Electric Nomad Dance Studio will perform its annual theatrical belly dance performance, “Eternal Forest,” at Dogtown Dance Theatre this weekend. Owned and directed by Twila Jane Sikorsky, Electric Nomad is a hive of dancers, artists, parents, and activists who support inclusive art based on empowering one another, building community, and creating bridges between cultures.“Eternal Forest” is a 90-minute work about diversity and collaboration that explores themes of cycles, growth, and symbiosis through dance, set to an original score by Four Strings’ Adam Birce.
“Eternal Forest” is a 90-minute work about diversity and collaboration that explores themes of cycles, growth, and symbiosis through dance. The show will also feature paired film work by Patrick Gregory Films, costumes and props designed by Twila and her students, sets built by Dawn Flores of the Forest Project, and dance and music collaborations with Rin Ajna and her experimental dance project, Myriad.“I am inspired by the order of nature,” Sikorsky said. “’Eternal Forest’ includes months, seasons, weather patterns, and the hours in the day. There are twelve pieces that reflect the entire year and what’s happening in the forest during those times, especially in Virginia.”
Twila Jane Sikorsky
Sikorsky and Electric Nomad have been cultivating their forest for about a year and a half. “A forest themed show was in my bucket of ideas, and after our successful ocean themed show last year, it seemed like the right time,” Sikorsky said.
“Eternal Forest” is a dance performance entrenched in rich collaboration from top tier choreographers. On top of the production collaborators, the performance will also feature dance pieces from several other local dance companies.
“’Eternal Forest’ features my students and my apprentice dance company, Laterna, alongside Rin Ajna’s Myriad, Jess Burgess’s RVA Dance Collective, Melody Magpie’s aerialist work, and Alyssum Pohl’s contortionism and dance,” Sikorsky said.
Dawn Flores and the Forest Project have been another collaboration point in Eternal Forest. “I saw the ways that Dawn transformed artifacts from her conservation work in the forest, and knew that that it was time for us to get our creative ideas rolling down the same path.” Sikorsky said. “We’ve worked together before, and we both realized that this would be a perfect time to come together again.”
“Patrick Gregory has made stunning film for the production, using his own footage along with some contributions from the Forest Project. He has created film backdrops and short films in between dances,” Sikorsky said. “Adam Birce will perform parts of his original score on piano and violin live during each showing, too. It has been a dream of Adam’s to collaborate with dancers ever since he was young and inspired by the ballet.”Be sure to catch “Eternal Forest” at Dogtown Dance Theatre on September 8 at
Be sure to catch “Eternal Forest” at Dogtown Dance Theatre on September 8 at 8pm and September 9 at 2pm and 8pm
