 6th-7th, 2024- Preview, Tickets
Bram Goldsmith Theater
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
and BODYTRAFFIC present
BODYTRAFFIC
Tina Finkelman Berkett, Artistic Director
Photo credit Guzmán Rosado
- World Premiere Mayday by Trey McIntyre
Inspired by the life and music of Buddy Holly
- Full production premiere of Juel D. Lane’s
Incense Burning On A Saturday Morning: The Maestro
inspired by the work of Angeleno visual artist Ernie Barnes;
- I Forgot The Start by Matthew Neenan
Three Performances!
December 6 at 7:30pm
and December 7 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Tickets at TheWallis.Org.
Los Angeles, CA (November 13, 2024) The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and BODYTRAFFIC present BODYTRAFFIC, the Los Angeles-based contemporary dance company led by Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett, on December 6 and 7, the second engagement in the company’s Los Angeles home season.
This program is a continuation of a long-term partnership between The Wallis and BODYTRAFFIC, featuring the company’s technical prowess and ability to masterfully embody diverse choreography styles.
This program includes Mayday, a world premiere by prolific choreographer and BODYTRAFFIC Creative Partner Trey McIntyre inspired by the life and music of Buddy Holly; the full production premiere of Juel D. Lane’s Incense Burning On A Saturday Morning: The Maestro, inspired by the work of Angeleno visual artist Ernie Barnes; and I Forgot The Start by Matthew Neenan, world renowned choreographer and current choreographer-in-residence at Philadelphia Ballet.
Following a visit to the Buddy Holly Performing Arts Center in Lubbock, TX, Trey McIntyre’s Mayday is inspired by the life and music of 1950s rock and roll star Buddy Holly, a musician known for combining country, rhythm and blues, and rockabilly musical influences with upbeat tempos and youthful lyrics. He shares: “Mayday explores the looming specter that any life can be cut short at any moment. We are seemingly always dancing on a tightrope that could render any of our plans useless. And yet we still dance, we still move toward love, we still plan and create and life as if infinity is what lies before us.” McIntyre combines contemporary movement, balletic grace and 1950s rock influences in choreography that is playful, exuberant, and bittersweet. This full company work includes Holly’s classics “Every Day,” “Peggy Sue,” That’ll Be The Day,” “Maybe Baby,” and others.
Juel D. Lane’s Incense Burning On A Saturday Morning: The Maestro is a vibrant tribute to the prolific Angeleno painter Ernie Barnes. With a world premiere in September of 2024, this full production premiere features full production lighting and projections. Renowned for his dynamic depictions of bodies in motion, Barnes captured the spirit of 1970s Harlem dance halls. His legendary work – for example Sugar Shack, featured on Marvin Gaye’s I Want You album and in classic sitcom Good Times – comes to life through Lane’s choreography. Steven Vargas of L.A. Dance Chronicle calls this work “haunting and exciting…a beautiful synthesis of African and contemporary dance.”
Created during a 2023 BODYTRAFFIC residency in Sun Valley, ID, Matthew Neenan’s I Forgot The Start walks the line between joy and grief to illuminate the sheer relentlessness of hope. The work is an exploration of resilience in the pursuit of connection, despite life’s uncertainties. Music includes songs by Sinéad O’Connor, Sufjan Stevens, Broken Social Scene, and others. Lighting, set, and video design by Christopher Ash.
Robert van Leer, Executive Director and CEO of The Wallis, said, “One of our goals is to partner with Los Angeles based performing arts companies that will perform on a regular basis in our building. To that end, a natural choice is BODYTRAFFIC, the remarkably versatile and technically able company that already has a history with The Wallis. Not only do they span a variety of dance – ballet, modern, and hip hop among them, they will bring major choreographers to our stage, as exemplified by this program.”
BODYTRAFFIC Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett said, “Partnering with The Wallis over the last seven years has allowed BODYTRAFFIC to create a true home in L.A. – a space where our audience can grow with us and share in the BODYTRAFFIC journey. The Wallis is more than just a venue to us; it’s an intimate and thoughtfully designed space that helps to foster a deep connection between our dancers and the audience. It’s a place where the joy of dance can be fully experienced by all present and we are so grateful to be able to share that feeling in this special place.”
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. To purchase single tickets, subscriptions and for more information, please call 310-746-4000 (Monday – Friday, 10 am to 6 pm) or visit TheWallis.org.
About BODYTRAFFIC
BODYTRAFFIC, an internationally-renowned dance company from Los Angeles, has been a dynamic force in contemporary dance since its founding in 2007 by Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett. Known for technical prowess and versatility, BODYTRAFFIC artists expertly master a repertoire that spans ballet, contemporary, modern, Afro-Cuban, and hip hop genres. The company thrives on a collective of diverse perspectives and styles, bringing to life the visions of accomplished choreographers like Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, Alejandro Cerrudo, Fernando Magadan, Trey McIntyre, Ohad Naharin, Hofesh Shechter, and Micaela Taylor. BODYTRAFFIC aims to champion both established and emerging voices, serving as a home for a diverse range of styles and perspectives that tell vital stories. By blending local and global perspectives, BODYTRAFFIC reflects the rich diversity of its home city while pushing the boundaries of dance.
BODYTRAFFIC has performed in over 30 states and 20 countries, including as cultural ambassadors to Israel and Jordan during the Obama administration as well as South Korea (2016), Algeria (2017-2018), and Indonesia (2018). The company views its work as a testament to BODYTRAFFIC’s commitment to elevating dance beyond mere performance, transforming it into an exploration and celebration of ideas and spirit. This dedication is further demonstrated through a passion for education, as BODYTRAFFIC mentors and uplifts more than 700 students annually through various programs, ranging from youth-focused movement workshops to professional development for established artists. This holistic approach underscores the company’s belief in the transformative power of dance as a vehicle for personal and collective growth.
Calendar listing for BODYTRAFFIC
Where: Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Bram Goldsmith Theater
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills 90210
When: Friday, December 6 at 7:30pm,
Saturday, December 7 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Tickets: Price – Tickets start at $49
Online – https://TheWallis.org/
Phone – 310.746.4000
About Juel D. Lane
Juel D. Lane, an Atlanta native, honed his artistic talents at Tri-Cities High School, The Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, and The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Dance Magazine recognized him as one of their “25 to Watch,” and his captivating performances have enthralled audiences worldwide. He’s shared the stage with luminaries like Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, member of the acclaimed Bessie Award-winning Camille A. Brown & Dancers, and member of The Black Acting Methods Studio. Lane’s choreography has graced Ailey II, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Atlanta Ballet, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, and various universities. He’s also performed in productions such as The Metropolitan Opera’s “Fire Shut Up In My Bones,” Amazon Prime’s series “Harlem,” and NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.” Lane received the Bronzelens film festival award for his remarkable dance film, “The Maestro” and showcased his directing and choreography talents in the captivating music video “Only-1” with Roc Nation artist Dixson. Lane is currently the director of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts Choreographic Institute.
About Matthew Neenan
Matthew Neenan, described as “one of America’s best dance poets” by The New York Times, began his dance training at the Boston Ballet School and with noted teachers Nan C. Keating and Jacqueline Cronsberg. He later attended the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and the School of American Ballet in New York. From 1994-2007, Matthew danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet (now the Philadelphia Ballet), where he danced numerous principal roles in the classical, contemporary and Balanchine repertoire. From 2007 – 2020, Matthew was the Choreographer in Residence at the Pennsylvania Ballet, where he created 20 original ballets. Matthew’s choreography has been premiered and performed by The New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Ballet West, Ballet Met, Colorado Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Milwaukee Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, OKC Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Parsons Dance, BODYTRAFFIC, Juilliard Dance, and USC Kaufman School of Dance, among many others. He has received numerous awards and grants for his choreography from the National Endowment of the Arts, Dance Advance funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Choo San Goh Foundation, the Independence Foundation and four fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In 2006, Matthew received the New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute’s Fellowship Initiative Award. In October 2009, Matthew was the grand-prize winner of Sacramento Ballet’s Capital Choreography Competition and was also the first recipient of the Jerome Robbins NEW Program Fellowship for his work At the border for Pennsylvania Ballet. In 2005, Matthew co-founded BalletX with fellow dancer Christine Cox. BalletX has toured and performed Neenan’s choreography in New York City at The Joyce Theater, NY City Center, The Skirball Center, Symphony Space and Central Park Summerstage, The Kennedy Center, and Vail International Dance Festival (where he has created 5 world premieres).
About Trey McIntyre
Trey McIntyre trained at North Carolina School of the Arts and the Houston Ballet Academy. In 1989, he was appointed Choreographic Apprentice to Houston Ballet, a position created especially for him, and in 1995 he became the company’s Choreographic Associate. He has worked for more than 30 years as a freelance choreographer, producing more than 100 pieces during the span of his career so far. He has worked with companies such as The Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Queensland Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, New York City Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, BalletX, The Washington Ballet, Ballet Memphis, and San Francisco Ballet.
He has won numerous awards and honors such as the Choo San Goh Award for Choreography, a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Society of Arts and Letters, two personal grants for choreography from The National Endowment for the Arts, and is a United States Artists Fellow. He was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2001, one of People Magazine’s “25 Hottest Bachelors” in 2003, and one of Out Magazine’s 2008 “Tastemakers.”
In 2005, he founded his dance company, Trey McIntyre Project, achieving great audience and critical success. McIntyre created over 23 original works for the company as well as numerous film projects, interactive site specific works, and photography collections. A confessed polymath, McIntyre has developed a cult following for his photography of the human body, written several published essays, and completed the feature-length documentary Gravity Hero, which premiered at the Dance on Camera Film Festival at Lincoln Center.
About The Wallis
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) was lauded by Culture Vulture: “If you love expecting the unexpected in the performing arts, you have to love The Wallis.” Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who was The Wallis’ 2015/2016 Season Artistic Advisor, described the venue as “one of the best in the country, allowing for an unparalleled intimacy between [the artist] and the audience.”
Since its doors opened in 2013, The Wallis, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international performers share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. Distinguished by eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its location in the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis has produced and presented nearly 500 theater, dance, music, film, cabaret, comedy, performance arts, and family entertainment programs, boasting nominations for 79 Ovation Awards and nine L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards, as well as six architectural awards.
The breathtaking 70,000-square-foot facility, celebrating the classic and the modern, was named after philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who’s original $25-million-dollar donation was instrumental in transforming the beloved former 1934 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) into an arts complex. Designed by acclaimed architect Zoltan E. Pali (SPF: architects), the restored building features one of two sets of eight towering original WPA frescos, these by Charles Kassler, remaining in the entire California Federal Building system. The Wallis’ lobby, now known as Jim and Eleanor Randall Grand Hall, serves as the theater’s dramatic yet welcoming entryway to the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater; the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater; an inviting open-air plaza for family, community and other performances; and GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education, where learning opportunities for all ages and backgrounds abound. Together, these elements embrace both the region’s history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for Los Angeles area visitors and residents alike.
Daphna Nazarian is Chair of The Wallis’ Board of Directors and Robert van Leer is its Executive Director and CEO.