Axis Dance, Ensemble Mik Nawooj and Crowded Fire collaborate for an immersive experience
New genre collaborations were a top priority for Marc Brew when he took over the Axis Dance Company of Oakland in 2017. The company released in October with “Radical Impact,†a modern dance piece. striking created in close partnership with the Ensemble Mik Nawooj. , the innovative hip-hop / classic group led by Oakland songwriter JooWan Kim.
This year, Axis’ collaborative palette exponentially expands with “Death Becomes Life: Banish Darknessâ€, an immersive, transgender dance-theater-music production slated to open on Friday, November 16 at the Bayview Opera House.
Developed as part of the Crowded Fire Theatre’s Matchbox Reading Series program, “Death Becomes Life†combines the shared vision and diverse talents of choreographer Brew, songwriter Kim, playwright Star Finch and Crowded Fire artistic director Mina Morita. He takes the audience on a day trip with a woman who confronts modern existential problems and arrives at a place of much needed optimism.
The 12-piece orchestra of the Mik Nawooj Ensemble performs live, and the cast combines theater performers and the Axis Ensemble, which combines dancers with and without disabilities.
“Death becomes life: banish darkness”: 8 p.m. Friday, November 16; 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 17. $ 25. Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third St., SF 415-523-0034. www.crowdedfire.org
