The dance world arrives

Gallimaufry Performing Arts’ CaDance Festival kicks off tomorrow with

nine days of world-class dance performances, workshops, film and

site-specific dance installations on a scale Laguna Beach has never

seen before.

“Laguna Beach is about to have the absolute best of the dance

world here in town for the next two weeks,” Gallimaufry founder and

director Steve Josephson said. “It’s so hard to believe -- we started

working on the dance festival two years ago; it’s actually happening

the way we wanted it to.”

A handful of performers have an affinity for the town.

“I’ve been to Laguna Beach before, visiting my best friend Jodie

Gates, the artistic director, who started the festival,” dancer and

choreographer Patrick Corbin said. “Jodie is one of the great

American ballerinas and a phenomenal choreographer. She’s the main

reason why we’re involved. She’s a consummate artist and amazing

human being.”

Corbin said he is impressed that Gates has accomplished the task

of creating the dance festival.

“It’s a perfect opportunity. Laguna Beach is a fine arts town --

this is a wonderful opportunity for the city of Laguna Beach and

Southern California,” Corbin said. “I don’t understand why someone

hasn’t done this before. There are good dancers, nice dance

companies, and it’s a vibrant arts community.”

On the first day, Corbin’s innovative CorbinDances of New York

City will perform on Main Beach at 3 and 5 p.m. Corbin choreographed

the piece specifically for the festival and composed the music. He

said it’s high-energy dancing.

Corbin has a multifaceted role in the festival.

“I’ll be teaching a master dance class, a modern dance class,”

Corbin said. “Since I was with Paul Taylor Dance Company for so long,

it’s very Paul Taylor-style, a modern dance class.”

The Oscar-nominated documentary “Dancemaker,” which stars Corbin,

will also be screened. The film has been described as an unflinching

look into the world of choreographer Paul Taylor.

“Seeing me on film at the time is different since it was almost 10

years ago,” Corbin said. “It caught me in the peak of my

performances. I was in top shape. I’m lucky to have that on film. I’m

proud of the work we all do in the film; it’s quite an inspirational

piece of work.”

After the film, Corbin and the other star of the film, Rachel

Berman, will have a question-and-answer session.

Joaquin De Luz, principal dancer for the New York City Ballet,

said he’s been to Laguna many times to surf and absorb the surf

culture, which is so different from life in Madrid, his home town.

He also performed in Orange County when he was with the American

Ballet Theatre.

“When we’d tour, I’d bring my board. I’d stay at a beach house in

Laguna and had a great time,” De Luz said. “I love that town.”

De Luz said he has known Gates for a long time.

“She was one of my first partners in the U.S. in the 1996

Pennsylvania Ballet,” De Luz said. “I admired her talent. She had the

idea to bring artists to Southern California, a beautiful place, a

place [where] people like me would love to perform more often.”

De Luz will perform with fellow New York City Ballet principal

dancer Miranda Weese at the gala at Laguna Art Museum on Oct. 8.

Gates said she wants the community to take advantage of free dance

classes taught by renowned professionals at Main Beach tomorrow.

“At 3 p.m., Patrick Makuakane, a pioneer of classic hula, straight

from the islands, will do an ancient Hawaiian blessing chant to bless

the event, [the] wonderful community ... and the earth we stand and

dance on,” Gates said.

Two performances will follow, Gates said -- and that’s only day

one of the festival.

“There is nothing like it in Southern California of this caliber

-- the dance talents interacting up-close and personal with the

audience and dance students,” Josephson said.

For a schedule of events or tickets, call (949) 499-5060 or visit

o7www.cadancefestival.com.

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